Hello, friends! I’m excited because we are entering into the greatest season of the year. The weather has been fantastic- cool and rainy! Life is good! And I’m writing about something I love- movies! (You’re thinking- Again? Geez Bartley, come up with something new already….) But it’s a different take, I promise! Before we get to the main topic, I’d like to get something out in the open. Recently, actor Patrick Swayze passed on. And there has been much discussion about his biggest films. Now, I’ll tell you that I have seen The Outsiders, Ghost, and Point Break. But I have never seen Dirty Dancing. There- I said it. Most of my friends were shocked to hear that news, knowing what a film geek I am. But the thing is, I don’t really care if I do see it. Chew on that for a while….
On to the topic! I have a good friend, Shawn, who was a college roommate of mine. He’s living in Virginia with his lovely family now, but recently on Facebook he brought up the topic- “What movies make you cry?” Now, Shawn should know a little about this. When we were in college, we went and saw the movie Mr. Holland’s Opus. Towards the end of the film, my wife and I heard a strange noise, and looked over at Shawn, who was openly weeping. I’m still not sure why- the only thing that made me want to cry in that movie was how bad Mr. Holland’s Opus was. But Shawn was wailing away, and he became known as “The Sobber”. However, I’m not making sport at his behalf, because I have been known to shed a few tears myself. Here’s my list of Cry-Worthy movies, in no particular order:
-Terms of Endearment- Those who know me, know I’m a HUGE Jack Nicholson fan, so that was the main reason I watched this one. And he was incredible in it. But when Debra Winger is laying in the hospital dying, and her sons come in to visit her? Man, I was bawling.
-ET- Probably one of my earliest crying memories. I was around 11 or 12 at the time, and when ET sprung back to life after his near death experience, the waterworks started. Most of my family members still like to make fun of me about this one.
-Million Dollar Baby – I was not a Clint Eastwood fan in the 70’s or 80’s. But after he made “Unforgiven”, which I love, I’ve become a big fan. I went and saw Million Dollar Baby by myself in the middle of the day, so there were only a few people in the theatre. And when Clint does what he has to do at the end, I lost it. Not just tears, but my body was heaving uncontrollably. I wonder if anyone in the theatre thought about consoling me…..
-Forrest Gump- I actually went to see this with Shawn the Sobber. We both loved it. And when Forrest is talking to Jenny’s grave at the end? If you’re not at least tearing up, I’m pretty sure you have no soul.
-The Green Mile- I’ve been a huge Stephen King fan most of my life, and I still think this is one of his best books. The funny thing is, as soon as John Coffee comes on screen at the beginning of the movie, I started weeping, because I knew how it was going to end.
-Return of the King- Yes, I know this is a special effects driven fantasy film. But when Frodo tells Sam and the other Hobbits he’s leaving at the end, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Sam and Frodo had been through so much together, and I hated that their relationship was ending. And that the series was ending.
-Saving Private Ryan- A masterpiece. My own father fought in WWII, and when I watched this, I felt like I had some small idea of what those men went through. And as Tom Hanks sacrifices himself to save Private Ryan, I shed some tears. This was also one of the few movies I saw with my father-in-law Bob, and I think he was moved as well.
-Field of Dreams- Although I don’t really like baseball, and I don’t think Kevin Costner is a good actor, I still love this film. My dad passed away when I was a junior in high school, and this movie came out about 3-4 years later. When Ray looks at his dad, who had been dead for several years, and says “Hey dad- wanna have a catch?”, I turned into a blubbering mess right there in the theatre. Wonderful film.
-Lost- OK, technically this is not a movie, but it’s a TV show that’s as epic as any film I’ve ever seen. And there have been several episodes that have brought me a good cry over the last several years. And if you want to know how sad I am, this summer my wife and I re-watched every episode, and even knowing what was going to happen, I STILL cried. But before you make fun of me, my wife did too, so you’ll have to deal with her as well. And I know that when the series ends next May, I will curl up in the fetal position and cry for weeks.
Well that’s about it. What about you? What are the movies that bring a tear to your eye? Or are you one of those soulless individuals who never cry at anything? (Dr. Jett) I’m here to tell you it’s OK to let it out. I’m as manly as they come, but I’m not afraid to let the tears flow when they are needed. OK- Field of Dreams is on. I’m going to get me a box of tissues and go watch.