Emotionally affecting films

[Andy008]

Has anyone ever seen a film that left them genuinely breathless/shaken/stunned after? if so which?

[Binky]

Trite I know, but "Love Story" and "The Bridges of Madison County".  I watched "Love Story" for the first time when I was about 11 and I had to be literally put to bed afterwards as I was sobbing so much.

[galltin]

Steel Magnolias - don't watch it if you have renal failure!

Another vote for Green Mile - love that film. I sobbed when I watched Terms of Endearment.

Revulsion at Reservoir Dogs.

[Sweet G]

Didnt cry at E.T, cried at The Champ (John Voight), I felt very dirty after watching Boogie Nights, not a criticism of the content just a reflection on how well the director made out the unpleasantness of the story. Am still stunned by Apocalypse Now, its like an weird acid trip which I guess Coppola was trying to equate to the whole Vietnam war and by extension war itself and its impact on the human condition. Echo the sentiments re SPR and am interested in some of the World Cinema recommendations in this thread. Thanks

[GucciGal]

Requiem for a dream with Jared Leto. Was stunned when it ended.....will never forget the music which accompanied the last few scenes.

[Ewar Woowar]

Mystic River is one of the few films which left me thoroughly upset.  I had a feeling what was going to happen, but when it did I was so shocked and couldn't shake it off for hours after it ended. Still, a brilliantly acted movie.

[georgit79]

The Green Mile, definitely. So very moving and the main guy (can't remember his name, big black bloke) is an amazing actor. I was still crying about half an hour after it ended. A film I saw quite recently also made me and most of the audience wail, but I'm having difficulty remembering what it was. I'm sure it will come to me! Also 21 Grams- I know I was blubbing through bits of that.

[frizzytwig]

Not a film but one of the first episodes of Spooks when a character had here head shoved in a deep fat fryer.  Even now thinking about it gives me the wobbles, it was truly dreadful to watch.  I think many people complained to beeb about it.

[frizzytwig]

Not a film but an episode of Spooks where one of the characters gets her head shoved in a deep fat fryer.  It still gives me the wobbles thinking about it.  I think many people complained to the Beeb, it was very graphic.

[BossyBoots]

Immortal Beloved with Gary Oldfield - its a bit slow at the beginning but he is great at the end

[Litchick]

I remember needing a stiff drink after "Dead Man Walking" and the last five minutes of "Blair Witch Project."

[Artful]

"The Blair Witch Project" left me stone cold and I had been looking forward to it so much. A total disappointiment.

Not heard of "Immortal Beloved" and I have been a fan of Gary Oldman's ever since "Prick Up Your Ears" and his frocks!

Sweet G, glad your interested in the World Cinema recommendations. There are so many more.

But the film I have cried the most in (and I use the word carefully as I had the rows around me move as far back as they could!) was "The Way We Were" and now I only have to see the opening sequence and I am a total wreck!

[smee.tracey]

Schindler's List. My chatterbox friend and I drove home in silence. Mainly because it actually happened. Fantastic acting, and only the Nazi's swore!

Also a really bad film with Sly Stallone 'Over the top'. The scene towards the end with his son reduces me to tears. Far too good acting for Stallone!

[tracey0878]

Passion of Christ...left me wishing id left the film to the critics

[Andy008]

I only asked because I watched Leon for the first time in ages last week. It was strange to see how, 11 years after its release, Luc Besson created a film still so painfully cool, with Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman and Jean Reno giving incredible performances.

Also. much like Michael Mann's Heat, Besson gave a strange feeling of beauty to an inherently ugly city.

[babkin]

House of sand and fog starring Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connolly. Great film and very moving at the end!

[Mistopheles]

Sorry, but I didn't find Saving Private Ryan at all moving, nor AI - actually I found AI very dull. Don't get me wrong though, I cry at almost everything! I love Serendipity and usually cry at that.

Series tend to get me more than films, probably because you've had longer to get invested in the characters. The episode of Friends where Monica and Chandler get engaged has me in floods every time, as does the episode of One Foot in the Grave where Pippa loses her baby.

Books get me more than anything else. I've often found myself sitting on a bus sobbing my heart out because I've just read something very sad.

[KingKonk]

I can't believe that "The Deer Hunter" has not yet been mentioned in the answers.

I knew very little about the plot of this film before I went into the cinema to see it - so was totally unprepared for the emotional shock that I was about to experience.

No film before or since "The Deer Hunter" has had such an impact on me.

Shaken? Yes!  

Stunned? Definitely Yes!  Impossible not to be.

Please do not write in and tell me that you watched this film without being moved by it - I simply would not believe you!

[happy_face]

Mr Holland's Opus had me balling my eyes out.

American History X had me stunned. Such a powerful and great film

[magicbeatle]

I have to say 'Saving Private Ryan' too. It is the only film i have ever seen that left me speechless after seeing it on the cinema. I have it on DVD and still find it harrowing to watch. I cant help imagining myself in that situation.  

[Bluemukka]

"The Champ" with Jon Voight. I defy anyone not to cry watching this - the best performance by a child ( Ricky Schroeder) ever. Even on the DVD director commentary Franco Zefferelli and Jon Voight break down crying during one particular scene - I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it and you know what I'm talking about if you have!!

A 10 hanky film.