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Post by Mighty Jack on Dec 2, 2011 2:04:18 GMT -5
Back in 1995 Roger Ebert posted in his journal, 100 great moments in the movies. It's a neat list... blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/pages-for-twitter/100-great-moments-in-the-movie.htmlLooking over the list brings back so many fond memories. These lasting images serve as a reminder of what I adore about film. John Wayne at the end of True Grit "Fill your hand you son of a bitch!" (Jeff Bridges might be the superior actor, but Wayne pulled off that scene better) Harold Llyod hanging from the hands of a clock in Safety Last The dying man on the swing in Ikiru... they all had an impact on me. A few I liked that Roger didn't list (or couldn't because they hadn't been released yet) * The final duel in "Once Upon a Time in the West" - the outcome is almost incidental. It's the build up and reveal. Each gunfighter's musical theme (scored by Ennio Morricone) blends together and builds to a heart pumping crescendo... the unfolding of Charles Bronson's memory (which we've seen bits and pieces of throughout the film). * Joker with his head out the car window after blowing up the precinct in the "Dark Knight". There's no music, no street sounds, just a white noise hum. * Raymond Burr spotting James Stewart looking at him in "Rear Window". * Hitchcock's pan down to a key in "Notorious" * Henry Fonda's speech about being all around in the dark in "The Grapes of Wrath" Check out the list, what stood out for you? What do you think he missed (or could have added from the past 16 years)?
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Post by Mr. Atari on Dec 2, 2011 3:14:23 GMT -5
The continuous crane shot at the end of The Royal Tenenbaums tracking along the fire engine, ending with Ben Stiller's perfect line, "It's been a rough year, dad."
The moment in Glory when Matthew Broderick looks out at the ocean, gets off his horse, and walks through the ranks from back to front to lead the suicide mission.
Alida Valli's long walk towards the camera and right past Joseph Cotten without a word at the end of The Third Man.
That's a start, anyway.
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Post by The Mad Plumber on Dec 2, 2011 8:07:53 GMT -5
It's A Wonderful Life: George returns to the bridge to beg Clarence to return Bedford Falls as it was, irregardless of whatever should happen to him.
RoboCop: Our titular hero unmasks, revealing it is Murphy beneath that armor ... and yet also revealing that there's a part beyond his grasp.
Seven Samurai: Each time I saw Kambei raise that bow in the final battle scene, it would send chills up my spine and convince me of Akira Kurosawa's masterful cinematography.
Raising Arizona: A western theme plays as Tex Cobb aims his firearms at the pummeled Nic Cage. All Cage can do is weakly raise his hand, and Cobb looks in terror when he realizes that Cage pulled a pin from one of the many grenades on his person.
Back to the Future: George lays out Biff in one awesome punch.
Rocky: Mickey approaches Rocky with the offer to be his manager, and Rocky picks this time to unload his frustration with Mic.
First Blood: Rambo has his knife at the sheriff's throat, thoroughly teaching Dennehy that he's on the Vietnam vet's turf now.
Superman: The Man of Steel stands over the corpse of Lois Lane and is absolutely crushed and unable to deal with his failure.
And I suppose MJ's got to do some sort of cynical Twilight reference for this thread, too.
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Post by TheNewMads on Dec 2, 2011 8:24:45 GMT -5
the eight-minute shot at the end of "The Passenger."
"You're all clear kid; let's blow this thing and go home!"
Citizen Kane: "Maybe you can tell me the story of YOUR life sometime."
Kevin Spacey's serene expression at the end of "American Beauty" (though I'm not as big on the floating-bag moment as most)
Kevin Costner's interminable monologue in "JFK"
"Earn this"
"You moved the cemetery, but you left the bodies, didn't you? You son of a bitch, you left the bodies and you only moved the headstones!"
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Post by TheNewMads on Dec 2, 2011 8:26:13 GMT -5
* Raymond Burr spotting James Stewart looking at him in "Rear Window". YES! believe it or not I've managed to see this movie in the theater more than once and the audience always lets a collective gasp.
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Post by BJ on Dec 2, 2011 16:57:11 GMT -5
Interesting idea. His selection from Star Wars is quite odd. Then again, so is Roger Ebert. Also, I find Smiley's picture of Malcolm X and MLK from Do the Right Thing to be a much more lasting image than the film's climax. But that's just me, I know full well how famous the trash can scene is. Some bits I wanted to comment on. Jack Nicholson on the back of the motorcycle, wearing a football helmet, in "Easy Rider." -Just thinking about this makes me smile. It's a guy who seems to have been out of place his entire life, and finally decides he might as well have some fun with it. His end is tragic, but I think his story is uplifting. RoboCop: Our titular hero unmasks, revealing it is Murphy beneath that armor ... and yet also revealing that there's a part beyond his grasp. Back to the Future: George lays out Biff in one awesome punch. - When he says "Murphy" and the music kicks in... amazing. And I think that's one of about 50 moments in Back to the Future I'll never forget, such a good movie. And here's a few that I thought of. Spoilers obviously Blade Runner------Roy Batty crying in the rain, with the Orion speech. I originally thought of the last scene with the origami, but this is better. Twelve Monkeys------The shot where Cole dies in the airport, and Railly sees his younger self looking on. The Good the Bad and the Ugly------Ecstasy of Gold Jaws------Plenty to choose from, but I'll go with the first shot of the shark, when Brody freaks out Chinatown------Final shot. I can't believe this wasn't on Ebert's list Invasion of the Body Snatchers------The true end of the film, with a super close up of Kevin McCarthy's face shouting "You're next" straight into the camera Raiders------The first time we see Indy's face V for Vendetta------The hordes of people marching toward Westminster in Guy Fawkes masks, with the police standing down. This film is loaded with powerful symbols, and that scene gives me goose bumps every 5th of November. The Shining------Jack's smiling face in the 1921 photograph at the very end. Planet of the Apes------You blew it up... Vanishing Point------not really a moment as much as the whole movie, but the grill of the Challenger with the helicopter hovering nearby. Probably the greatest marketing tie in of any film, and over 40 years later, people still want a white '70 Challenger. Gidget------I hate to say this, but the image of her pretending to surf. It drastically changed the beaches of the United States. In Bruges------The shot of Brendan Gleason about to shoot Collin Ferrell, as Ferrell is about to kill himself. Ocean's 11------The guys standing in front of the Bellagio fountain. Interview with the Vampire------Brad Pitt sitting amazingly upright and deathly pale, across from Christian Slater who's lazily hunched over smoking a cigarette. It's a great visual way to show how Louis is an alien to this world, as we flash back to see how he never fit in with anything. Truman Show------The bow at the end. Revolver------Jason Statham standing perfectly calm with a gun in his face, as Ray Liotta completely loses it, saying "fear me." No one likes this movie, but it's one of my favorites. I could keep this up all day, so I'll end it here, with a scene related to my signature. The credits march at the end of Buckaroo Banzai
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Post by Mighty Jack on Dec 3, 2011 0:12:10 GMT -5
And I suppose MJ's got to do some sort of cynical Twilight reference for this thread, too. I'm known for cynical Twilight references? I did not know that (I don't even remember past cynical Twilight references) Seven Samurai was mentioned and what I like for that movie was the movement of it. Kurosawa was brilliant with movement and poses. I like the edits to each of the 7 as they run, I like the duel when we meet the quiet Samurai (the way he holds his sword). In other Kurosawa films there's Mifune (I think) on horseback readying his bow to fire. The hail of arrows in Throne of Blood. The tracking shot of the man walking through the woods in Rashomon. Those scenes always pop into my head when I think of his movies. another I remembered since Mr. Atari mention the film... Royal Tennenbaums When Gwyneth gets off the bus in slow-mo as Nico plays in the background.
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Post by The Mad Plumber on Dec 3, 2011 0:33:53 GMT -5
And I suppose MJ's got to do some sort of cynical Twilight reference for this thread, too. I'm known for cynical Twilight references? I did not know that (I don't even remember past cynical Twilight references) Oh, well, when I was talking about greatest battles, you made a funny reference to Edward and Jacob staring at one another. I figured either you or Mummi was going to take another swipe. Samurai was surprisingly entertaining, in spite of the difficulty of watching something that wasn't in English. It was very lengthy, and yet not padded. Princess MononokeLady Eboshi commits her last atrocity, resulting in the creation of a life-sucking juggernaut and claiming Eboshi's arm as a price for her offenses. Joe Hisaishi's music swells as the deadly force begins its rampage. DumboDumbo and Timothy have drunken hallucinations of an army of terrifying pink elephants marching up and down their heads. Pee-Wee's Big AdventurePee-Wee reclaims his bike and has a high speed ... well, 10-speed ... chase throughout the movie studios, interrupting a Christmas film, a Kaiju film, and a music video.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Dec 3, 2011 0:39:38 GMT -5
That is pretty funny. I wish I had a better memory so I could remember all the funny things I say.
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Post by The Mad Plumber on Dec 3, 2011 1:04:18 GMT -5
Okay, I checked out the blog entry briefly. "R2D2 and C3PO in 'Star Wars'"? How is that a moment?
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Post by Frameous on Dec 3, 2011 1:42:56 GMT -5
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Post by Mr. Atari on Dec 4, 2011 1:15:26 GMT -5
Some more off the top of my head:
Shawshank Redemption When Andy emerges from the sewer pipe and euphorically looks up into the rain.
Usual Suspects When Chazz Palmanteri drops the coffee cup and Kevin Spacey's limp disappears.
This is Spinal Tap "These go to eleven."
Bridge on the River Kwai "What have I done?" BOOM.
The Maltese Falcon When they find out the statue is a fake and go after it with the pocketknife.
And I have to disagree with Ebert on Casablanca. "La Marseillaise" wasn't the signature moment, Rick and Sam in the bar after Ilsa came back was the moment.
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Post by BJ on Dec 4, 2011 2:14:25 GMT -5
Usual SuspectsWhen Chazz Palmanteri drops the coffee cup and Kevin Spacey's limp disappears. And like that, poof, he's gone... Yea, that's one of the best.
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Post by caucasoididiot on Dec 4, 2011 13:27:56 GMT -5
Okay, I checked out the blog entry briefly. "R2D2 and C3PO in 'Star Wars'"? How is that a moment? Similarly with "Astaire & Rogers," though I too find it hard to pick a single moment encapsulating them. That's the problem I'm having with this topic; too many moments flood in. The beach scene in From Here to Eternity, for instance, is iconic, but what about Prewitt's beautifully impossible bugle solo in the PX? What of taps for Maggio, or Sgt Judson reminding him that tough monkeys always end up in the stockade? What about "Lorene's" dreams and how Prewitt fits into them? And this doesn't even begin to touch all of Lancaster's other great moments. "We ain't got all night! Ain'tcha ever seen a dead man?" There is one that I can easily pick out of its setting, though: Detective Kuroda's train ride from Suicide Circle. It's a wordless sequence in which he is riding a late train home and begins really looking at the faces of the other passengers for the first time. Seeing the deep fatigue and resignation in them, he catches his first glimpse of what might lay behind the mass suicides he's investigating. To the tune of the film's "Love Theme" he gets home and desperately clutches at and for the safety of his family. The scene is on YouTube, but the poster edited in some other scenes at the end that break up the effect too much.
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Post by Frameous on Dec 4, 2011 13:45:16 GMT -5
Okay, I checked out the blog entry briefly. "R2D2 and C3PO in 'Star Wars'"? How is that a moment? Similarly with "Astaire & Rogers," though I too find it hard to pick a single moment encapsulating them. The scene where they are bickering like an old married couple after crash landing on Tatooine would be my suggestion.
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