Thursday Movie Picks: Meltdowns

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We've all had them, right? Maybe not as dramatic or messy as some. Or maybe our children have had them, and we have to handle it while trying not to die of embarrassment. Or perhaps someone has wire hangers in their closet. But Wanderer wants us to talk about meltdowns this week. Here are some of my favorite films where the characters are just done.

 1) Hello I Must Be Going

 Amy (Melanie Lynskey) is going through a divorce, has moved back in with her parents, then starts to have an affair with a guy a lot younger than herself. When everything gets heavy, she has one of my all time favorite moments in film where she falls over and says "where the fuck is bottom?" 

 2) Black Swan 

 This might be the most controlled and beautiful meltdown of all time but Nina is essentially losing her shit during her performance. *puts Black Swan DVD in*

 3) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy

 HE'S IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!

Comments

  1. Sonia CercaApril 19, 2018 at 7:24 AM

    Black Swan is the only I've seen and I absolutely love it. And yes, that is the most beautiful and controlled meltdown ever.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamApril 19, 2018 at 12:30 PM

      I recently watched Black Swan again the other week, I never get bored of it.

      Delete
  2. joel65913April 19, 2018 at 7:26 AM

    Terrific choices! I thought Hello I Must Be Going was so well acted but I didn't like the film. It's a great fit for this though. I did like Black Swan which again was beautifully acted, but it's not one I return to. I put off watching Anchorman for years because of my indifference/dislike of Ferrell but it was funnier than I expected it to be. He was even tolerable in the movie.

    You referenced one of my picks in your opening paragraph! This turned out to be one of the easier weeks for me, my three popped into my head as soon as I read the theme.

    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 (an electric 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamApril 19, 2018 at 12:29 PM

      Mommie Dearest is so great for all the wrong reasons lol.

      Delete
  3. Big Screen Small WordsApril 19, 2018 at 8:50 AM

    Natalie Portman in Black Swan is one of my favorite performances from her; she was amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamApril 19, 2018 at 12:29 PM

      It's easily my favorite performance from her. She was incredible.

      Delete
  4. DanielApril 19, 2018 at 10:48 AM

    I ADORE Melanie Lynskey, so Hello I Must Be Going has been on my list for some time. One of these days...

    Black Swan is a great pick and a great film. Definitely one of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  5. s.April 19, 2018 at 12:05 PM

    Love it! Though Nina melted down plenty and in spectacular fashion before this :)

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamApril 19, 2018 at 12:28 PM

      I like to think of that entire movie as one glorious meltdown lol

      Delete
  6. thevoid99April 19, 2018 at 4:38 PM

    Ah, 3 great picks. The last one is hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  7. BirgitApril 19, 2018 at 10:04 PM

    I haven’t seen your first one. I can’t stand Black Swan but she does have the waxkadoodle meltdown. I have watched The Anchorman and there are some funny bits but it is one of my least favourite of his.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamApril 20, 2018 at 6:41 AM

      Really? Aww I love Anchorman. I think it's my favorite Ferrell movie, though Step Brothers is close.

      Delete
  8. UnknownApril 20, 2018 at 7:03 AM

    I've only seen Black Swan, but that is one brilliant meltdown...! It was one of the best movie theatre viewings of my life 😍

    ReplyDelete
  9. m.brownApril 20, 2018 at 12:32 PM

    Can't think of a time I had a meltdown (nerp, nevermind...college...I lost my mind on my dickbag roommate), but the fact that you mention trying to be cool when your kid has a meltdown was f--king perfect. Just that dying inside feeling...oohhh...so much delicious awfulness.

    That first GIF is so great, I'd love to check that movie out. Anchorman's is hysterical!

    But Black Swan...I need to see that one again. I remember nothing but a few certain...parts.

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamApril 20, 2018 at 2:21 PM

      I bet I know which part of Black Swan you remember lol.

      I feel so bad whenever I see a kid having a meltdown in public. That is such a terrible feeling of embarrassment lol

      Delete
  10. KatyApril 22, 2018 at 2:06 PM

    Awesome meltdowns! Black Swan never gets old.

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  11. Alex WithrowApril 23, 2018 at 1:26 PM

    Love that you included Hello I Must Be Going! That's my favorite Melanie Lynskey performance and I LOVE Melanie Lynskey.

    ReplyDelete
  12. WandererApril 26, 2018 at 1:11 PM

    Love Black Swan. The previous prima ballerina also had a meltdown which landed her in hospital.

    ReplyDelete

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