Five Good But Depressing Films: Seven Pounds, Schindler’s List, Candy, Gegen Die Wand and Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream starring Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn

Cover via Amazon

And the most depressing movie ever award goes to Requiem for a Dream. This is a solid, in-your-face movie afatihbout drug addicts, addiction and how it can destroy your life. The story centers around an addict couple Harry (Jared Leto) and Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and Harry’s mother (Ellen Burstyn), who gets addicted to diet pills – Currently it is rated at 62 on IMDB’s top 250 list, voted by over 181,600 users. While it is a powerful film, watching it was a painful experience. There isn’t one happy moment in this film and the title couldn’t have been more appropriate. It is one of those rare times when the movie is good but I didn’t enjoy the experience one bit.

Note that Ellen Burstyn was nominated for Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role with this film.

Candy starring Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish

Image: upcomingdiscs.com

Dan (Heath Ledger) and Candy (Abbie Cornish) are having a passionate yet drug-fuelled relationship.It starts as refreshing and fun for Candy but soon addiction will take over their lives and their relationship. Rated at 7.2 on IMDB, Candy is another good film about what drugs to people – both physically and emotionally. The performances are really good but it is not a light movie and it is not for fun. Only recommended if you are a Heath Ledger or Abbie Cornish fan or if you are in the mood for something realistic and dark.

 Other Posts Featuring Heath Ledger

10 Things I hate about you review

10 Hollywood and Rocknroll Hall of Fame Tragedies

15 Movie and TV Singing Moments (featuring video of Heath Ledger singing “Can’t take my eyes off you”)

5 Fun Heath Ledger Movies

Schindler’s List starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes

  Image:emiraydin. net

Schindler’s List is probably Steven Spielberg’s most critically acclaimed films. It tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who doesn’t like how the Nazis are treating Jews and decides to save as many as he can. The movie is mostly shot in black and white, and it lasts for 195 minutes. Despite its perfect cast and compelling storyline, this is a difficult movie to watch. 195 minutes about homicide, in black and white with Ralph Fiennes as a Nazi soldier isn’t an easy or comfortable experience. However, this movie is rated 8.9 on IMDB, and is currently rated at number 7 on IMDB’s top 250 list. It is powerful and it should be watched but don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t sit and watch it in one setting. Liam Neeson is marvelous and so are Kingsley and Fiennes. Ralph Fiennes was nominated for Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Liam Neeson was also nominated for Best Actor. The movie went on to win 7 Oscars. Though it didn’t receive awards for the acting, it won Best Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, Best Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.

Needless to say, the movie is very depressing. And even at its most uplifting moment, Oskar makes a brilliant but equals sad remark and well…it makes you think for a long while…

 Reviews for Liam Neeson Movies

- Chloe

- The Other Man

- Seraphim Falls 

- Kingdom of Heaven

Gegen Die Wand starring Birol Unel and Sibel Kekilli

  Image: loonyparty.net

Gegen Die Wand is a movie in German, directed by the Turkish-German director Fatih Akin. It is rated at 8 on IMDB, voted by over 16,500 people. It won the Golden Berlin Bear award and it has numerous other awards and nominations. I reviewed the movie in detail on my blog but let me just say that the movie is brilliant at depressing you, lifting you up with hope and then taking it all away again. It is clever and powerful. And because I don’t like tragedies, self-destruction and avoidable consequences, I don’t really like the second half. But it is must-see film regardless of its flaws. I especially find the first half to be a near masterpiece.

Review and Plot Summary for Gegen Die Wand

7 Pounds starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson

Cover of Seven Pounds

I’ll be analyzing this movie on my blogbut I have to say, of all these movies, this is my favorite of the 5. Because despite its really depressing elements, it is also one of the most humane and hopeful movies about humanity and love. The movie keeps affecting you long after it is finished and I admire Will Smith’s performance. It is rated at 7.6 on IMDB, voted by over 61.000 people. This is such a brilliant movie that it amazes me why it is not on the top 250. It is wonderfully sad, intelligent, romantic and depressing. I love this movie, and  I just love how it keeps you connected and hopeful, even when it strongly depresses you. It also has one of the most original story lines I have seen in a movie.

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