Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - What the single-most depressing movie you've seen?

Kostya · 01-12-2006, 07:06 PM

Is it just me or am I the coldest son of a bitch to walk into a movie theatre?

Here's a list of films that most certainly did not depress me:

Requiem for a Dream - Disturbing, not depressing. Firstly is pushed way too hard towards the end and concluded on a note that rang false to me. It was manipulative, but ultimately I could brush it aside due to the 'worst ever possible scenario, ever, failing that involving a bear with rocket launcher hands' ending.

Schindler's List - Not deeply depressing to me at all. The ending is upbeat. Spielberg's message is one of hope, of the humane and ethical triumphing in the most horrible of scenarios. I've seen the actual footage of soldiers cleaning up the death camps, that was depressing.

Saving Private Ryan - Are people kidding me? The film started off with a scene that could have led to a great movie, instead of guys talking about 'Mom's apple pies' and 'earn it' and so forth. For me, Saving Private Ryan is once more about redemption and humanity in bad situations.

Hotel Rwanda - Pretty much the same as Schindler's List, finding hope and redemption in a genocide and so forth. Frankly, in many ways to me Hotel Rwanda commits the very crime it tries to indict, that is brushing off the Rwandan genocide and focusing on the one single good thing they could find. No doubt that it was a great act and he saved lives, but that's putting rose coloured lens on the camera for the sake of people's delicacy and distaste for being confronted with what really happened, which might I add, the film never even comes close to even suggesting.

The Shawshank Redemption - Um, he escapes right? I felt a twinge of depression at the laboured fairy tale ending where Red meets up with Andy on the beach of their dreams and they can set about fixing up their boat and so forth. Apart from that I was fine.

The Green Mile - Just didn't effect me. Ambivalence is the word.

A.I. - The film itself, not any good. Watching Kubrick's vision gurgling and choking to death in the background of Spilberg's hubris? That was depressing.

The Machinist - I was amused and pissed off in equal measure after it became blatantly clear about half an hour in the Ivan was Tyler. No tears here.

I'll get back to you on movies that DID depress me later. Obviously I'm a man of stone, or you're all marshmallows or something.

01-12-2006, 07:06 PM	#53 (permalink)
Kostya Little known... Location: Brisbane, Australia	Is it just me or am I the coldest son of a bitch to walk into a movie theatre? Here's a list of films that most certainly did not depress me: Requiem for a Dream - Disturbing, not depressing. Firstly is pushed way too hard towards the end and concluded on a note that rang false to me. It was manipulative, but ultimately I could brush it aside due to the 'worst ever possible scenario, ever, failing that involving a bear with rocket launcher hands' ending. Schindler's List - Not deeply depressing to me at all. The ending is upbeat. Spielberg's message is one of hope, of the humane and ethical triumphing in the most horrible of scenarios. I've seen the actual footage of soldiers cleaning up the death camps, that was depressing. Saving Private Ryan - Are people kidding me? The film started off with a scene that could have led to a great movie, instead of guys talking about 'Mom's apple pies' and 'earn it' and so forth. For me, Saving Private Ryan is once more about redemption and humanity in bad situations. Hotel Rwanda - Pretty much the same as Schindler's List, finding hope and redemption in a genocide and so forth. Frankly, in many ways to me Hotel Rwanda commits the very crime it tries to indict, that is brushing off the Rwandan genocide and focusing on the one single good thing they could find. No doubt that it was a great act and he saved lives, but that's putting rose coloured lens on the camera for the sake of people's delicacy and distaste for being confronted with what really happened, which might I add, the film never even comes close to even suggesting. The Shawshank Redemption - Um, he escapes right? I felt a twinge of depression at the laboured fairy tale ending where Red meets up with Andy on the beach of their dreams and they can set about fixing up their boat and so forth. Apart from that I was fine. The Green Mile - Just didn't effect me. Ambivalence is the word. A.I. - The film itself, not any good. Watching Kubrick's vision gurgling and choking to death in the background of Spilberg's hubris? That was depressing. The Machinist - I was amused and pissed off in equal measure after it became blatantly clear about half an hour in the Ivan was Tyler. No tears here. I'll get back to you on movies that DID depress me later. Obviously I'm a man of stone, or you're all marshmallows or something.