Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

Scenes from movies that feature really fantastic acting

Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

Scenes from movies that feature really fantastic acting

Old 01-10-06, 03:48 PM
  #1  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,612
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Scenes from movies that feature really fantastic acting

Name some movies (recent or old, popular or unpopular) that feature scenes of great acting, where the actors just have a great presence and are at the top of their game. Also, obviously, mention which scene.

I was having a discussion with friends, and just being put on the spot, I had a hard time thinking of really 'standout' scenes of acting.
Old 01-10-06, 03:53 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Robert DeNiro and Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter. The scene where they are prisoners of war in Vietnam and playing a little russian roulette.
Old 01-10-06, 03:58 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Atascadero, CA
Posts: 10,131
Received 217 Likes on 164 Posts
The scene in Good Will Hunting where Chucky tells Will that the best part of his day is when he comes to his door because he hopes that he has left. Amazing.
Old 01-10-06, 04:01 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Mondo Kane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,660
Received 112 Likes on 100 Posts
On The Waterfront
The actors' duel between Steiger and Brando that leads up to the contender speech. As some have called it, "two bulls locking horns".
Old 01-10-06, 04:16 PM
  #5  
HN
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,469
Received 64 Likes on 39 Posts
Pacino and De Niro over a cup of coffee in Heat.
Neeson's break down in Schindler's List
Old 01-10-06, 04:32 PM
  #6  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 45,294
Received 1,011 Likes on 803 Posts
I was always fond of the scene in Requiem for a Dream where the Ellen B's character breaks down in front of everyone and the police get called.
Old 01-10-06, 05:20 PM
  #7  
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most of Glengarry Glenn Ross, but especially Alec Baldwin's scene.
Old 01-10-06, 05:38 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: AnyTown, AnyState USA
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jerrycurl
Most of Glengarry Glenn Ross
First thing I thought of. Never heard of this movie or play before. I was channel surfing and saw Pacino. It held my attention for the entire movie. The whole movie was either in the office or the bar (I think), but the acting and dialogue!!
Old 01-10-06, 05:46 PM
  #9  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
The Bus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 54,916
Received 19 Likes on 14 Posts
Kevin Spacey's mean-spiritedness and Danny DeVito's balcony confession in Big Kahuna. Actually, Peter Facinelli is great in this as well.

HIGHLY recommended to fans of GGR --- the subject matter and tone is similar (salesmen down and out to a certain extent) althought The BIg Kahuna is slightly more upbeat.
Old 01-10-06, 06:47 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
inri222's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 50,673
Received 182 Likes on 120 Posts
Marlon Brando with his dead wife in "Last Tango In Paris"
Old 01-10-06, 06:50 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The final scene in Pulp Fiction, (The showdown at the Diner) specifically the scene with Tim Roth and Sam Jackson.
Old 01-10-06, 07:01 PM
  #12  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Rypro 525's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: a frikin hellhole
Posts: 28,264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
how about the sicilian scene in true romance?
Old 01-10-06, 07:37 PM
  #13  
DVD Talk Hero
 
GoldenJCJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Colorado
Posts: 27,136
Received 3,160 Likes on 2,036 Posts
the 'you can't handle the truth' scene between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men

the dinner table scene with Mel Gibson in Signs

'what's in the box' scene with Brad Pitt in Se7en

and you gotta love the oscar worthy facial expression given by Charlton Heston in Ben Hur when he realizes it's Jesus walking up the hill with the cross.
Old 01-10-06, 07:45 PM
  #14  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: A little bit here and a little bit there.
Posts: 2,644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt. Simply amazing.
Old 01-10-06, 07:58 PM
  #15  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Maryland
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1. Pacino and Keaton (especially Pacino) in Godfather Pt. II where Kay tells Michael she's leaving him and that she had had an abortion.

2. As mentioned earlier, just about any scene in Glengarry GlenRoss -- though the obvious scene, Baldwin's, is truly amazing. I do think, however, that Jack Lemmon basically stole every scene he was in...
Old 01-10-06, 08:42 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 576
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jerrycurl
Most of Glengarry Glenn Ross, but especially Alec Baldwin's scene.
First thing that came was the Alec Baldwin scene.

Also Reservior Dogs: Kietel and Buscemi in the warehouse arguing if they should take Mr. Orange to the hospital or not.

Cyrano de Bergerac: Gerard Depardieu gives the guy the speech about his nose being huge
Old 01-10-06, 08:54 PM
  #17  
Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by GoldenJCJ

and you gotta love the oscar worthy facial expression given by Charlton Heston in Ben Hur when he realizes it's Jesus walking up the hill with the cross.

"I know this man."

Really, really good stuff.

My favourite little moment of acting however comes from Sam Jaffe in this film when he meets Ben-Hur for the first time in several years and has been badly crippled.

"We were released from prison the same day. Malik without the use of his tongue and me without life in my legs. Now I am his tongue and he is my legs. Together we make a considerable man!"
Old 01-10-06, 09:34 PM
  #18  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Marcos, TX
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Here are some of my favorites...













A) On the Waterfront - Rod Steiger and Marlon Brando in the backseat
B) Primal Fear - Edward Norton in the psychological evaluation
C) Adaptation - Nicholas Cage, in any scene with both brothers on-screen
D) The Assination of Richard Nixon - Sean Penn calling his ex-wife
E) The Machinist - Christian Bale, in preparation and dedication alone
F) Taxi Driver - Robert DeNiro, through and through

-JP
Old 01-10-06, 11:13 PM
  #19  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 10 Posts
THE GODFATHER - Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) instructing Fredo to never takes sides against the family again...ever.

THE GOFDATHER PART TWO - Michael Corleone telling Fredo that he means nothing to him now, that he's not a brother, not a friend.

THE GODFATHER PART THREE - Michael Corleone breaking down and confessing that he killed his mother's son, that he killed his father's son.

(There's a theme somewhere in those examples.)

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP - The diner scene where Swoozie Kurtz explains that she's still a Catholic (despite being a prostitute) to Garp and his mother.

SUPERMAN - When Christopher Reeve delivers the line, "Peter Pan flew with children, Lois...In a fairy tale" right before they go for a night flight.

SHATTERED GLASS - When Editor of the New Republic Chuck Lane (Peter Sarsgaard, who is absolutely terrific throughout this movie) explains to his staff writer played by Chloe Sevigny how they are all about to catch hell for excusing Glass's unprofessional conduct.

THE PHANTOM MENACE - When Jake Lloyd earnestly asks Natalie Portman, "are you an angel?" Just kidding about this one.
Old 01-10-06, 11:27 PM
  #20  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,679
Received 646 Likes on 446 Posts
MULHOLLAND DRIVE - The audition scene with Naomi Watts.
Old 01-11-06, 12:01 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jay G.
MULHOLLAND DRIVE - The audition scene with Naomi Watts.
That's the first scene I thought of when I saw this thread.
Old 01-11-06, 12:09 PM
  #22  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Hawaii, USA
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The totally wordless scene of Diane Lane going home on the train in "Unfaithful" after her first tryst with Olivier Martinez. Amazing play of emotions across her face.
Old 01-11-06, 12:16 PM
  #23  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Russell Crowe asking for money in Cinderella Man. Very touching scene.
Old 01-11-06, 12:31 PM
  #24  
Inane Thread Master, 2018 TOTY
 
OldBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Are any of us really anywhere?
Posts: 49,298
Received 888 Likes on 751 Posts
Diane Lane sitting on the train after her first fling with Olivier Martinez in "Unfaithful"
That scene alone should have won her the Oscar!
Old 01-11-06, 05:22 PM
  #25  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Surf City, CA
Posts: 1,882
Received 45 Likes on 37 Posts
Pacino and Chris O' Donnell (the 'gun' scene in the hotel room..you know what I'm talking about) in Scent of a Woman. Badly needing a SE, that scene never fails to take my breath away.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.