Day 9 - Movies That Made Me Cry

Day 9

I am not a big crier. When I talk about crying here, be advised that it was more than likely six months of bottled up tears sparked by the movie which began a conflagration of weeping.

I once cried through a Benji movie....because it was numbingly long and boring, to the point that my tender-hearted son looked at me and said, "would Benji just die already!"  Bad, really bad movie. I don't, however, think that is in the spirit of the writing prompt

I am not even going to talk about Bambi, Up, Toy Story 3, Inside Out or Old Yeller. Killing off mothers and dogs and sweet little purple beings and wives of many years and, for the love of Pete, little boys growing up and leaving their toys behind brought to you by the American Academy of  Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

1. Magnificent Obsession - I watched this movie with my mom on TV years ago. There are two things I remember about that night. How devastatingly sad I was at the mother's tender spirit and broken heart, and that out of the corner of my eye, I kept seeing my mom's hand go under the sofa where she was lying. Finally, I asked her what she was doing. She sheepishly admitted that she was eating Russell Stover candy that was hidden beneath the sofa and there were only a few pieces left. Hmmmmmmmm.

2. Shadowlands - We were on a trip and went to see this movie. I knew a bit about C.S. Lewis, had read Mere Christianity. I knew nothing of his personal life. I knew more than I wanted to by the time the movie ended. As we were driving back to the hotel from the theater, I threw myself in the backseat and just gave way to the full on ugly cry.

3. Saving Private Ryan - This is the last war movie I saw willingly. I despise the notion and the facts of war. It is a complete waste of human life, in my mind, which leads to short term results at best. I am willing to entertain the idea of a just war, but there has to be a better way. When this movie was over, I did not even make it to the car. I sat on the curb outside the theater, put my head in my hands and wailed. People leaving the theater must have thought I was related to Captain Miller.

4. Steel Magnolias - My dear brother-in-law, in a moment of weakness or insanity, escorted my mom, my sister, and me to this movie. I fear he may have found us more entertaining than the movie, as we, bawling, shared one small paper napkin, torn into three tiny pieces, to sop up the tears.

5. The Notebook - I read this book, so you would think I would have known better. I was in Gatlinburg with my friend, Judy, who is not one given to flamboyant, public displays, when she excused herself from the room to finish the novel in private.  I went to see the movie on a girls' beach trip. When it was over, we looked at one another and said, " whose stupid idea was this?" Years before, my grandparents died within hours of each other, so that added a whole other dimension of sadness for me.

6. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - My friend, Becky, and I went to see this in high school or college. Becky wore some sort of vinyl jacket that made a squeaky noise. As the movie progressed, she (and I) began to cry. Becky, in an effort to not just drown out the movie with her wails, began to basically crawl inside that noisy coat. It created a bit of comic relief for me, but that movie is a killer.

7. My Girl - Seriously?  What is wrong with moviemakers? Seriously. I watched this with MP. She had seen it. I had not. Shouldn't she have given me a heads up?  Maybe she did. I don't remember. I just know it was a multi tissue viewing.

Day 9 - Movies That Made Me Cry - check