METTEL RAY

Thursday Movie Picks: Meltdowns

With this week’s theme we are going dark. Which is ironic, considering Spring has finally arrived and I myself feel a lot better than a few weeks ago. Yet, my next three recommendations are all three very melancholy movies. All three circle around suicide, suicidal thoughts and those quiet meltdowns, that are even harder to process than the loud ones.

1. ZERO POINT (2014)

I rarely recommend Estonian films but this one is actually something I’m proud to mention every now and then. Zero Point, based on a book by the same name, has its lighter moments, but it also has dark undertones. Suicidal thoughts are actually part of the narrative as well as the structure of the book. The title even refers to that point in your life when you feel like you’re nothing, you’re literally at point zero. What makes this movie even more heartbreaking is the fact that the author of the book, Margus Karu, who I had the pleasure to meet a few times, passed away last year at the age of 32. He had been struggling with depression for years.

2. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012)

Another movie based on a book that features heavy themes. While the movie starts light, and doesn’t really go to the darkest places, our main characters suffers a meltdown at the beginning of act three. Logan Lerman, who I actually like quite a bit, does a wonderful job with his character and you really end up feeling crushed by the very end. The movie showcases how important it is to talk about things, and not push them down, because if things pile up, they have a tendency to crumble down fast.

3. A SINGLE MAN (2009)

Can we survive without our better half? Can we be complete without a person, who made us feel full of life, love and everything between? A Single Man explores the thoughts of a widowed man, who lost his partner, and is contemplating suicide. It’s the calm and quiet manner he goes through life while screaming for help on the inside. With great performances from Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Matthew Goode, A Single Man is beautifully tragic from the first to the last scene.

 THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES

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15 responses to “Thursday Movie Picks: Meltdowns”

  1. Sonia (A Film A Day) Avatar
    Sonia (A Film A Day)

    Never heard of Zero Point. I’m not surprised since my knowledge of Estonian movies is non-existent. It sounds interesting though so I’ll definitely check it out.

    I loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower (haven’t read the book yet) and I enjoyed A Single Man too.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      I’m not surprised, it is an Estonian film after all. It’s one of my favourites, and I usually don’t like Estonian films. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Big Screen Small Words Avatar
    Big Screen Small Words

    I haven’t seen your first pick but loved your last two! It took another viewing for me to appreciate Perks of Being a Wallflower. Colin Firth’s performance in A Single Man is one of my favorites.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      Not surprising to hear. And I agree, Firth is exceptional, way better than in King’s Speech imo.

      Reply
  3. Joel Avatar
    Joel

    I’ve never heard of your first which I guess isn’t surprising. It sounds challenging. I didn’t love Perks but it had some good things in it. I did however really like A Single Man, as much as it’s possible to like such a sad film anyway. Firth is simply great in it.

    Lots of films with meltdown scenes made this week a rather easy one.

    They Drive by Night (1940)-Joe and Paul Fabini (George Raft & Humphrey Bogart) are wildcat truckers struggling to make enough to get their own business off the ground. When Paul is seriously injured in an accident Joe goes to work for old friend Ed Carlsen (Alan Hale) the owner of a successful trucking firm and all seems well. The problems start when Ed’s much younger wife Lana (a riveting Ida Lupino) discovers that Joe is seriously involved with Cassie (Ann Sheridan) and allows her (unreciprocated) desire for Joe to take extreme measures leading to betrayal and death. Rough, tough Warner’s drama climaxes in a high grade courtroom meltdown.

    Mommie Dearest (1981)-Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) is a huge star at a crossroads in her life and career. Released after decades by MGM and between husbands she decides to start the family she’s always wanted by adopting several children with the oldest being Christina (Mara Hobel as a child/Diana Scarwid as an adult). Madly ambitious and competitive she is not suited to motherhood and rides the children relentlessly meting out hard punishments for small infractions. Among these is a spectacular meltdown late at night when she discovers that the young Christiana has failed to take her expensive dresses off wire hangers from the dry cleaners. While Crawford was a tough customer and a harsh taskmaster and child abuse is no joke this hatchet job reeks of score settling and has been largely discredited. Faye however pours her guts into the role giving almost a kabuki performance.

    Falling Down (1993)-William Foster known through most of the film by his license plate moniker D-FENS (Michael Douglas) an unemployed defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society abandons his car in LA gridlock and begins to psychotically and violently lash out against most everyone he encounters as he makes his way across the city to attend his daughter’s birthday party. The entire film is really one long meltdown.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      It isn’t surprising at all, but it’s nice to hear the love for A Single Man in this comment section. It truly is a stunning film.

      Reply
  4. sati Avatar
    sati

    Love the inclusion of A Single Man! I cannot believe Ford went from this to Nocturnal Animals…

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      I liked Nocturnal Animals, but it was definitely less personal and intimate than A Single Man. I think I need to watch the latter again, though I’m not ready for an emotional breakdown.

      Reply
  5. Sofia da Costa @ Returning Videotapes Avatar
    Sofia da Costa @ Returning Videotapes

    Haven’t seen Zero Point but your other two picks are great! The phone call in A Single Man still breaks my heart every time, Colin Firth’s performance in it is one of my all-time favourites for sure 😍

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      I think everything about A Single Man breaks my heart when I think back to it.

      Reply
  6. Birgit Avatar
    Birgit

    I have only seen A Single Man which is excellent and Colin Firth was so good as a man quietly having a meltdown. The author of the book of the first film made me sad because he finally succumbed to his sadness. I’m sorry for your loss even if it happened quite a while ago. It always hurts when someone you know dies so young and you feel you might have been able to do something. Usually you can’t do a thing.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      I didn’t know him personally, just as an acquaintance, and yet it still hurt. I guess when it’s someone who you’ve talked to, even a little, it’s more real. Like you have not just a face, but a voice to go with it. Or a few jokes you shared. It’s just sad.

      Reply
  7. m.brown Avatar
    m.brown

    Dammit, 0 for 3 with your picks (I’m not even sure I watch movies anymore), but I’m interested in all of them.

    Zero Point sounds the most interesting, while Perks sounds the most accessible (literally, too…as I own the damn movie on DVD). I’m almost positive I’ve never seen an Estonian film…so maybe I should just start with something heavy and dive right in…

    I love that picture at the top of the post, not sure if I ever told you that….it’s awesome.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      Well, A Single Man is a must, and I guess The Perks would also be something I’d expect you would have seen.
      If you haven’t seen an Estonian film, I think I would recommend a comedy.. which would be Men At Arms https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445554/?ref_=nv_sr_7 – I personally haven’t seen it in its entirety, but I’ve only heard good things!

      Reply
  8. Alex Withrow Avatar
    Alex Withrow

    Nice list! LOVE the inclusion of A Single Man here. You’re so right, that movie is beautifully tragic throughout.

    Reply

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