OH NO! FAVORITES!
What makes a movie for me is the beauty of it. The "aesthetics" if you will. Colors, lighting, music, softly spoken lines of insightfulness, soft focusing, simple cuts. And not just scenes, but amazing insert shots of falling snow, flying feathers, or a blinking eye. Only a few come to mind when I think of great movie scenes and these can come from my favorite movies or some that I just happen to like all the same. So here's a list of 10 movie scenes I can think of so far. I'll probably do another one eventually. And I'll indicate my list of favorites by using the same heart icon every time I post a favorites list. Deal?
WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!
10. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – The whole part where two brothers are on the train selling their little cheap nothings. I love that Danny Boyle uses MIA’s song “Paper Planes” because it’s so fitting. Every time I hear that song I want to watch this movie.
9. Dawn of the Dead (2004) – The scene that always sends my heart racing is when they’re driving the buses and just as they burst through the gates they’re knocking down zombies but are immediately slowed by the sheer mass of bodies. Then the propane tank is shot and they all fall down like dominoes. Nothing but silence and awe as the survivors stare out over the calm. That part of the movie always gets my adrenaline running.
8. Moulin Rouge! (2001) – When Nicole Kidman dies and Ewan McGregor is crying. The camera pans over the scene where everyone backstage is circled around them and over the curtain where everyone is applauding. It’s bittersweet and ironic but I love it.
7. Penelope (2006) – When Christina Ricci leaves the wedding and runs up the stairs. Her dress flows behind her in slow motion sending out a flurry of feathers and her gorgeous hair flies behind her.
6. Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004) – During the montage at the end, when his memory of Kate Winslet is dwindling down to nothing and the music picks up as he’s driving away. It starts as Kate Winslet whispers “Meet me in Montauk.” It’s heartbreaking.
5. The Fall (2006) – As the monkey, that belongs to Charles Darwin, runs to chase a butterfly, and is shot. When
4. Millions (2004) – Another Danny Boyle film (my second favorite actually) but the part that I love most is the one that doesn’t really go along with the films quirky plot. When the little boy tells the story about the bank robbery, the whole scene is amazing. The fast paced action and genius of the robbery is just too cool for words.
3. Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (2001) – There are 2 scenes I appreciate greatly. The part where they show Amelie as a child and play the opening credits and the part where they show what everyone likes and dislikes. I love it when Amelie dips her hand in a sack of grain and then goes to skip stones. It’s peaceful and it’s a life I wish I had.
2. Ratatouille (2007) – After the unveiling of Remy as the true chef and the review is being read aloud, there is soft music playing in the background and Remy denies going back home. Instead, he parks himself on a bridge and watches the
1. Edward Scissorhands (1990) – The very end when Winona Ryder finishes her story and says, “sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it…” and Johnny Depp is making her ice sculpture and the music picks up and snow comes crashing down onto a pot of flowers. Absolutely amazing. Breathtakingly beautiful.
There you have it. My list of favorite scenes. These aren't all of them, but they're the ones I can recall most clearly.
