Chances are, if you're reading this post you have a favorite movie monologue. You might even be able to recite it verbatim. Even if you can't, your spine probably tingles a bit when you hear it. Well, you're in luck. This week's topic for Thursday Movie Picks, hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves, is precisely that - monologues (and/or speeches and soliloquys - tomato/tomahto).
Normally, I pick three things for a topic, write a little bit about each and send you on your way. That's not what I'm doing today. I'm breaking all sorts of rules. First, that whole between three and five picks thing, that's going out the window. Sorta. I mean, I am picking three of something, just not movies. I'm picking three actors. Each has delivered some dynamic monologues in their day. Since I can't of think of anyone better, they will handle the rest. They're so good, each of them get multiple entries. That means no more words from me...other than to let you know what movie a particular scene is from. And here they are...
(WARNING: Explicit Language Ahead)
Robert De Niro
Taxi Driver
(1976)
The Untouchables
(1987)
Men of Honor
(2000)
Al Pacino
Scarface
(1983)
The Devil's Advocate
(1997)
Any Given Sunday
(1999)
Denzel Washington
Malcolm X
(1992)
Remember the Titans
(2000)
Training Day
(2001)
I love that you included the videos! Taxi Driver and Training Day are my favorites of these. I really need to rewatch Malcolm X, I don't think I've seen all of it.
ReplyDeleteDo it! Denzel is so awesome in that role.
DeleteWhile it's not close to my favorite Pacino movie, my favorite Pacino speech (other than "He's an absentee landlord!") is the one at the end of Scent of a Woman.
ReplyDeleteBut really, it's all about James Earl Jones talking about baseball in Field of Dreams or Kevin Costner's epic summation in JFK.
Sadly, I still haven't seen Scent of a Woman or JFK.
DeleteNot a big fan of Field of Dreams, but that James Earl Jones speech is amazing!
I like the way you went with the theme and those three actors are indeed very skillful at flying solo and delivering an impactful monologue. But where's Pacino's "I'm out of order? You're out of order! This whole trial is out of order!" speech from And Justice for All? I guess that just shows there are many to choose from by these guys.
ReplyDeleteLooking at my picks now from your perspective I realize I also choose performers who excel at this type of single-handed spotlight.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)-Idealistic greenhorn Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) is selected by the political machine of his state to complete the term of a recently deceased senator. Arriving full of purpose and dreams of justice the bumpkin is taken under the wing of an esteemed but secretly crooked senior senator (Claude Rains) and guided by the at first cynical and doubtful reporter Diz Moore (Thomas Mitchell) and Smith’s secretary Clarissa Saunders (Jean Arthur). Won over by his honesty the pair try and help him when his awareness of the breathe of malfeasance in government threatens to crush his spirit. Attempting to right many wrongs this climaxes in a memorable filibuster.
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)-Ted and Joanna Kramer (Dustin Hoffman & Meryl Streep) are in a failing marriage. Feeling suffocated Joanna leaves not only Ted but deserts their young son Billy (Justin Henry) as well to find herself in parts unknown. Up to this point a distracted, obtuse father focused on his career Ted is required to assume all parental responsibilities and forges a strong bond with his young boy. Time passes and Joanna reappears wanting Billy back regardless of the fact that she abandoned him. Ted puts up a fight and in the court case that ensues there are several memorable monologues.
A Few Good Men (1992)-On the Guantanamo Bay military base two marines perform a Code Red on a fellow marine resulting in his death. Charged and moved to the nation’s capital their case is assigned to hotshot officer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise). They affirm that they were under orders to perform the act while their superiors Lt. Kendrick (Keifer Sutherland) and Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) deny any involvement. Moving into the courtroom Kaffee takes drastic measures to uncover the truth leading to many confrontations and an epic showdown monologue.
I'm kicking myself as we speak. I knew there was something from Pacino I was missing but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what it was. I just drew blank after blank until I settled on The Devil's Advocate. It's a good speech, but nowhere near And Justice For All.
DeleteI was going to include Nicholson and his rant from A Few Good Men, but he didn't quite make the cut this week.
You've got some serious trends happening here, love the picks~=!
ReplyDeleteLOVE THIS, and not just because I went overboard with the picking this week, too! lol
ReplyDeleteI'm with Joel, though... no selection of Al Pacino monologues can be complete without the "out of order" bit from And Justice For All.
But you do win it back with the Untouchables selection for de Niro. I've always loved that movie something awful.
Yeah, I whiffed on that one. Just couldn't remember that one for the life of me. And it's a great speech, too. At least De Niro redeemed me.
DeleteAh, three masters of the monologues. You can't go wrong with any of these guys. I picked Scent of a Woman in my list while my choices range from silly to just downright idiotic in tune with the times.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic, Dell. I really dig the Capone one, as it's been at least twenty years since I've seen that film.
ReplyDeleteDenzel and Pacino are the best, but I think too many impersonations of them (Pharoah and Hader) have slightly taken some of the punch out of their monologues, but you really can't go wrong with either. GREAT PICKS!
Thanks!
DeleteYeah, aside from those two, everyone has a Denzel and a Pacino impression, but I still love the originals.
I have a serious crush on Denzel and consider him one of the best actors...ever! he can play heroic figures and nasty, nasty MF's. "Say hello to my little friend." Al Pacino was such an animal in that film but I have to agree with joel and choose his And Justice For all speech which i almost picked. De Niro is another great choice and that scene with the baseball bat was shocking.
ReplyDeleteMy wife has a crush on Denzel, too. I understand. And yeah, I whiffed on And Justice For All.
DeleteI love that you went with three actors instead of three films, and picked three monologues for each. I also loved that you posted videos instead of writing the speeches (why did I think of that?!) as it allows someone who hasn't seem the movie(s) to see how great it was. Great picks, by the way!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the videos. Laziness is a great innovator.
DeleteI like that you went with the whole actor route. There are certain actors that tend to get lot of the meaty speechy roles.
ReplyDeleteAnd these are three of the best.
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