Warren Hsu Leonard (he who is ScreenwritingLife.com), a few months back, offered up a list of films that make him cry like a LEEEDLE GURRRRL!!!
Here’s my list:
10 Films That Make Neal R. Cry Like A Leeedle Gurrrrl
- Brief Encounter (1945)
- Black Robe (1991)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- Dangerous Liasons (1988) – Valmont death scene and death speech are a killer, not to mention the rejection (??) of his final message to Madame de Tourvel when she says on her death bed “Enough. Draw the curtains.”
- Doctor Zhivago (1965) – Every time I see “Zhivago”, I’m overcome by a different moment, or two. Usually it’s in the last 20 minutes: “She died or vanished somewhere. In one of the labour camps. A nameless number on a list that was afterward mislaid.” Or Rita Tushingham’s breakthrough: “He let go of my hand! He let go of my hand…And I was lost.” But, of course, always, inevitably: “Ah. Then it’s a gift.” and the dam breaks.
- King Kong (2005) – Naomi Watts’ sincere love for the creature make his persecution and death utterly heartbreaking.
- Robin and Marian (1976)
- Spartacus (1960) – It’s that very last scene with Jean Simmons going off in the wagon with Peter Ustinov, looking back at the dying Kirk Douglas repeating her farewell to him like a litany: “Goodbye, my love, my life, goodbye, goodbye…”
- Stairway to Heaven (1946) – It’s the only movie I can think of that has me sniveling in the first 10 minutes.
- Whale Rider (2002) – oh, you know the scene.