My Favorite Movie Scenes (vol 1)

I struggle with what my favorite movies are. People ask me... and I just cannot find a way to rank and sort the many movies I love for many different reasons.

On the other hand, I can put together a list of favorite scenes. Moments that leap out from film into crystallized emotion or thought or acting. Here are 5 such.

*****There are spoilers here. Consider yourself warned.*****

 If you haven't seen a film here. Make it a goal to see it.

These scenes alone make these films worthy of your time.

Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Say what you want about the movie script drifting away from the classic novel, the movie is largely well done with some great period costume work, beautiful sets/scenes and nothing quite like Uncas' charge up the hill to reach Alice as she is dragged away by Magua (in one of the best movie villain portrayals ever by the actor Wes Studi).

Wikipedia offers a very dry summary of this scene,  "Uncas, who cares for Alice, races ahead to intercept Magua's band, killing several warriors before engaging Magua in single combat. Magua kills him, then drops his body off the cliff. Rather than join Magua, Alice follows Uncas, jumping to her death."

Fantastic use of music as Uncas runs up the hill, determined, silent, and violent. The relationship with Alice has been effectively and brilliantly conveyed with simple facial expressions and minor physical gestures. It is unspoken, but achingly powerful as he makes his charge, and the results of the scene are a powerful punch in the gut... all without a single spoken word.

I admit that I tear up every time I see it.

Schindler's List (1993)

The story of Oskar Schindler is a fantastic movie by Steven Spielberg. Little needs to be said about it's grim and firm presentation of the holocaust from a specific position within the machination of the worst of that regime. But for me, the moment in this film is near the end. Oskar Schindler has run with many of his remaining workers, they are near the border escaping from the invading Soviets and dodging the last German hold outs. Oskar collapses before the crowd of those he has led to freedom... and breaks down. He cries that he didn't do enough, that he could have done more. That he should have done more. That moment, from a man that had done so very much, bemoaning his failure and weakness is strong and heartbreaking.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The film opens with an older gentleman walking the graveyard of Normandy, his family behind him not understanding... clearly not knowing his story. He finds the grave he wants:

"My family is with me today. They wanted to come with me. To be honest with you, I wasn't sure how I'd feel coming back here. Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. And I've tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me."

And the movie presents itself. A good war film. A good dramatic story. There are several excellent scenes in this work, but it is the end that kills me. Again the film returns to the older man in the graveyard, and he turns to his wife and begs her to tell him he has led a good life, to tell him that he is a good man. It is what every real man wants to know for his life, for his family. In the end. Made more poignant from the sacrifice specifically prompting the request in this case, and unknowing confusion on her part. It is an effective exclamation point on a solid film.

Jaws (1975)

I'll close this Spielberg trifecta with an iconic film, with iconic characters. But it all comes together in one scene for me.

Hooper, Quint, & Brody are out at sea together. They don't exactly see eye to eye and have not been bashful about it. They have been drinking and collect in the galley... They begin talking and find themselves sharing scars. A bunch of mismatched men, out on a mission together, find commonality and share a bit of their personal history and character with each other and the audience. It is accented by the great personal story of the Indianapolis and a little music. It is an honest, focused, and effective moment of levity and heart before the action kicks up with the shark. Well done.

Show me the way to go home 

I'm tired and I want to go to bed 

I had a little drink about an hour ago 

And it went right to my head

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover (1989)

The Cook: Richard Borst (portrayed by Richard Bohringer)

The Thief: Albert Spica (portrayed by Michael Gambon)

His Wife: Georgina (portrayed by Helen Mirren)

Her Lover: Michael (portrayed by Alan Howard)

This is the one film I will save you from my recommendation/insistence you go watch it. This movie is... difficult to tolerate for many. It is one of the few films that I have literally seen people get up and walk out on in the theater. The opening moment is a man being coated in feces as punishment, and it does not particularly go uphill from there. Suffice to say that the Thief is a vile and horrible man.

But this movie does indeed have worthy moments, if you can make your way to them.

The Wife carries on an affair, the Thief finds out. The Lover is tortured and murdered. So then, the Wife goes to the Cook with a plan. She has been meek and mild the entire film, yet presents a plan of horrible vengeance. And there they sit alone in his kitchen, speaking quietly. An air system fan churns away high up the wall *chuff, chuff, chuff* and she makes her request for the Cook's aid. He struggles. The fan churns. The strong color presentation of the kitchen is bright and dreadful as they speak of something unspeakable. The fan churns. She pleads. He struggles. The fan churns. The Cook shares his philosophical theory of why black food sells at a higher price in the restaurant. The fan churns. He eventually complies... and the final scene of the movie moves to it's dreadful end.

******
So there are 5 of mine. What are some of yours?