Top 5 Thursday: Depressing Movies

Sometimes, when you’re feeling down and it feels like the end of the world, you need to watch a depressing movie. Just to see that there are worse things in the world, not to cheer you up. Mostly these are movies that you shouldn’t watch with your family or in a good mood. Here are the most depressing movies ever.

5. Precious

An unflinching portrayal of child abuse, as Gaboury Sidibe’s eponymous teen struggles with rape, domestic violence, illiteracy and pregnancy. It’s based on true events too, as if it wasn’t dispiriting enough …

 

 

4. The Mist

Frank Darabont’s creature-feature adaptation of a novella by Stephen King is a thoroughly enjoyable (if more than a little icky) horror romp that suddenly takes a turn for the mind-numbingly tragic come the final scene…

 

 

3. Leaving Las Vegas

You’re essentially using your Friday-night trip to the movies to watch a deeply unhappy man drink himself to death for two hours. Uplifting, it ain’t.

 

 

2. Million Dollar Baby

Hilary Swank’s tough-as-nails boxer ends up a paraplegic, burdened by a heartless family and reduced to biting through her own tongue in the hope of bleeding to death. Even Clint cries in this one.

 

 

1. Requiem for a Dream

Darren Aronofsky’s waking nightmare follows four lives ravaged by various forms of addiction. Electro-shock therapy, intravenous drug use, prostitution… it’s not exactly a laugh riot.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Black Swan, Blue Valentine, 21 Grams, The Wrestler

Top 5 Thursday: Movies from 2004

Ten years ago now, I feels like just two. Some great films came out that year, here are my favorites. 

 

5. Hotel Rwanda

A real beautiful film, which touches you and grabs you entirely. 

 

 

4. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Completely different from the number five, because this is one of the most ridiculously funny films I’ve ever seen. But when you let Will Ferrell play your lead character, you can expect that.

 

3. Million Dollar Baby

I looked like just another boxing movie, but there was a very dramatic twist. One of my favourite Clint Eastwood films. 

 

 

2. Kill Bill Vol. 2

I like this part even better than the first, not a lot of people would agree. But I love this movie, it’s my favourite Tarantino directed film. 

 

 

1. Shaun of the Dead

British humour is brilliant and this is a great horror comedy. If you don’t think it’s funny, you’re nuts! Ever since I saw this movie, I laugh every single time I hear “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Notebook, The Bourne Supremacy, The Incredibles

Top 5 Thursday: Clint Eastwood Directed Movies

Clint Eastwood is a great actor, but an even better director. So this list only includes movies that Eastwood directed.

5. Invictus
It’s a very inspiring story and I just love Morgan Freeman in his role as Nelson Mandela. Eastwood did a great job telling this unbelievable story.

4. A Perfect World
I haven’t seen this movie in a while, but it’s a great film. Kevin Costner was a hero of mine back in the days.

3. Million Dollar Baby
I didn’t think this movie would make me cry in the end, it has a very dramatic twist.

2. Mystic River
This is a character study, with interesting people and fabulous acting. Such a gripping story.

1. Gran Torino
I absolutely love this movie, it’s his best. It’s really hard to direct a movie, but he also play its lead character. Such a fantastic film with a heartbreaking ending.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Changeling

Top 5 Thursday: Morgan Freeman Movies

Tom Hanks is my favorite actor, as you might know, but this genius man named Morgan Freeman is a good second! He’s made so many movies and I wanted to do this a long time ago already. It’s a big task, but now I did it. I lined up my five favorite Morgan Freeman movies. Here they are.

5. Glory
Fantastic movie that I haven't seen that many times yet. I do remember that tear on Denzel Washington's cheek and the amazing performance by Morgan Freeman.

4. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Many may disagree, but I still think this is the best version of the classic story. OK, probably everyone who loves movies will disagree, but I just love it so much.

3. Million Dollar Baby
When I first thought it was going to be just another boxing story, I was so wrong. It’s so much more and the ending breaks my heart every single time.

2. Se7en
A movie that can still hold my attention from beginning ‘till end after seeing it so many times. It’s such an original story and I just love his character in this movie.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
I bet you didn’t see that coming! People who frequently read my blog know how much I love this film and that it is in fact my all-time favorite movie. No further explanation needed.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Kiss the Girls, Invictus, The Bucket List, Batman Begins

Top 5 Thursday: Boxing Movies

There are so many boxing movies and for some reason the boxing in the films is more interesting then an actual boxing match. Here are my favorite movies about this sport.

5. Rocky Balboa
Off course my first reaction was; another Rocky movie. Who wants to see a 60 year old Sylvester Stallone in a boxing ring? But I came to love this movie, it really surprised me. And no matter how old he is, Rocky Balboa ends up being the most emotionally-touching of all the “Rocky” sequels.

4. Cinderella Man
One of director Ron Howard’s finest efforts to date. It is the heart-wrenching true story of Jim Braddock, a once promising fighter who lost almost everything after the great depression hit. Overlooked if you tell me, great acting by Russel Crowe.

3. Raging Bull
While “Raging Bull” isn’t necessarily a traditional movie about the sport of boxing, it is most certainly an incredibly deep character study of Jake LaMotta. Incredible movie.

2. Million Dollar Baby
This one was different from all the other boxing movies, because it was about a female boxer. What starts out as just another boxing story, suddenly takes a sharp turn into much darker and more dramatic territory. And fantastic performances by Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood.

1. Rocky
The ultimate favorite and maybe the best underdog story ever told. Rocky has a title-shot against the heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed. I love Rocky’s incredible determination and courage. And that classic scene with his fist up in the air.

They almost made the top 5: “The Champ”, “Rocky 2”, “Ali” and “The Hurricane”