Okay, youngsters, this movie is called "Terms of Endearment," and it was probably the first movie I remember that addressed death. Okay, I take that back. "Bambi" was my first experience of death in a movie, but we're going to pretend that didn't happen. I want you to watch the clip. I dare you. Go ahead, do it right now.
Sweet, huh?
"Terms of Endearment" came out in 1983 when I was 13 and I went to see it with my mom. I remember being rather embarrassed by the sexy parts but I also remember sitting in the darkened movie theater sobbing during this scene. Even though I'd seen Bambi as a kid and cried about his mom, as a teenager I was so embarrassed by showing sadness or grief, especially in a room full of strangers. Granted, I wasn't alone in my weepiness, but I still felt weird when the lights came up. When you're a teen, you're a little more aware that people might look at you and judge the streams of mascara and bright blue eye shadow running down your face. Now I don't give a fudge.
Why?
Well, for one, it feels pretty darn cathartic to cry. Let's take a look at another scene from a different movie to see how it's done. This one's from 1989, "Steel Magnolias," a pretty good chick flick where they manage to make Julia Roberts look bad with the magic of a short wig.
People made fun of Sally Field for this scene, but I think her performance was awesome. And "Hit Ouiser" is one of the best comic lines of all times.
So, that's all I've got for today boys and girls. So, do you like to cry at the movies? What films have made you cry?
