In celebration of the Oscars this weekend, an approximate “Top Ten list” of my favorite movie moments; it should be noted, we’re not talking favorite films necessarily – although some on my Top Ten list are represented here – rather those singular moments. In some cases the moments are scenes, in others just a single shot.
[Note: when I originally wrote this post, I had links to almost every item listed here; apparently most of these have been taken down (damn copyright laws); I’ve tried to find suitable replacements, but I presume many of these will eventually be taken down; your mileage (and bandwidth) may vary…]
1) In the Heat of the Night
Sidney Pontier, Larry Gates, Rod Steiger – “the slap”; powerful for its time, and probably one of the first instances of a person of color showing strength, resolve, and dignity that I can recall seeing in popular culture. Directed by Norman Jewison.
2) Big Night
Stanley Tucci, Tony Shaloub, Marc Anthony – the final kitchen scene, all one take; I wish more American films would embrace the power of simply rolling camera and pointing it at a group of actors so immersed in their characters that we will sit spellbound watching them eat breakfast (understanding that there is subtext – a reconciliation happening just below the surface). Directed by Campbell Scott.
3) The Verdict
Paul Newman, the summation (“today you are the law”); written by David Mamet. Directed by Sidney Lumet.
(not great quality, but full speech; if you want to see HD, follow this, but it truncates the first chunk of the speech: https://youtu.be/qjYP7J3oP9Q)
4) Network
William Holden and Faye Dunaway – when Diana breaks up with Max (“why is it that a woman always thinks that the most savage thing she can say to a man is to impugn his cocksmanship?”) written by Paddy Chayefsky; Directed by Sidney Lumet.
5) tie: 2001 A Space Odyssey
ape to space transition and blue danube sequence:
& Bowman re-entering the Discovery sequence; Directed by Stanley Kubrick
6) Local Hero
Peter Riegert walking over the hill carrying his shoes, then cut to his watch being over-taken by the waves on the rock where he left it with the alarm going off…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e96Uv7P8Sq0&feature=related [taken offline?!!]
as a back-up: the final scenes – Riegert saying goodbye to folks in the village and his return to “normalcy”; note the great sound design here – not just Mark Knopfler’s great soundtrack, but the sound designers’ subtle use of environmental sound that counter-points Riegert’s return to big American city life…
7) 13 Conversations About One Thing
Alan Arkin and Matthew McConaughey in the bar, “show me a happy man” (ok, basically Alan Arkin’s whole performance); Directed by Jill Sprecher
8) Raiders of the Lost Ark
the opening sequence (and yes the whole film still stands as my favorite action-adventure film of all time); directed by Steven Spielberg