The Film Emotion Blogathon

If you saw yesterday's post, you might remember that I found a great blogathon that I would love to be a part of. It is The Film Emotion Blogathon hosted by Conman of Conman at the Movies. It came about because he saw Inside Out and fell in love with it. I haven't seen it, yet, but hope to have a similar experience with that or any other movie. There are some specific emotions covered within that film and Conman decided to utilize this to help us cold-hearted bloggers get in touch with out inner selves. Here are the rules he put in place for us to follow:

1.) Pick five films to represent the five emotions in Inside Out. The criteria for choosing these films is listed below. I would be willing to allow a tie, if you couldn’t decide between two films to best represent one of the emotions.
2.) Write out five paragraphs, (one for each film) talking about the movies and why you chose them.
3.) Post them on your blog (or Tumblr or whatever).
4.) Send me the link by posting it here in the comments.

What I’m looking for are five movies that make YOU feel a certain emotion. Here’s what to look for;

Conman goes on to describe what he wants for each of the emotions. It's fairly self-explanatory, but if you want to see his full post, by all means, click here. Those emotions are joy, sadness, fear, anger, and disgust. Let's get started.

Joy

Coming to America

If there is one movie that gives me joy, one that always perks me up, it's this one. From the first time I saw it, as a teenager, in the theater way back on its opening weekend in 1988 through the dozens of viewings I've had since, including just a few weeks ago, I've always had a great time watching this film. Whatever problems I have melt away for the two hours that it's on. Even though I can recite just about the entire script and know every joke that's coming, I still laugh hysterically. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are flat out amazing here, making full use of their comedic talent. The story is a still-unique blend of raunchy R-rated comedy and fairy tale sensibilities that combine to make a winning formula. Whenever I'm feeling down, Prince Hakim and Semi know how to cheer me up. (Obviously, it's a Movie I Grew Up With)

Sadness

Calvary

By nature, I'm a skeptic. Some might say I'm a cynic. Even if that's true, I'm nowhere near as cynical as this movie. It goes beyond saying that humans are inherently flawed. It points out that we are our own worst enemy, we are doomed to destroy ourselves, and even faith is not enough to save us. I'm by no means religious, but I have respect for those that are. Whether or not any of us agree with the particulars of one religion or another, the idea that good will eventually triumph over evil is an admirable one. This movie suggests that this is not the case. It tells us we will inevitably succumb to innermost demons. I was left so shaken by the experience, I can't see myself watching this movie ever again. (click here for my full review)

Fear

Requiem for a Dream

Growing up in New York during the Reagan era meant the introduction of crack-cocaine as a viable and rapid means of income for the disenfranchised and/or those seeking a shortcut to wealth. Getting involved in that side of it means being in a cutthroat business competing for a self-destructive customer base. The booming of this business also meant there were far more addicts than ever before. The drug decimated families and whole communities. There was a proliferation of public service announcements about the dangers of drugs on TV, but the most ubiquitous effort at helping was also the most feeble: Nancy Reagan's Just Say No campaign. It served to do little more than further her image as a philanthropic figure without any real success to show for it. Drug addiction continued to grow and ravage cities from coast to coast. For me, personally, I saw friends and family members who were destroyed, or nearly destroyed by drug addiction. I learned a lesson from their plight. Drugs terrified me. That finally brings us to Requiem for a Dream. It's all about drug addiction and the effects of it, here, are spectacularly scary.

Anger

The Barbarian Invasions

This won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and I hated every minute of it. Stupidity was so rampant, I couldn't get past it to give a damn about what the movie was trying to tell me. I know, I haven't given any details on any other movie, but I have to on this one to illustrate my point. The plot revolves around Remy. He has a terminal form of cancer and just wants to be allowed to die. I'm good with this. The problems come from his son Sebastien. Reluctantly, at first, Sebastien sets out to make his dad's last days as comfortable as possible. And this is where the stupidity starts. He finds out there was once a program where pain in patients such as his dad were treated with heroin. It no longer exists. So where does Sebastien go to try and score his dad some smack? Right to the police station. Yup. Dude just marches in, asks to speak to an officer and tries to convince the cop to give him some heroin from their stash of confiscated drugs out of the goodness of their hearts to give to his dear old dying dad. Really? Who would think to do something so dumb as this? His decisions only get worse from there. It doesn't help that everything played out in as boring and pretentious a manner as possible. I was royally pissed watching this and I don't care who knows it.

Disgust

Gummo

This movie's director, Harmony Korine, is a polarizing figure. Normally, I'm one of the ones who hail his work as genius. I find the disturbing Kids, unsettling in all the right ways and the hyper-kinetic, super-stylistic Spring Breakers is brilliant. Gummo is one I can't wrap my head around. Not only is it bereft of plot, it makes no sense whatsoever. It just follows kids in their dilapidated town doing some of the most heinous things imaginable without rhyme or reason. Just for good measure, their parents get in on the act, too. It becomes a series of events designed to turn your stomach, and only engaging you on that physical level. Without a story to tell nor a statement to make, at least not one that I could discern, the entire film exists merely to disgust the viewer. With this viewer, it succeeds. (click here for my full review)

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