- January 29, 2023
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Dramas can put audiences through potent emotional journeys, but even great films sometimes have awkward scenes.
Though dramas typically make audiences cry, so much so that they become a blur of feelings, some heartfelt dramas do have certain moments that can fault the film. Dramas, romantic, comedic, or tragic, are unforgettable for the emotions they might leave with audiences. However, even the fondest memories of these films can be slightly skewed when the movie is that good.
Whether these plot points are beyond frustrating or somewhat questionable, a second watch might highlight some flaws in the overall story. Some moments can knock their films down a peg or two, from unnecessary violence to situations that don't make sense.
This article contains mention of suicide and violence. Please proceed with caution.
When films include a scene that is borderline traumatizing for using excessive violence or gore, it's easy to presume it was only included for the shock factor. Shock value won't make a movie phenomenal, though. In The Green Mile, when Eduard Delacroix is due for his execution, they take him to the electric chair.
Audiences are prepared for the already gruesome death he's about to experience from the previous execution. However, one of the guards, Percy, is a sadistic monster who doesn't prepare for Delacroix's execution correctly. Instead, Del is visibly scorched and screaming in agony for a while. The scene is beyond disturbing.
Forrest Gump is a fantastic dramedy full of heart and references several historical moments. Weirdly though, the titular character mentions ever so briefly that he was named after his ancestor, Nathan Bedford Forrest, who was the first "Grand Wizard" of the Ku Klux Klan.
The scene is quick, and though Forrest only brushes over the topic, seemingly clueless about the KKK, it feels a little off the wall. Forrest and his mother generally appear kindhearted and unbiased; oddly, his mother would name him after a historical antagonist.
The debate over the door at the end of Titanic is a tired conversation, but anyone can admit it's still frustrating. After Jack and Rose sink into the water together, they make it to a massive floating door. The door is a little unsteady on the surface, making it difficult to get on. However, there is room for two.
They could have helped each other stay afloat on the door and utilized whatever was left of each other's body warmth. Instead, Jack remains in the water while Rose holds onto his hands. The moment might add to the drama, but Jack staying alive with Rose wouldn't have hindered the film.
Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge has perhaps one of the greatest love stories in film, but there's a moment that seems particularly out of character, even for someone in anger. A Bohemian poet, Christian, falls in love with a cabaret performer, Satine, and though they seem to respect each other intensely, near the end, Christian hurts her.
She rejects him but never explains why. Out of anger, Christian goes to her while she's performing, tosses money at her, calls her a derogatory term, and embarrasses her in front of an audience. The moment seems a little too harsh, even if he's heartbroken.
Hidden Figures is a 2016 film loosely based on the true story of three Black women working at NASA in the 60s. While the women exist and their time spent at NASA is factual, one particular moment stands out. When Katherine Johnson has to use the restroom, the film depicts her running half a mile out to a restroom as the bathrooms on the campus are segregated.
Her boss then destroys the "colored bathroom" sign as an act of solidarity. In reality, Johnson stated she would use the nearest restroom since there were no designated signs. Though the scene adds to the theatrics, the actual scenario would have been just as impactful.
The 1998 film Ever After: A Cinderella Story is perhaps one of the most extraordinary takes on Cinderella. Danielle De Barbarac is an independent and intelligent character who naturally falls in love with the prince, Henry. Their relationship feels fun and far more realistic than those in other versions. Henry cares for Danielle's wit and heart, though he believes her to be someone of a higher status.
When her stepmother exposes her true identity at the ball, he's initially hurt by the deception. However, he's quick to turn his back and look down on her as someone of a lower class. It's hard to believe that he'd be so dismissive and cold after their time together.
Finding Neverland is the dramatization of Peter Pan playwright J.M. Barrie's time with the Llewelyn Davies family. The film does a great job of exploring the unique bond between Barrie and the family that inspired his famous story. While the story is deeply tragic, the movie focuses on Barrie's wife, Mary, as an antagonistic force.
She seems to view her husband as an embarrassment in the few scenes she's in. During one, however, she explains that he never allowed her to be a part of his world. Though the two seem vastly different, it's difficult to fault her when Barrie is just as much in the wrong as she is.
The devastating romantic drama, Me Before You details Will Traynor as an overpessimistic bachelor who develops quadriplegia after an accident, and his upbeat caretaker, Lou Clark. No one can say how a person should feel or act when dealing with a medical situation like Will, but the entire film leads to a scene that seems wrong.
Will seeks help to end his life in Switzerland. On the other hand, Lou is determined to change his mind and almost seems to do so. Yet, he still chooses to go through with assisted suicide. The scene almost insinuates that people with disabilities can't be happy or live a somewhat everyday life despite their situation.
The Florida Project highlights the story of a young mother, Halley, and her daughter, Moonee, living at a motel near Walt Disney World. The film focuses on Moonee and her close bond with Halley and their neighbors. While the young mother and daughter struggle to make ends meet, their relationship is full of heartwarming moments.
However, when Halley begins to do what she can to make money, she becomes a sex worker and hosts clients in their motel room. During one of these moments, Moonee is kept in the bathroom with music, and the client walks in on her. It feels dangerous for Halley to let strangers in such proximity to her child.
In Steel Magnolias, a group of women bond over daily situations in a beauty salon. Their relationships are funny and touching, particularly that of the mother, M'Lynn, and her daughter, Shelby. Shelby has Type 1 Diabetes which ends up causing her further complications in the story.
When Shelby and M'Lynn get their hair styled at the salon, Shelby's blood sugar drops below normal.
She shows this by shaking uncontrollably, almost convulsing, and rejecting her mother's attempt to give her juice. In reality, low blood sugars typically cause more of a lack of energy than the dramatic reaction portrayed in the movie.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Kirsten Schultz moved north just on the outskirts of Los Angeles in 2018. She studied film, television, and media at Cal State LA where she received a Bachelor of Arts in TV/F/M. In June 2021, Kirsten joined Dead Talk Media where she wrote and prepared topics and questions for celebrity guests. She’s continuing her journey on writing for media companies as of today, you can find her on Instagram @kirsplusten.