most emotionally devasting moment in film - Page 31 - The Lounge Discussion and Review on Literature, Arts, Culture

MaliceUW · 02-05-2012, 04:38 AM

I cry at the end of Pulp Fiction because it's over

Brandonspade · 02-05-2012, 02:35 PM

One more to add..."The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was a really interesting film and to see how the character progressed from old to young...not going to spoil anything but to see him live his life backwards was very interesting. Him having to leave his daughter because he know's he cannot give her a decent life is so heartbreaking. The note he leaves for her is very touching as well.

Great film and worth watching if you haven't already. Sorry guess these are more sad than emotionally devastating. Sorry to derail.

**Rushmore** · 02-05-2012, 10:11 PM

Ironically, it is from Godfather III.

I can cite this because I have a daughter now.

nuclear500 · 02-05-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominic

fictional works only, please...

My pick:

Sophie's Choice - her choice, obviously.

I don't remember ever being more emotionally distraught over a scene in a movie than watching Meryl Streep forced to choose which child she can "keep," her young son or her toddler daughter, and which child shall be taken away to a concentration camp and/or killed.

It happens in such a trivial moment...one minute Sophie and her two children are being herded towards a train with Jews...she approaches a Nazi Officer and tells him there's some mistake, she's not Jewish, she's Polish - Aryan - like he is. His reply is simply evil:

"You may keep one child."

At first, she doesn't understand...but he explains it to her: she either chooses which child shall remain with her and which will go with the German, or he will take both of them from her.

She begins to plead and the German finally goes to take both children from her when she thrusts her daughter at him and screams, "take her, take my baby!"

And he does.

The look of complete and utter horror on Streep's face kills me, every time. In fact, I always vow to never watch the movie again after that scene comes on. But I can't keep that promise because Streep and Kline and MacNichol and Pakula made a perfect, glorious film.

I hate you for making me find the clip on Youtube and watch it.

Dominic · 02-05-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclear500

I hate you for making me find the clip on Youtube and watch it.

heh...sorry. You should really see the whole movie. It's great. Kevin Kline's first movie!

**Rushmore** · 02-06-2012, 06:57 AM

You have to watch the whole clip

It is truly the perfect ending to a film that will only get better with time. In my opinion, a masterpiece.

ChaosReigns · 02-06-2012, 03:23 PM

Spartacus. When he is hanging on the cross and his wife comes by.

MaliceUW · 02-06-2012, 03:24 PM

6 feet under series finale

that's film right

Dominic · 02-06-2012, 03:24 PM

yeah, that ending and the Wise-Up montage are both glorious film making.

kudzudemon · 02-06-2012, 04:55 PM

I thought I had mentioned this, but

Spoiler:

Radio Raheem's death towards the end of Do the Right Thing was one of the more stunning film moments I've ever seen. One minute we're in this almost Capra-esque comedy, then it gets a little tense, then BOOM. His death messed me up a lot more than the burning of Sal's Famous.

itsasexywaytoCRAI · 02-06-2012, 05:00 PM

iirc the entirety of Bastard out of Carolina and Lilja 4ever

33 Big Blinds · 02-07-2012, 11:09 AM

The scene in the school bathroom at the end of American Hisoty X. Blew my mind that that's the way the movie ends. 1 hour of inspirational hope building, all crushed in 10 seconds. That movie made me feel like I wasn't even watching a movie, but rather viewing a life story from a fly-on-the-wall perspective.

jherward · 02-07-2012, 12:08 PM

The end of the training section in Full Metal Jacket where Pvt. Pile goes over the edge.All the physical and mental abuse he's been put through gets on top of him and he completely loses it,very well acted and if the film had finished right there it would have been enough.

Inglorious Basterds two scenes in this,the first scene where the Jews hiding under the floorboards are massacred,the way the converstaion switches languages is handled brilliantly and the dialogue between Col. Landa and LaPadite is fantastic.

The 2nd is the scene in the underground bar where a German soldier and his comrades are celebrating the birth of his son while a German double agent has arranged to meet two of the 'Basterds' the tension builds brilliantly in this and the climax is devestating and sudden.

Finally 'Inside I'm Dancing' this is an Irish film about 2 young men suffering severe handicaps Michael is a 24-year-old who has cerebral palsy he forms a friendship with Rory O'Shea who can move only his right hand,but can understand Michael's almost unintelligible speech.This a fantastically funny film but the end of it is just heartbreaking.

Duke · 02-07-2012, 04:24 PM

A couple I haven't seen mentioned here yet that get me to tear up a bit:

The opening montage to Watchmen. The combination of the music, and references to real and fake history is done so well that without knowing a single character yet you feel a hell of a lot.

In Gattaca, there's a scene where Ethan Hawke asks Jude Law "How the hell he got up here." Law: "Oh I could always walk - I've been faking it." That's the point where I realized that the character that mapped to me was not the underdog - he was the one with all of the gifts and none of the work ethic needed for success.

Bovvaboy · 02-09-2012, 04:41 AM

The end of Candy. Heath Ledgers character Dan finally gets off heroin but when Candy shows up he gives her the cold shoulder to avoid risking dragging them both into heroin addiction again, which their relationship was basically based on. really sad. another upsetting part in the movie is when Dan accepts Candy turning tricks so they can buy drugs, another when their baby is still born........actually the whole movie is gut wrenching!