"Precious" and Other Super Sad Movies You Love
This weekend, "Precious" was unleashed in limited release. From the Tweets and FB statuses, some folks are still shaken by the memory of the movie.
The film, backed by both Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, is based on "Push," a novel about an illiterate and overweight young girl and her struggles with her abusive parents.
Having seen it, I can co-sign for the fact that the director pulled great performances out of the main character, newcomer Gabby Sidibe, Mariah Carey and Mo'Nique, the latter two unexpectedly killed in their roles.
It is, nonetheless, a downer, as our heroine goes through almost every outrage imaginable and then some. I watched it at a special screening a few weeks back and could practically feel the weight of sadness in the theater.
It didn't quite make me cry, but I might venture to add it to the list of saddest movies ever, which includes the following:
"The Color Purple"
I am not prone to crying, except in extreme circumstances. That's why I am baffled by how this movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah and an otherwise awesome ensemble cast brings me to tears every damn time I see it. I know exactly what is going to happen. I practically have all the lines memorized. Still, I cannot watch this flick without a Kleenex. It may have something to do with the separation of the sisters and what they do to poor Miss Sophia (Oprah). Whatever the cause, I seriously avoid this movie if I want to stay in a good mood.
"Terms of Endearment"
This complicated mother-daughter tale, coupled with a terminal illness, get my waterworks going. Especially heartbreaking is a scene where a dying Debra Winger is sassed by her own angry young son. Jack Nicholson brings a much-needed comedic touch, but this movie is a saline selection for sure.
"Boyz N' the Hood"
Ricky! Nooooooooooo!!!!! Whenever I watch John Singleton's wonderful and eye-opening film about young men coming up in South Central, I'm all good until Ricky (Morris Chestnut) meets a bitter end. Most embarrassingly, I once cried in the Northwestern University library as I watched it for the fifth or sixth time for a paper. I was embarrassed to go to the library the rest of that month for fear people thought of me as Crazy Crying Girl.
"Menace II Society"
Another important film about young men coming of age in LA. The protagonist, Kane, was more of a dirty hero (if even that), but the last few minutes of this movie get me every time. In the venerable words of O-Dog aka Larenz Tate, "Stay up, Kane!"
"The Sixth Sense"
Some people were frightened by this film, and I admit some of the scenes were creepy. But I found it to be more touching than anything, particularly the twist at the end. (Don't read any further if you're still lounging under your rock and haven't bothered to see this film.) I absolutely lost it in the movie theater when it was revealed that poor Bruce Willis was dead. I had to sit there and collect myself before the lights came up.
Wow. Just thinking about these films has got me feeling verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.
What movies make you tear up?
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19 Comments
aRaSia said:
Shawshank Redemption...get's me everytime.
Kyra Kyles said:
Great scott, how did I forget that one? Brooks was here. That is one of my alltime fave movies, along with "Unforgiven," which doesn't necessarily make me sad.
Fourplusthree said:
THE GREEN MILE. Michael Clarke Duncan's performance in that film is what tears are made of. Also, the scene where he is executed is almost too much to bear. What adds to that is that his execution is carried out by a team of men who have come to admire and love him and absolutely do not want him to die. The conflict there hits a very deep tone.
Kyra Kyles said:
Thanks for sharing Fourplusthree. I love the book from whence "The Green Mile" came. That, and "Lovely Bones," made me mist up. I don't know that I want to see the LB movie though.
aRaSia said:
@Kyra...yes, just seeing what he endured and how he managed to get away. It was like watching someone's spirit die. It was so sad but he made it out which was great!
Kyra Kyles said:
@Arasia: Yeah, it is sad to see someone's soul crushed. I think about Brooks when I watch one of my fave shows, MSNBC's "Lockdown."
rosiedoo said:
legends of the fall...the most gut wrenching movie i've ever seen. i was doing the ugly cry through the whole thing.
Kyra Kyles said:
Awwww! Thanks for sharing, rosiedoo! That is a sad one.
qlix said:
August Rush, UP, and Antwone Fisher...oh I also forgot Philadelphia, Steel Magnolias, Ghost, John Q, and the list goes on...
Kyra Kyles said:
Hey qlix! Thanks for coming to weigh in from Twitter. I will have to check out "Up" for sure. You've got my interest.
illyphilly said:
Ky, I agree about "Shawshank," my all-time favorite, but "Schindler's List" is so gut-wrenching I've only been able to watch it once.
Kyra Kyles said:
Good ones! I forgot to add "Glory" to the list, illyphilly. And I feel you on "Schindler's List." How about "Life is Beautiful?" So touching...
Shari Weiss said:
Love Affair, Love Story, The Notebook (but the book is better), Life as a House, etc. are just a few of my picks.
Kyra Kyles said:
Hmmmm...not seen nary a one of those. I'm not really a big love story person, but I would like to add "Ghost" to the mix.
flight33 said:
Well seeing Will Smith having to kill his dog in I Am Legend was enough to start the floodgates going for me. There are others but its way too early here in England and I cant think now (also dont wanna show too much of my sensitive side, lol)
Kyra Kyles said:
Awwww, no need to be shy, flight33. We're all friends here. Always come back with more suggestions. I will also add "Glory" to the list.
there was not a dry eye in the theater when I first saw
Terms of Endearment. But I still want to cry just thinking about the funeral scene in the movie Imitation of Life. what a great movie.
djmikelove said:
um, I could'nt agree with flight 33 more. All Will Smith's character had was his dog (the only connection to his wife & child) and he had to kill her? The tears were rolling down my cheeks in the theatre. Other recent waterworks movies would be...
Akeela & The Bee (Beautiful & uplifting. I own the DVD & have never opened it. Too emotional for me)
Marley & Me (Jesus, I'm glad I didnt see that one at the show. Easily one of thee saddest movies i've ever seen)
Hard Ball (The Keanu Reeves movie. The kid dying was pretty unexpected )
Cooley High (the original)
Good Hair (who wouldnt cry at the thought of a $1000 weave & the chemicals sistas put in their hair)
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