Posted to Diary on Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 07:35:27 PM EST. RSS.
Anyone planning on seeing Marley & Me, beware. It isn't a lighthearted romp with Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston and an adorable puppy. Without barreling into the area of film spoilers, if you're looking to emerge from the theatre in a feel-good state of mind, this film isn't for you. I pity the fool who took young kids to see the flick. This experience got me thinking about depressing films (specifically with depressing endings) I have seen and what separates "good" depressing films from "bad" depressing films?
First of all, what's this business about them being good or bad? I make that determination because there are films which are basically deceptive, like Marley, or hokey or cartoonish or just plain manipulative bunkum. These I would dub the bad ones. The good ones would combine an intelligent storyline, dramatic tension and good acting leading up to the depressing ending. I'll give you my short list of the best depressing endings of all time:
Paths of Glory -- If you ever wish to give a young person a two hour quick study on the utter futility of war and the absolute emptiness of much of the typical emotional gush you get about the noble nature of warfare, this is the film to take him or her to. Anyhow, the ending scene where the German maid sings a soulful, plaintive version of a German song in front of a bunch of combat-hardened French soldiers does it for me.
Breaker Morant -- Different war, a slightly different message about the futility of war. "It's a different type of war" is one of the lines of the movie and they've undoubtedly been using that piece of wisdom since Thermopylae. The ending will suck the soul out of you, but in a good way.
Chinatown -- It's noirish and Nicholson and Dunaway are at their best but, in the end, the monster wins and you're left feeling very empty.
The Godfather II -- Part II contains the absolute most depressing ending of the franchise. Michael distanced himself from his own humanity, cast out his wife, turned into more of a monster than you could ever imagine ... and killed his own brother. Sitting alone in a chair obviously wrestling with his demons is a fit depressing ending.
Million Dollar Baby -- The ending should have the viewer asking basic questions about the value of life and who should decide when to end it. Whichever way you feel on the subject, the ending is a downer.
Requiem For A Dream -- Anti-drug movies done the right way IMHO. Rub our faces and souls in it and don't allow anyone who matters in the movie emerge undamaged.
Se7en -- Fincher's darkest movie and one in which all the main characters get scarred.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb -- Sort of strange to have a comedy on a list of depressing endings, but it's a dark, dark comedy. The prospect of mankind being continued from such breeding stock at the end is ineffably depressing.
Sophie's Choice -- Some choice indeed. And one which would easily turn someone who made it into a suicide waiting to happen.
Dancer In The Dark -- Say what you will about Bjork, the ending of this flick had me in tears.
There's my list for the top ten most "good" depressing endings of any films I've ever seen (and I already gave you an idea of what I considered to be bad). I'm sure there will be other candidates you can come up with. But, in the words of the immortal Dr. Sylvester Stone, "different strokes for different folks."
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