10 Hilariously Awful Cry-Faces That Ruined Moving Scenes

2. Edward Norton - American History X

It may seem heretical to speak pejoratively about Edward Norton, especially when he was in his acting heyday back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Norton was (and still is) a powerhouse actor, capable of delivering intense and believable performances. Still, if there has ever been a weak spot in his acting it has to do with his crying scenes, which for the most part have never felt entirely convincing. Consider the finale of his classic film American History X, where his younger brother, Edward Furlong's Danny has been gunned down in the bathroom of his high school. Everything seems fine at first, especially as Derek runs towards his fallen brother, hoarsely screaming "No!" over and over again. Then things becomes a little less powerful. Derek pulls Danny onto his lap, cradling his head against his chest. He begins to "cry," so to speak, but no tears are in sight. All that we are left with are his expressions, which look surprisingly simulated for an actor of Norton's caliber. Thankfully, the scene is relatively brief, and the impact of Danny's horrific death is only partially ruined.