Movie Loner

Of all Martin Scorsese’s films the one that amazes me the most is The Last Temptation of Christ. Sure Raging Bull is a cinematographic wonder, Goodfellas a gritty mob classic, and Taxi Driver a mesmerizing descent into madness, but it’s the story of Christ as adapted from Nikos Kazantzakis’ controversial novel that maintains a powerful grip on my filmic psyche. Ethereal and sumptuous from start to finish, The Last Temptation of Christ is Scorsese’s overlooked masterpiece worthy of thorough examination.

In this scene, Jesus, superbly portrayed by Willem Dafoe, chastises those who claim to be devoid of sin and delivers a warning that there is a God, and HE is watching. This is just one of many extraordinary scenes in The Last Temptation of Christ:

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It’s not often that a scene can make my heart beat faster. I can probably count on one hand the number of times this has occurred. The phenomenal car chase finale to The Road Warrior and Indiana Jones daring escape from the tomb of the Golden Idol in Raiders of the Lost Ark are two that come to mind. Writer/Director Michael Mann’s Heat contains a slew of memorable scenes from the dynamic opening armored car heist to the first-ever dialogue exchange between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. It is a truly exceptional crime drama.

The following scene marks a significant plot shift as Pacino’s band of perplexed cops finally confront De Niro’s elusive gang of robbers. I give you the heart pounding, ear-splitting shootout from Heat:

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Spike Lee set his incendiary film about race relations on a sweltering summer day in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Still relevant and powerful, Do the Right Thing introduced the world to Lee’s controversial in-your-face filmmaking style. The movie stands as Lee’s most ambitious project and in my opinion was 1989’s best film. Its unapologetic approach to the subject of racism in America earned it a place among the most socially and politically important films of the decade. Point in fact, the problems presented in Do the Right Thing still exist today, almost twenty years later.

The following scene expresses the movie’s central theme utilizing Lee’s uniquely energetic prose. Here is the story of Love and Hate as told by the character Radio Raheem.

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What makes a film great? Seems like a simple question, but not so easy to answer. Truth is a lot has to go right for a movie to stand out. Obvious things like quality acting and writing are essential. However, those aren’t enough to separate one from the mountainous glut of celluloid produced every year. For me, all it takes is a few memorable scenes to push a film to greatness.

The next couple of weeks I’m going to share and examine what I consider to be some of cinema’s finest scenes. Not coincidentally, these are from some of my favorite films. Great scenes can expound on theme, reveal key plot turns, expose a character’s hidden vulnerabilities, or induce a visceral reaction. The scenes I have selected may function on one or all of these levels. For certain, they offer a distinct glimpse into the brilliancy of the films they belong to.

I’ll begin, where else, at a beginning. The opening to Woody Allen’s best film, Manhattan. Sorry Annie Hall fans, Manhattan is a better, more complete New York story. I have nothing against Annie Hall, it’s just not Manhattan. Gordon Willis’ stunning black and white cinematography and Allen’s offbeat narration highlight this opening scene which plays as a love sonnet to New York City with musical accompaniment from George Gershwin’s triumphant classic “Rhapsody in Blue.” It’s a beautiful beginning to a story about a man’s search for love in the city that he loves. I give you the opening scene to Manhattan:

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I don’t think I have adequately expressed my admiration for the film Fight Club. It’s too famous for me to review on this site. I have to abide by my own rules. Although, since I made the rules I can probably break them, but I won’t. Let me just say Fight Club is a fuckin’ really cool movie. If you still don’t believe me, watch the video below. A fitting tribute to one of my favorite films courtesy of The Dust Brothers and a some guy named Tyler Durden.

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It’s once again time to celebrate America’s birthday. And what is more American than movies? Screw baseball and apple pie, movies define America. So to commemorate our country’s independence I offer a scene from one of the best independent films ever made. That movie is Bottle Rocket. It put wunderkind director Wes Anderson on the map and also introduced us to the comedic abilities of the Wilson Brothers, Luke and Owen. Oh yeah, it also has fireworks.

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Ah yes, it’s time for the Movie Loner to set sail for the Caribbean for a little rest and relaxation. If only it was that exciting. Actually, I need a week to take care of some other business before I resume my movie review duties. I realize this is a crushing blow to my tens of readers, but alas I will return. I bid you a fond adieu with the funniest scene from the funniest vacation movie ever made, National Lampoon’s Vacation.

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Ever wonder how the great singer/songwriters find the inspiration to create hits? Well, I have. John Mayer dispels a lot of myths about the process. Check this out:

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