Looking for sad (or any good) movies...

[lambsheep]

What!?

It's obvious, isn't it? If you're feeling tired, don't go run a marathon. If you're feeling hungry, don't throw out all your food.

And if you're feeling 'depressed', for the love of fuck don't watch depressing bloody movies. Put something fun on and have a laugh.
Honestly, some people mumble mumble...

Yeah I get where your coming from but what the hell is that video about?
I guess it doesnt matter what its about as long as it makes you laugh.

 

[Elliee]

Omm... My best sad movie is Seven Pounds with Will Smith Beautiful

 

[Folksoul]

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM!!!!!!!!

empire magazine's most depressing movie of all time.

and Pans labyrinth

 

[Crowser]

I can't remember the name of the movie right now ('8 pounds', i think) it has will smith, barry pepper, and rosario dawson in it. also, 'sunshine' it has a bit of everything but is ultimately a pretty sad movie...and if your up for a foreign film(s) watch 'jean de florette' and 'manon de source' they are both very sad and are actually telling the same story line. these are just a few that come to mind

Oh. My. God. Someone actually mentioned Sunshine... someone actually KNOWS about Sunshine! It's my second favorite movie, but whenever I mention it all I get is blank stares and "I've never heard of that". SOMEONE ACTUALLY KNOWS ABOUT SUNSHINE!!!

Anyway...

As for the OP, The Road is what initially jumped to my mind... Schindler's List is also an oldie (well the 90s) but a goodie.

 

[Revolutionary]

There's a Cold War movie called The Lives of Others. It's a German film about life in the GDR, and it's a work of art. There are so many layers of detail and the actors are mostly from theatre, so they can act in a most superbly emotive manner. I would call it a moving film, rather than a depressing one, deeply emotional, and wonderfully executed.

Yeah this movie is good, however I just watched Shutter Island and it is more intellectually engaging (especially in the last 20 min) But lives of others is more 'sad'

 

[Radelaide]

Philadelphia. Amazing movie. Tom Hanks is quite possibly one of the best actors in the world and this is just another reason to love him

 

[Labyrinth]

Yeah this movie is good, however I just watched Shutter Island and it is more intellectually engaging (especially in the last 20 min) But lives of others is more 'sad'

I used Lives of Others as a related text, and found it amply engaging. Then again, I spent three of the four times I've watched it analysing every nuance I could find, so arguably I looked for more depth than one would get from just the single viewing.

 

[moretimethansense]

Gran Torino is a damn good film so I'd recomend that,
Also Grave of the Fireflies it's an anime film but don't let any bias toward the medium you may or may not have dissuade you, It will depress the fuck out of you.

Watership down it's a cartoon film based off of a book written for children (How this film is suitible for young children is beyond me) I don't know if you'd call it a "deppressing" film but it certanly has it's moments.

Also It's an anime seireis not a film but Now and Then Here and There is simply one of the most depressing things I've ever seen I can't bring myself to finish watching it it's that sad,
Poor dub job though.

And there's always Saikano this one's a manga and is also thoughroly depressing, there is an anime but it changes the ending slightly and many characters are given less development/clipped death scenes,
Oh their is a live action adaptation but it's utter shite.

Sorry I don't have more live action films but many "sad" live action films are somwhat the same to the point I can usually tell who is going to die and how less than an hour in.

 

[BENZOOKA]

-snip-

Fellow depressed:

Requiem For A Dream

I guarantee you. It's incredible.

 

[Swny Nerdgasm]

Yup. I'm currently [sub]very[/sub] depressed, and I am looking for sad movies.
Why I am asking for this? Well I find myself more interested on sad movies, even when I am not depressed, and I find that they show more emotion than the ones that don't.

Case in point, All About Lily Chou-Chou [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_About_Lily_Chou-Chou]. Just check the link, I won't elaborate much of the movie, however I feel like writing a review for the movie since no one has done one before in The Escapist.

Anyways, what are your suggestions?

Here are mine:
The aforementioned All About Lily Chou Chou, Vendetta [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendetta_%281999_film%29], Green Dragon [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Dragon_%28film%29] and K-Pax [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-PAX_%28film%29].

Note: You can say any movie, be it happy or sad, but if it goes on similar themes or does a good job on, well, everything. Also preferably mention somewhat nor widely known movies. I can guess already that at least 5 people are going to mention Pan's Labyrinth.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and the original Let the Right One In, haven't seen the american remake but if you think about what Eli really did you'll realize how sad it is

 

[EmzOLV]

I have to say one of my favourite ones at the moment has to be the Wackness. I would go into too much detail but you can check it out on IMDB here.

I have to say, my reasons for really enjoying this film is just, when I'm depressed it makes me feel really good about things without saying that being depressed is bad. It's a nice journey and I like the characters in it, and I just felt like some of the quotes really do fit very nicely in certain episodes of my life. It's kinda gritty, but not violent gritty. It's just, laid back, and I like it.

 

[Ristle]

One of, if not my favorite film is "Leon" or "The Professional" as it was known in the states.

Jean Reno is an assassin who finds a reason to live while Gary Oldman is a crooked cop who wants rid of him. Don't knock it till you've watched it.

 

[shogunblade]

Synecdoche, New York [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383028/]is the one I've been throwing around a lot lately. It reminded me of a quote Truman Capote once said about how, "Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act", which, if I'm sure is true, means that life will get better at some point and then start sucking.

The Seventh Seal [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050976/] is another, being a little depressing, but having some of the most thought provoking commentary on religion, and the fact that it's 50+ years old, it's amazing how well it works.

Donnie Darko [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/] is another example, it's sad(and good), plus it's something of a mind screw, it's also best not trying to figure it out the first time you watch it.

 

[Pokeylope]

Gotta agree with labyrinth on 'the lives of others' thats a fantastic film.
Someone mentioned Up as well, was it moviebob who said if you don't cry in the first half hour of Up you're a robot?

Calling a movie "sad" is difficult. The best films will touch on a range of emotions, some are happy with a gut-punch sad ending (glory). Some are sad with an uplifting ending (shawshank). Some are sad for entirely different reasons (phantom menace).

I'd make a bigger list of the gut-punchy ones, but I'd basically be spoiling them all. If an action movie is critically acclaimed, chances are the main character dies.