A podcast where Graeme and Adam review the saddest films of all time in an effort to discover what makes us feel things -- but mostly sadness.*
*Note - the episodes are more mirthful than the subject matter suggests*
Bambi or; how I Learned to Start Worrying and Love the Mom
That's right folks -- 15 years before Old Yeller was even a puppy, Bambi was introducing kids to parental mortality.
Graeme and I learn important lessons about the creator of Bambi, a Life in the Woods, the book on which the film is based -- he was likely the writer of an erotic novel about a sex worker in Austria!
We talk about how to make one of the saddest films for children sadder and we ask whether this movie was Disney's magnum opus; no, it is not.
We did not even get to the fact that the original sketch artist of Bambi died at 106! Creator of Bambi, legendary cartoon artist Tyrus Wong dies at 106 | World News - Hindustan Times
Call to Action
Canadian Charities
Hope for Wildlife Website: Hope For Wildlife. But you can easily look for similar organizations
UK Charities
sttiggywinkles.org.uk A charity in the UK for animal veterinary services that helps animals get back to the wild. The name is based on Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a character from a children’s story by Beatrix Potter.
Secret World Wildlife Rescue (Somerset) - Website: secretworld.org
US Charities
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota - Website: wrcmn.org (https://www.wrcmn.org)
20 Feb 2025
Elephant Man, an unforgettable classic and director
Elephants have no tear ducts -- but they must cry. We have lost one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation, the man attributed with starting midnight movies, and the best amateur meteorologist in the game: David Lynch.
Graeme and Adam discuss his oeuvre, what makes the Elephant Man one of the best, and rebuke the many factuals errors in the film citing the Barenaked Ladies. Usual stuff for you to enjoy!
Calls to Actions:
California Wildfires - Campaign - FROM GARY SINISE
LA STRONG – Support Wildfire Relief Efforts | City of Los Angeles (https://lacity.gov/LAstrong)
Information about Proteus Syndrome - Proteus Syndrome Foundation - Support and Education
17 Jan 2025
Iron Giant (1999) - THE SAD HAS LANDED
This is it folks, the movie that started it all for young Adam... and by that I mean the first time he knew why human's cry; but is it something he and Graeme could ever do?
Our guest Whitney, comes on to discuss her childhood (and adulthood's) saddest film, the IRON GIANT!!! Check out her wonderful 52 week horror movie challenge online at www.ohmyhorror.com or join the discord, instagram (@ohmyhorrorchallenge), or the Bloody Good Horror Slack Channel.
Call to Action: Check out and support gun safety organizations like Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy | GIFFORDS (https://giffords.org/) , Home | Everytown (https://www.everytown.org/) , and international organizations such as IANSA - International Action Network on Small Arms.
28 Aug 2024
Grave of the Firefly: No Fun for the Whole Family?
We are finally covering an often all time saddest film entry Grave of the Fireflies (1988/1989). Fr fr this one is sad. But will it force Graeme to cry like only child dinosaurs can? Tune in to find out. We also learn: if there is a dog in the film, the true story behind the film, gushing over Studio Ghibli, and a special guest appearance by the Kwisatz Haderach!
Call to Action: Donate to a charity aiding people currently experiencing bombings
14 Trusted Charities Helping Civilians in Palestine | Human Rights Careers
6 Jun 2024
Land Before Time - Is It Time to Cry?
One of the most important episodes of our show! What will happen - will a prehistoric dog survive? Will Adam cry? Will Graeme cry? Will Disney's Bambi sue this film for ripping it off?
Find out all this and more on another sanguine episode of Bad For Me!
Call to Action:
Support a local domestic violence shelter or one of these international organizations International Organizations (domesticshelters.org). Also go check out or support a local museum!
12 Feb 2024
Watership Down, or How to Ruin a Childhood
This week we discuss an uplifting story of rabbits -- sorry, a story of a rabbit uplifted by a hawk attack. We have Jayson on to discuss a much beloved and feared childhood film, Watership Down. Will it make us cry as adults? Did we cry as children? What kind of a monster let children watch this? Find out the answers to these questions and more on Bad For Me.
Call To Action:
Get involved in community organizations for preservation of wildlife and animal habitats!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2012/feb/28/watership-down-housing-development-berkshire
https://www.saynotosandleford.org.uk/
9 Jan 2024
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Sad CGI Animals
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
This week Graeme and Adam discuss a ragtag bunch of heroes trying to save a dying racoon. Will we weep? Will the famous racoon that is beloved by all survive? Did we have anything interesting to say about a tired franchise in the Marvel universe? Find out these questions and more on another exciting episode of Bad For Me.
Other Podcast Referenced:
Strike Force Five | Ep 10: The Strike is Over But the Podcast Isn’t Yet
Call to Action: Fund or reach out to an anti-Animal Testing Organization
National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) (https://navs.org/)
The Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) (https://caat.jhsph.edu/)
25 Dec 2023
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Extra Traumatic for Kids?
Merry Christmas if you do that sort of thing! We welcome our new EDITOR JOSH WEINER!!! And the only way to welcome a new friend to Bad For Me is by making them watch a movie that made them distressed as a child. Is E.T. : The Extra-Terrestrial a happy or sad film? Why are the NASA agents dressed in Space Suits on Earth? Did he really have to go? We answer these questions and more on this ridiculous episode of Bad For Me.
Links: Audition of Henry Thomas, sadder than the film?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA5giyG8E7g
Call to Action: Charities Supporting Unauthorized Immigrants:
https://unitedwedream.org/
https://www.lahuelga.com/about/
https://defineamerican.com/
https://immigrantsrising.org/
30 Nov 2023
Three Colours Blue - Is France Okay Right Now
Today we cover Trois Couleur: Bleu, a film about France, ghostwritten music, self harm, and how to have a good time lounging in a pool. Will our guest Joe, help us learn what diegesis is and whether it relates to regular Jesus? No.
If you liked Joe, check out this episode of Films at First Sight (a podcast he hosts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-23-the-holy-mountain/id1574408482?i=1000554527529 (I picked this one as I am on it...) or on Twitter X @pstrophyhunters or
@FulcisEyeFetish
Calls to Actions:
https://www.outofthestorm.website/links
https://www.traumacanada.org/
https://istss.org/home
Other Links:
Why Kryzstof Kieslowski's Three Colors: Blue, White, and Red Is The Greatest Trilogy Of All Time - YouTube
Three Colors - Blue: Crash Course Film Criticism #11 - YouTube
23 Oct 2023
Fruitvale Station: A Biopic Worth Watching?
Today we cover Ryan Coogler's 2013 biographical drama Fruitvale Station, depicting the last 24 hours of Oscar Grant III's life. We talk about Michael B Jordan's performance, the narrative style, changes made to the real events (inserted white lady), and whether Graeme and me should be discussing the film or just letting you watch it yourself.
Mothers Against Police Brutality | MAPB is a multi-racial coalition uniting mothers nationwide to fight for civil rights, police accountability, and policy reform. (https://www.mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/)
Fruitvale Station: True story? Fact and fiction in movie about BART train shooting of Oscar Grant. (slate.com)
State Policing Reforms Since George Floyd’s Murder | Brennan Center for Justice
9 Oct 2023
Steel Magnolias: Sad Southern Belles and Dreadful Diabetes Depictions
We are talking terrific tearjerkers - the female friendship phenom Steel Magnolias (1989). Does this film represent diabetes in a kind and compassionate manner? Is it okay to invite a nurse that witnessed your sister's death to reprise her role? Is this Sally Field's most emotional performance? The answer to all these questions is no, but we will talk about it anyway!
Hopefully you don't end up in a very bad mood for 40 years!
Steel Magnolias (TV Movie 2012) - IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2328749/)
The Dark Side of 'Steel Magnolias' - The Atlantic
Steel Magnolias: Movie Still Hits a Diabetes Nerve 30 Years Later (thediabeticscornerbooth.com)
Top 10 Ways To Support Someone With Diabetes (diabetescarecommunity.ca)
(2) Heritage Minute: The Discovery of Insulin - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amCeBhkNo50)
7 Ways Dolly Parton Quietly Gives Back to the World (mymodernmet.com)
21 Sept 2023
Angels of Nanjing: Important Subject Matter, But Is It Worth The Watch
Graeme and I finally sit down for a documentary, Angel of Nanjing (2015), to see if this one can melt our stone hearts. This film follows the life of Chen Si a genuinely nice person that volunteers trying to prevent people from jumping off the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, China.
We ask questions like -- is it better to watch a 10 minute news piece on Youtube? How difficult was this film to make with government censorship? And of course, what is that very cute dog doing? Spoiler alert, the dog is okay!
Don't Jump! China's Suicide Bridge (Interview w/ Jordan Horowitz) | China Uncensored - YouTube
Calls to Action
Preventing suicide: Warning signs and how to help - Canada.ca
15 May 2023
It's Such a Beautiful Day - It's a Sad Film After All?
Today we watched the 2012 animated/comedy film It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012). We talk about whether brain damage is a laughing matter, watching films that profoundly examine life through creative mediums, and a heaping plate of existential dread. Bon appétit!
Don Hertzfeldt's website: http://www.bitterfilms.com/
Don Hertzfeldt on It’s Such a Beautiful Day at 10 (lwlies.com)
7 tips for volunteering after brain injury | Headway
Volunteer work and psychological health following traumatic brain injury. | Cervo Brain Research Centre (ulaval.ca)
Volunteer | Get Involved - Ontario Brain Injury Association (obia.ca)
4 Apr 2023
The Champ: The Saddest Scene According to Science
This could have been a contender... for the least ethical child acting award! We cover the remake of the Champ (1979) a "boxing" film that is mostly about a sad separated dad with a gambling addiction. We also have our first guest: Natalie Feinblatt, psychologist and fellow Bloody Good Horror Writer! Check out her website here:
https://drnataliefeinblatt.com/
Please note that she was unable to be there for parts of the intro if you are wondering why she was so quiet.
Check out the paper we referenced regarding Emotions and Film:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282289958_Emotion_Elicitation_Using_Film_Clips_Effect_of_Age_Groups_on_Movie_Choice_and_Emotion_Rating#:~:text=Emotion%20elicitation%20was%20conducted%20using%20standardized%20movie%20clips,choice%20of%20the%20most%20relevant%20clip%20is%20analyzed
Our calls to action involved the following organizations:
https://adultchildren.org/
https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/national-helpline-1-800-522-4700/#:~:text=The%20National%20Council%20on%20Problem,National%20Problem%20Gambling%20Helpline%20Network.
26 Feb 2023
The Whale: An Oscar Worthy Weep?
We went Whale watching! Will it tasks us or will we escape to tell the tale? All I know is that we have lots of terrible puns ahead captain.
Content Warning: Suicide and Eating Disorders.
There are a variety of suicide prevention and mental health resources at the following links:
Get Help | Talk Suicide Canada (https://talksuicide.ca/)
Preventing suicide: Warning signs and how to help - Canada.ca
For resources on eating disorders please check out the links at:
ANAD | Free Eating Disorder Support Groups & Services (https://anad.org/)
Interviews with Aronofsky used in production: Darren Aronofsky on the 10-year journey to making The Whale' and 'challenging actors to do the best' - YouTube
Darren Aronofsky: Making Mother, why there's no music and other creative choices - The Feed - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2yd77MgBCY)
(c) 2023
13 Feb 2023
The Notebook: Did We Cry
Get out your rowboats and your bird seed, it's time for a Valentine's classic. Graeme and Adam cover the Notebook (2004) and ask the hard hitting questions:
Why do they always do James Marsden dirty?
Can we rewrite the film to make it sadder?
Which one of us openly wept?
All this and more on this lovely episode of Bad For Me.
Alzheimer Society of Canada (https://alzheimer.ca/en) - for info or to donate.
Movie Couple Therapy: THE NOTEBOOK - YouTube - breakdown of the film's relationship.
Fashion Historian Fact Checks The Notebook's Wardrobe - YouTube - Fashion breakdown of the Notebook.
2 Feb 2023
Son of Saul: Is It The Saddest Film
Well, we decided to tackle a very important film second - one of the somberest depictions of Shoah (the Holocaust) ever made. Will we cry? Will we upset our audience? Are three people an audience? These and more quesitons will be answered by Graeme and Adam in this informative episode of Bad For Me.
Please read the Attached for More Information on Our Discussion:
Microsoft Word - Son_of_Saul_final (philarchive.org) (https://philarchive.org/archive/BALSOS-8)
Making Monsters in László Nemes’ Son of Saul – Senses of Cinema
The Slaughter of Six Million Jews: A Holocaust or a Shoah? - TheTorah.com
Shulchan Aruch/Yoreh Deah/375 - Wikisource, the free online library
In Hungary, a Jewish community fight taints effort to bury Holocaust victims | The Jewish Standard (timesofisrael.com)
Overview of Holocaust-related Organizations | IHRA (holocaustremembrance.com)
23 Jan 2023
Is Old Yeller (1957) Actually Sad?
Graeme and Adam take on the dog gone saddest movie a child has ever seen... or is it? Will we weep wildly or take the film back out behind the woodshed? Find out this and more on our "first" episode of Bad For Me, a sad movie podcast.
The documentary we refer to several times in the podcast - a short watch:
The Making Of Old Yeller - YouTube
Check out the International or your local SPCA to help out animals near you:
SPCA International | Global Animal Rescue (https://www.spcai.org/)
9 Jan 2023
If Anything Happens I Love You: Cynical or Sympathetic?
On our cross-over sadstravaganza with Thor's Hour of Thunder, Graeme and Adam discuss the Oscar winning animated short If Anything Happens I Love You (2020). Is this a genuine exploration of parental grief and gun violence in schools or a strategic use of a serious topic to drum up Oscar buzz? Our hosts will discuss and not answer those questions.
Please listen to Thor's Hour of Thunder if you have a chance: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thors-hour-of-thunder/id416719608
Check out the commercial referenced by Adam for Sandy Hook Promise (there is also a link for donations): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5ykNZl9mTQ&t=1s
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