STACK September 2017 Issue 155

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036 SEPTEMBER 2017
visit DVD&BD FEATURE
The
CRYING
GAME
Check out the range of Movies That Make You Cry Ugly at from 10th September to 15th October 2017
BEACHES
"Did you ever know that you're my hero/
And everything I would like to be?" Are you crying
yet? The Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey chick-
flick classic is undoubtedly the Mount Everest of
tearjerkers, in which the grim reality of losing your
best friend and soulmate is milked for maximum
effect. Prepare for a tsunami of tears when
Bette's mournful ballad finally kicks in.
THE CHAMP
A child's grief has got to be one of the saddest
things of all, and nine-year-old Ricky Schroder's
tears at the end of this Jon Voight boxing drama
packs an even bigger punch than his onscreen
dad. The movie has even been used in scientific
experiments to induce grief, and while there
have been a lot of tears under the bridge since
1979, it remains a champion tearjerker.
LION
There are tearjerkers, and then there are
feel-good tearjerkers. If this sounds like a
contradiction, watch Lion. The true story of a
little Indian boy adopted by Aussie parents, who
attempts to find his real ones as an adult, is
destined to end in tears – but at least you'll also
be uplifted. To steal the tagline from Ordinary
People, "some films you watch, others you feel."
MARLEY & ME
The fact that there's a loveable labrador involved
will give you advance warning that what looks
like a romantic comedy will end in tears. "A dog
doesn't care if you're rich or poor, give him your
heart and he'll give you his," notes owner Owen
Wilson. He'll also break it when the inevitable
happens. Guaranteed to make you cry ugly – even
grown men go to pieces watching this one.
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
Terminal illness dramas are particularly upsetting,
especially when there are teenaged cancer
patients involved – and they fall in love. Based on
John Green's young adult tearjerker that's loaded
with sweet nothings designed to make you howl,
star-crossed lovers Shailene Woodley and Ansel
Elgort ensure that their time together is a life-
affirming journey, even if it isn't a long one. Sniff.
OLD YELLER
When his beloved yellow mutt is attacked and
infected by a rabid wolf while defending the
family, youngster Tommy Kirk must learn about
death the hard way. Surely the cruellest Disney
movie ever made, this heartbreaking tale left
entire families a mess back in the days when
the studio didn't sugarcoat things. A remake
today would likely conclude with a litter of pups.
There are movies that tug at the heartstrings and then there are those that make
you cry ugly.This month, JB Hi-Fi have collated a range of weepies designed to do
just that. Here are eight top tearjerkers guaranteed to leave you howling like a baby.
Don't ration the tissues – buy them in bulk.
TITANIC
We all know that the boat sinks, and that's tragic
enough. But then Jim Cameron delivers double
devastation with a traumatic farewell between
overboard lovers Jack and Rose. If you don't feel
anything during this moment, your heart is as
cold as an iceberg. And by the closing credits, it's
a toss up as to who will be wailing loudest – the
audience or Celine Dion on the soundtrack.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
When you finally discover why Casey Affleck's
character is so emotionally wounded, you'll not
only be crying ugly, you'll also understand why
he deserved the Best Actor Oscar this year.
It's a tough role, and a tough film to watch. A
powerful exploration of grief and the search for
redemption, Kenneth Lonergan's New England
drama is heartbreaking without being mawkish.
Words Scott Hocking