Best Acting Scenes.... EVER! - by Scots Taffer
driver on 7/3/2008 at 09:25
The scene between the gas station guy and Anton Chigurh in (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0kVdEGklkc) No Country for Old Men. There's no raised voices, no threats, just quiet talking yet the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. The demeanour of the pump guy changes ever so subtly over the course of the scene from bone-idle bored to shitting himself but never gives into obvious panic, which would have completely ruined it.
Angel Dust on 7/3/2008 at 11:07
Yeah that is a great scene and nice to see someone giving props to the 'other' guy. Bardem is fantastic, of course, but it takes two people to make a scene like that work. The final scene between Woody Harrelson/ Javier Bardem scene is also an acting master class. Harrelson, to quote a film reviewer acquaintance of mine, "gives the most impressive impersonation of a man who knows his number is up since, well, Woody Harrelson in “The Thin Red Line”."
Some other great scenes:
Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in the 'did you fuck my wife' scene from 'Raging Bull'. Perfection.
Robert De Niro in the scene from 'Taxi Driver' where he is trying to talk to Peter Boyle about his troubles. The look in his eyes where he say he's been thinking bad things etc is painful to watch. You can see the loneliness and desperation behind them.
Pretty much the entirety of 'Donnie Brasco'. This film was criminally (:p ) overlooked for the Oscars.
An obvious one that nobody seems to have mentioned yet is Marlon Brando's scene from 'On The Waterfront'. You know the one in the back of the car with Rod Steiger. Both of them are flawless and this scene alone is better than most whole movies.
I always really loved Johnny Depps performance in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'. In particular the scene after he hits his brother and he runs away where Juilet Lewis' character finds him hiding in the trees behind her caravan.
And lastly Heath Ledger in Jacks room near the end of 'Brokeback Mountain'.
Carini on 7/3/2008 at 14:35
Possibly my all time favorite movie.
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj5vERbLtYI) Usual Suspects the line up.
This scene is brilliant. I love that part of the scene is an outtake that works perfectly with the actually footage.
Phydeaux on 7/3/2008 at 15:43
Jack Lemmon at the end of Glenngary Glen Ross was always a favorite of mine. Everybody is great in that film, but Lemmon was just phenomena.
SubJeff on 7/3/2008 at 16:04
Naomi Watts gets big ups for that scene because she's hot it all. I think everyone else in the scene out-acts her, especially Bob, Woody and the boss guy (whatever his name is). It's a great scene though, but then I think the film, and Lost Highway, are full of great scenes. He's just a good director and the pacing in his films makes the scenes so good. Check out some of the early scenes with Jeff and Patricia Arquette in Lost Highway for more.
henke on 7/3/2008 at 17:20
I don't know why these two stand out in my mind when I think of well acted scenes but I guess it might be because I got moved by actors I wouldn't otherwise expect to "get to me".
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuT3pFG06K8) Tom Cruise in Magnolia - the scene where he's being interviewed and she asks him about his mother. He just keeps on playing the toughguy-role but you can tell from the expression on his face that she's tearing up old wounds.
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQsTzuKfHw) Leornardo DiCaprio & Jennifer Connelly in Blood Diamond - When he calls her up at the end of the movie. He's sitting up on the hill, chased by soldiers, bleeding, about to die. She's sitting on a café somewhere far away. They talk and he never lets on the full gravity of his situation. Just breaks my heart.
paloalto90 on 7/3/2008 at 18:34
Jimmy Stewarts performance in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington the speeches from the floor of Congress and the last bit about lost causes.And going around punching all the reporters in the nose.
Priceless!!
Mr. headbone on 7/3/2008 at 19:04
Tom Hanks in "The Money Pit"; the scene where he does that stupid laugh. I know it's corny/stupid and from the 80's; but IMO it's a pretty funny scene.:laff:
Tom Hanks in "Saving Private Ryan"; the first 15min or so of the landing on the beach. Pretty freakin' intense :eek:
D'Juhn Keep on 7/3/2008 at 21:04
I know it's an obvious one but I really love Jack Nicholson in the dock in A Few Good Men. His speech/diatribe after "YOU'RE GODDAMNIT RIGHT I DID" is fantastic.
