The Sheila Variations

Kevin Spacey's dying words in L.A. Confidential: "Rollo Tomassey".

I am partial myself to the interrogation scene and the chair-breaking moment. But I definitely think LA Confidential needs to be on the list, in some capacity.

So does Fargo. Maybe the whole wood-chipper scene. Fargo's a great film.

The moment Verbal Kint becomes Keyser Soze.

I liked Fargo, too. Peter Stormare stole every scene he was in without saying a word. What a great performer.

When Patrick Swayze flirts with the nurse in Roadhouse by saying "Pain don't hurt."

Actually, I like Tim Robbins with his arms raised in the thunderstorm in "The Shawshank Redemption"

and

Tom Hanks moving with the opera music as Denzel Washington looks on in "Philadelphia."

Also, the hypodermic scene in Pulp Fiction. Many good scenes in that one.

Four words: "I see dead people."

Since I don't always like to play by the rules (I also run with scissors) and because I think the AFI rushed the end of the list, I'm going to go a little out of the time frame and nominate the first meeting between Clarice and Hanibal in Silence of the Lambs.

There were a bunch in Kieslawski's "Three Colors" trilogy. The one where she realized her late hubby had been cheating - very affecting, at least for me. Anyway, it makes my list...

Red,

Dayum, you beat me to it: the Fargo wood chipper immediately sprang to mine. A BIG second to that.

I'm probably up to my 20th viewing; looking forward to to the tape wearing out so I can get the DVD. So many memorable lines: "Nope. I think I'm gonna puke." "He's fleeing the interview. He's fleeing the interview."

Braveheart Battle of Stirling Bridge. If you doubt it's influence, just look how often it's been imitated.

I have a hard time picking just one moment from The Lord of the Rings, but the scene where the Ring falls onto Frodo's finger is one of the most famous images from the trilogy.

If I may be permitted to submit a personal favorite scene from last year: The flyby shot of Aubrey and Pullings atop Surprise's mainmast as they come up behind the French privateer.

Bud - I absolutely love that "fleeing the interview" moment.

In a strange way, I think that the William H. Macy performance is as startling and as important as Brando in Streetcar - I thought that at the time. I thought: Okay, this is a level of immersion in the character which is very very rare. His performance makes me ITCH with discomfort!

Travolta and Uma dancing to that old Chuck Berry song. When you first saw it you laughed because Travolta was going to dance and it seemed comical because he'd done Saturday Night Fever and his career had been nowheresville since then. But see the scene again and it's just so intensely indescribable.

But that'a a film that writers and directors will be watching 50, 100 years from now there's so much going on there. Say what you will about Tarantino's weakneasses, I have learned more about storytelling from watching his movies than anyone.

Okay okay, back to movie moments:

Yes, the opening sequence to Saving Private Ryan.

That upside-down kiss in Spider-Man might make it, not sure yet.

"I see dead people." No question about it.

The opening telephone sequence in Scream.

I'm with you on William H. Macey's performance in Fargo, Sheila. But what I always think of is Steve Buschemi getting shot in the face.

By the way, one thing I notice is that whenever people make lists like this they (and I'm one of them) tend to ignore or underrepresent comedies. I'm not sure why except that I guess we don't take them seriously (if we did they wouldn't be funny). Still, I always think of Dr. Evil and Scott Evil's bit wit the "Shh, that was pre-emptive shh." Classic. (Ditto the line, "I didn't spend 8 years in Evil Medical School to be called 'Mister,' thank you very much."

Dean -- "No, Mini-me, we don't gnaw on kitty."

And the whole "Zip it" sequence. SO FUNNY.

I have a bad memory: I would need to see a list of all movie titles during the time period to do this well.

For example, somehow I forgot _Pulp Fiction_ was in the time period, until I read the comments. *Something* from PF would definitely belong.

HOWEVER, I would submit the opening scene of _Memento_. (Or maybe the final scene, but that was less arty...)

RE: Austin Powers series

If one scene was chosen from all of them, I'd go with the scene where Dr. Evil gets mad because his underlings couldn't arrange for sharks with laser beams attached to their heads, and later Scott tries to convince Dr. Evil to just shoot Powers rather than "leave them in an easily escapable predicament involving an unneccessarily exotic death, and then just assume it all went according to plan."

That scene is the quintessential Austin Powers scene, to me...

Oh, the whole Jerry Springer sequence just kills me every time. "You're the Diet Coke of evil."

Emily,

My social conservative Republican friend uses to describe the libertarian wing of the Republican party. "You're the diet coke of Republicans. You're quasi-Republican."

Cracks me up every time.

Sheila, re the Macy ITCH in Fargo--

3 extraordinary solo scenes: practicing the "your daughter's been kidnapped" phone call to father in-law; pounding steering wheel & cleaning ice off the windshield after father-in-law and partner turn down his loan request; his phone calls with GM manager re car inventory. (I'm awaiting "Oleanna" from Netflix for a 2d viewing--highly recommended; Macy plus written/directed by David Mamet.)

Okay, seeing as this isn't my blog, I'll restrain myself. I'll also not include performances, as I, like you, Sheila, LOVE actors, so I would never stop writing.

The Matrix: Shootout in the lobby.

Magnolia: It's raining frogs. Hallelujah. (Personally, I'd say any scene from this movie, but that's just me.)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: In the trees.

The Sixth Sense: Rejuvenated the "surprise ending" (for better or worse).

Unbreakable: Bruce Willis climbs out of the water. (I'm sure I'll get some flak for including this, but everyone I talk to that ever liked comic books finishes my sentence when I say "What did you think of the scene where...")

The Shawshank Redemption: I, too, have no idea what those ladies are singing about.

Pulp Fiction: The needle.

American Beauty: The roses.

Unforgiven: Anybody that doesn't want to get killed best clear on out the back.

Leon (The Professional): Please open the door...!

Vanilla Sky: That really is Times Square.

Trainspotting: The toilet.

Sort of off-topic, but Yi Yi (A One And A Two) is memorable for what it lacks: not a single closeup in an intensely personal story. Beautiful.

When Will Bloom realizes all of the stupid stories of his father.

- How about in magnolia:
1. Tom Cruise's interview "i'm, silently judging you;
2. Julianna Moore's breakdown at the pharmacy window;
3. William H. Macey's breakdown at the bar over Brad the bartender.

Re: Austin Powers - the introduction of Fat Bastard: "Where's your crapper? I have a turtlehead pokin' out."