The single most beautiful acting moment...

[Jasonite]

So what's the single finest/most beautiful acting moment you've ever seen on film? I know I'm totally alone on this one, but I'll say it's the end of Olivier's Richard III, the death scene where he desperately lifts his sword up toward the heavens....magnificent.

J

[Crippler]

Braveheart...

The guy throwing the sword right at the end symbolizing the fight for freedom.

I thought it was beatiful.

[This message has been edited by Crippler (edited 09-04-2002).]

[Buck Turgidson]

When they drag Denzel Washington back to camp in Glory. They have to flog him for being AWOL, but it's clear when they rip off his shirt that he's had it done to him before. Many times. He stands there and takes it like a man, with only a single tear escaping (more out of frustration than pain, at least IMHO.) A brilliant moment.

[BadCoverVersion]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Buck Turgidson:
When they drag Denzel Washington back to camp in Glory. They have to flog him for being AWOL, but it's clear when they rip off his shirt that he's had it done to him before. Many times. He stands there and takes it like a man, with only a single tear escaping (more out of frustration than pain, at least IMHO.) A brilliant moment.</font>

Brilliant choice...Christ, that Scene really got me!

I would have to go with Ratcatcher...And you could pretty much take any moment! Absolutely stunning Film!

[Reigh Kaufman]

Without as doubt the scene at the end of Waking the Dead where Billy Crudup breaks down in the restaurant.

"It's not stopping, it's not stopping,I'm not getting any better"

Fan-fuckin-tastic.

I'm not even a big fan of his but there's also the scene in Jesus Son where he starts to cry after he squishes the baby rabbits. It's sad and funny at the same time.

[Grebdron]

It would be nearly impossible to choose one, but possibly the moment when Liam Neeson breaks down at his "failure" to save even more Jews.

Or, Christian Bale as a kid in Empire of the Sun. He is saluting and singing to the kamikaze pilots from behind the fence. Very moving.

[notchreturns]

In Raging Bull when Robert Deniro is in prison
When Dustin Hoffman is sick in Midnight Cowboy
Billy Bob's monolouge at the beginning of Sling Blade
Peter Sellars in Being There...

Eh, that's all I can think of at the moment

[Goosey]

I think one of the most beautiful moments in film is Andy Dufresne(sp?) raising his arms in the rain upon finally being free from Shawshank

[A.J. Hakari]

The single most beautiful acting moment: Harvey Keitel says, "Remember the King!" at a candlelight vigil for the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, and as the mourners raise their candles, a little smile appear on Keitel's face. Just...beautiful.

[SAI]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by BadCoverVersion:
I would have to go with Ratcatcher...And you could pretty much take any moment! Absolutely stunning Film!</font>

Indeed it is. I'd nominate the very first shot.

Just an aside; next month I will be at the NFT for a scrrening of Morvern Callar (for those who don't know it's the new film by Ratcatcher's director)which will be followed by an interview with Lynne Ramsay

As for the topic I think I'd have to say:

Top 3 (No order)
Julianne Moore standing against that wall crying her eyes out in Boogie Nights

Al Pacino's final speech in Carlito's Way

Kate Hudson in Untitled "What kind of beer?"
truly perfect delivery.

[The Heart Collector]

Pacino's face when Kay tells him she had an abortion. Best damn scene EVER.

[LAW]

Requiem for a Dream: Ellen Burstyn's last moment of clarity before she is overcome by amphetamine addiction. "I'm alone. I'm old." Also how she shows her utter hopelessness in life by explaining to her son Harry why she loves her red dress. "It's a reason to wake up in the morning, it makes tomorrow O.K."
Excruciatingly beautiful acting.

[Tapeworm]

SPOILER (Although I hope everyone has seen this movie)

The Shawshank Redemption, in which Red goes to the field and reads Andy's letter, and he sort of starts to cry. Gets me every damn time. Best movie ever...imo.

[ghostworldfan]

I think when Forrest Gump is talking to Jenny's grave is one of the greatest scenes ever filmed. I cry every, single time i watch Forrest Gump.

[Scarface98.9]

Requiem for a Dream: Sarah's monologue when talking with Harry, and her moment of clarity at the end

Raging Bull: Jake's speech at the beginning and end

Godfather 1: Michael's last scene

Pulp Fiction: Jules's monologue at the end

Green Mile: Almost any scene with John Coffee

Schindler's List: Schindler's "breakdown" at the end

[Hannibal21]

Magnolia: Tom Cruise crying at his father's death bed (one of the few things I saw him did well).

Schindler's List: Liam Neeson at the end, breaking down because he couldn't save more Jews

[Annie Hall]

John Cusack holding up the stereo in Say Anything...
and
Magnolia the scene where John C. Reily loses his gun

[Timiny]

For some reason, my choice would be in Gattaca where Jude Law is climbing up the stairs.

[charliebobo]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
Pacino's face when Kay tells him she had an abortion. Best damn scene EVER.

Definitely! Look at his eyes in that scene...

[Asokan]

Pacino's face when Kay tells him she had an abortion. Best damn scene EVER.

Totally agree with this one as well!

[Kastman]

i'd say there a lot of great parts in requiem for dream,cant be shitted listing them now though.

And the last scene in UNBREKABLE.

And also there is some great acting in donnie darko.

[freakandgeek]

Originally posted by Annie Hall
John Cusack holding up the stereo in Say Anything...
and
Magnolia the scene where John C. Reily loses his gun

i definately agree with both of those...i have to think for a while for my own choices, but these are good ones

[Weapon X]

*SPOILERS FOR GODFATHER PART III*

...

...

...

...

Michael Corleone's face as he holds his daughter's dead body in his arms.

Haunting.

[Succubus]

Schindler's List- Schindler's breakdown when he wishes that he had saved more Jews. From the same film, the look on Goeth's face, transforming from laughter to complete disdain as he watches Schindler hose down the Jews.

Se7en- John Doe's speech regarding "we see a deadly sin...on every street corner...and we tolerate it."

Lolita (Lyne)- Humbert breaks down in sobs when he rediscovers Lolita living with another man.

Secrets & Lies- Maurice's titular speech.

[NumberMSO52]

***SPOILERS FOR FIGHT CLUB***

The scene in the car where Tyler tells the Narrator that he was the one who blew up his apartment. The acting by both Brad Pitt and Edward Norton is great in this scene.

Also, in Requiem for a Dream when Harry realizes his mother is on drugs. The look on his face conveys how he desperately wants to help her but knows he cant.

[movielover-9]

My choice would be the aforementioned scene in Almost Famous with Kate Hudson. **MILD SPOILERS FOR ALMOST FAMOUS**William tells Penny[Hudson] that Russell placed a bet on her for a case of beer. She sheds a tear, smiles, then asks "What kind of beer?"**END SPOILERS**

Also...

Taxi Driver: Travis Bickle[Robert DeNiro] on the phone, pleading Betsy for another date.

The Silence Of The Lambs: Clarice[Jodie Foster] braving up enough courage to ask the male cops to leave the room at the funeral.

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by movielover-9

The Silence Of The Lambs: Clarice[Jodie Foster] braving up enough courage to ask the male cops to leave the room at the funeral.

She has about a dozen really noteworthy moments in that film. The last time I watched it (@ 6 weeks ago), I really honed in on her facial expressions as she told Lecter the story about trying to escape with the lamb. The story is brilliant and her voice is pitch perfect, but her face is the final piece of the puzzle. It was an excellent decision of Demme's part to focus so narrowly on her face and that of Hopkins.

[jetro]

Beautiful scenes for me:

Apocalypse Now: The beginning of the movie when The End(the Doors) is playing in the opening credits.

Coolhand Luke: 2 scenes- When the sexy as Hell girl is teasing the prisoners washing the car and when Luke finds out his mother dies and sings a song on the banjo.

Thin Red Line: When the tribe is singing the song on the beautiful island that Jim Caviezal's character escapes to in the beginning.

American Beauty: When Rickey Fitts films the 2 girls from his house, they're in Thora Birch's room and Mena Suvari's character is dancing & looking for attention, Fitts ignores her and focuses on a smiling Birch in the mirror. Very beautiful scene.

Snatch: When Mickey(Pitt) gets knocked down in the boxing match at the end. The camera shot is amazing.

Raging Bull: The opening credits with the theme and Jake coming to the ring. Truly beautiful.

Boondock Saints: It's a violent scene but very cool when the brother saves the other brother from the Russians by dropping the toilet on his head.

Goodfellas: Another violent scene when the camera shows all the dead bodies to the end of Layla(Clapton). Very beautiful stuff.

There are many many more, but that's all I have for now. Those are some of my all time favorites.

[jetro]

Oops my bad, i focused more on scenes and camera work then acting. I didn't see the subject was "single best acting moment." Here's some of my favorite pure beautiful acting moments:

Taxi Driver: "You talking to me?"

As Good as it Gets: Just about every scene with Jack Nicholson. He was hilarious in that movie.

Pulp Fiction: Diner scene with Samuel Jackson. One of the best performances i've ever seen.

The Doors: When Soul Kitchen is playing and Kilmer says "I think I'm having a nervous breakdown."

True Romance: Scene in the elevator with Slater, Arquette,Rappaport and Pinchot. Chris Penn and Tom Sizemore are listening in also. Great acting all around. Sizemore: "He's not gonna shoot em".................."He's gonna shoot em." Also the scene when Clarence kills Drexel and the scene with Walken and Hopper. This movie as some of the best acting ever in one movie IMO.

Good Will Hunting: Most of the scenes with just Robin Williams and Matt Damon are very good acting but the "It's not your fault" scene was very good.

Last of the Mohicans: THis is more or less a beautiful scene more than the acting, but the acting is great as well. When the blonde girl(Jodhi May i think) sacrifices herself off the cliff to the disdain of Magua. Very beautiful scene because of the beauty of the girl, the music and the shot.

Heat: The scene with Deniro and Pacino in the coffee shop. They are enemies but you could see the mutual respect. It doesn't get much better than that in terms of acting.

Rounders: The final poker game between Malkovich and Damon. Malkovich is classic in that movie.

Hurricane: When Denzell starts losing it in his cell calling himself out. That was an Oscar worthy performance for sure by DW.

Braveheart: This is another beautiful scene rather than acting but I had to include it. When Wallace is hunting the deer and the spy is going after Wallace, Wallace sees the Irishman come running in attack mode thinking he's going after Wallace, Wallace turns and aims at him and that's when the Irishman takes out the spy. Great scene all around. Acting, camera, music, everything.

[jetro]

Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon shared some beautiful acting scenes in Dead Man Walking too. Penn was brilliant in Sweet and Lowdown as well. Robert Duval in the Apostle had some amazing scenes acting. 1999(i think it was) had some of the best lead roles ever in one year. Spacey(American Beauty), Washington(Hurricane), Penn(Sweet and Lowdown). Those were all classic performances by three amazing actors.

[NumberMSO52]

Originally posted by jetro


Pulp Fiction: Diner scene with Samuel Jackson. One of the best performances i've ever seen.



Good call, this is my favorite scene in the whole movie

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by jetro
[Last of the Mohicans: THis is more or less a beautiful scene more than the acting, but the acting is great as well. When the blonde girl(Jodhi May i think) sacrifices herself off the cliff to the disdain of Magua. Very beautiful scene because of the beauty of the girl, the music and the shot.



Excellent call. I think that's the Irish band Clanaad doing the music. That's a grossly underrated film. The greatness of that scene starts even before that, for me. The way the English officer gives himself up so Stowe can get away, and the way as they're starting to burn him alive, Lewis does the only thing he can for him. Damn, that is intense.

Then the whole chase up the mountainside, the fight between Means and Studi and the scene that you mention. @ 10-15 absolutely mesmerizing minutes on the screen.

[bowieee]

The Passion of Joan of Arc as she is put to the flames.

The very end scene in Nights of Cabiria

William Dafoes final scene in Platoon

Honestly a scene which really gets me but doesnt have an actor in it is the very last shot in Monster Inc *SPOILERS************ Where his head peeps through the door and the child says Kitty. Utterly Beautiful

[Tom Samborski]

Chris telling Gordy how good a writer he is in Stand By Me.

[Moviejunkie]

the karate kid- when daniel laruso wins the karate tournament against the cobra kai.. you know the scene when he does the "crane technique" that was GREAT ACTING daniel son!

okay i`m in one of those moods! :D

have to agree with all of the Pulf fiction, american beauty, magnolia and good will hunting choices i`ve seen so far!!!

and i would like to add tim robbins' scene in 'the shawshank redemption.'

***MAJOR SPOILER***

the scene when he escapes and he`s standing in the rain! wow, what a scene!

***END SPOILER ***


also the piano scene and the russian roulette scenes in 'the deer hunter' were excellent!

and i liked the scene in CAST AWAY *** MINOR SPOILER**

the scene when hanks is telling that guy what it was like to be on that island... that was beatiful acting by hanks!

[projectionist]

Originally posted by Moviejunkie
...and i liked the scene in CAST AWAY *** MINOR SPOILER**

the scene when hanks is telling that guy what it was like to be on that island... that was beatiful acting by hanks!

Right on with Tom Hanks movies.

Another beautiful/touching scene was in road to perdition when tom hanks and paul newman are playing the piano together. That had to be a bitch to film but it turned out GREAT!

[Moviejunkie]

Originally posted by projectionist
Right on with Tom Hanks movies.

Another beautiful/touching scene was in road to perdition when tom hanks and paul newman are playing the piano together. That had to be a bitch to film but it turned out GREAT!

allthough i didn`t care for RTP, i will admit, the acting was very good in the movie! and that piano scene was great!

[Fisting Ackbar]

Marlon Brando talking and eventually crying to his dead wife in LAST TANGO IN PARIS.

[Jasonite]

Originally posted by Fisting Ackbar
Marlon Brando talking and eventually crying to his dead wife in LAST TANGO IN PARIS.


Good call, Ackbar, this too was one of the great acting moments.


J

[Pootie]

ok time pootie jumps in on this thread


GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS When alec baldwin is yelling ad ed harris
"Moss: Who are you? What's your name?
Blake: You see this watch? You see this watch?
Moss: Yeah.
Blake: That watch costs more than you car. I made $970,000 last year. How much you make? You see pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing. Nice guy, I don't give a shit. Good father, fuck you! Go home and play with your kids! You wanna work here, close! You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? You can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit?

also anything will jack lemmon god rest his sole. just his voice perfectly believable in that movie (i also just noticed he was the inspiration for gil on the simpsons)

also john doe's justification for the killing in se7en

holden's speech in chasing amy is pretty wild

i love all the shawshank narroration and also the end.

the usual suspects when kevin spacey was like

but im a cripple, and im dumb

that made me believe

[Jerk Shapiro]

Originally posted by notchreturns
In Raging Bull when Robert Deniro is in prison

Eh, that's all I can think of at the moment

I agree. And him quoting the lines from ON THE WATERFRONT at the end.

I want you to go to the window, open it, stick your head out and yell: "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"


-Network.

[SAI]

Just watched Moulin Rouge again and thought that two moments really needed a mention here.

1: Ewan Mc Gregor (to The Duke) Because she doesn't love you... doesn't love him, she doesn't love him.

2: Nicole Kidman: Christian loves me, and that is worth everything.

They are both great all the way through but those are the moments that can really be singled out.

[Buck Turgidson]

Nate 6 reminded me of this over in the Guessing Games Forum: The scene near the end of Coming Home, when Jon Voight talks to the potential recruits, and tells them (a little) about what he had to do in Vietnam. He's a fabulous actor and this is maybe his finest moment. Other men might have turned on the emotion too soon, but he holds it just long enough and breaks at just the right moment. It's a lot like Nicholson's scene w/ his Father in Five Easy Pieces: a whole story rests on one man's shoulder's and he succeeds brilliantly in carrying it and conveying the emotion of the moment..

[The Other]

Emily Watson in HILARY AND JACKIE

--There's this scene towards the end where she's suffering from fullblown Multiple Sclerosis and she's sitting her wheel-chair listening to a recording of herself playing the cello and she's looking at her cello as she listens to it and then starts crying.

It was a really good movie and that scene stood out to me.