The saddest movies are not, contrary to popular belief, the ones that come packaged as tear-jerkers. Yes, The Notebook is a "sad" movie, but I'd be lying if I said it made me feel particularly upset or choked up. That's simply because I expected it to be dramatic and ultimately depressing. No, the saddest movies are the ones that we walk into believing that they're going to be something else. I'm talking about action movies, Adam Sandler flicks, and even some unexpected kids' movies, all of which are more likely to make us connect with the downfall of their onscreen characters because they take us completely by surprise when they hit us with those emotional beats. Of course, we don't want to admit that a kids' movie made us bawl our eyes out - that's sort of embarrassing, isn't it? Which is why I've formulated a list for you, being sure to point out some of cinema's most unexpectedly emotional moments. Hope you have a box of tissues nearby. Let the countdown begin...
10. Speed Racer
Yes, most people consider the Wachowski's version of 80s favorite, Speed Racer, a complete mockery of moviemaking itself. I too found some troubling faults within the setup of the movie itself, but it is about time I came out of the Speed Racer closet: I love this movie. It made me feel things, notably in the scenes that featured the father-son moments between Speed (played by Emile Hirsch) and his father (John Goodman). In the very beginning of the movie, the narrative attempts to introduce us to Speed Racer's world via a narration overlapping Speed's latest attempt at breaking his estranged brother's record. The scene itself is nothing special; it simply tells us who these characters are, where they came from, and why Speed is trying to live up to his sibling's potential. We find out that Speed's brother was shamed shortly before dying in a tragic crash, forcing him to leave behind a tainted legacy that haunts the entire family. The moment that catches us all by surprise, however, is when we discover that Speed is racing against the ghost of his brother. Not his actual brother, of course, but one that Speed is visualising thanks to his flawless memory of how his brother races. And then he lets the ghost win... in order to preserve at least some of his brother's positive legacy. And that's all within the first 10 minutes of the film. Pass me a tissue, please.
Jon is the author of the Pixar Theory, the narrative that combines all of the Pixar movies in one timeline. You can read more about his random nonsense on jonnegroni.com
