Small selection of great scenes

Just a couple of great scenes from great movies and actors. Mind you, the scenes may contain spoilers, so if you haven't seen the movies... well, go see them!

Daniel Day-Lewis

As The Butcher in 'Gangs of New York', Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of his many fine performances. In this scene he reveals an emotional side of himself not seen too many other times in the movie. His mannerism somewhat resembles Robert De Niro at his best in this scene, in my opinion.

Denzel Washington

Won an Academy Award for his role in 'Training Day', and his monologue towards the end is still a scene I can watch over and over again. Denzel at his best. And that is pretty damn good.

Robert De Niro

The character actor of character actors. Back in the days smoking on film was one of the coolest things you could do. In this scene from 'Goodfellas', Robert De Niro says nothing, but his eyes, his looks and his menacing grin all give the spectators a feeling that shit is about to go down...

Cinema Paradiso: The Final Scene

One of my all-time favorite endings of a movie. A finale that pays tribute to both the story, filmmaking and images in general. Jacques Perrin gives a perfect performance using no words, just as Robert De Niro's scene mentioned in 'Goodfellas'. 

The Departed

To finish off this small selection of 5 memorable scenes from movies, here are a few humorous outtakes from a movie. The scenes with Alec Baldwin in 'The Departed' are pretty much all amazing, two of my favorites being these two. He'll have to share the last one with Mark Wahlberg, who makes one helluva duo with the star from '30 Rock'.

Small part - Great scene

There are a couple of times when a minor part in a movie just sticks with you. Sometimes they are minor roles played by big stars. Unusual characters for a certain actor/actress. It could also be just a characters reactions/actions to what happens around him in a scene, or the emotions a certain scene evokes in you as a viewer. Or it can be a hilarious moment that caught you off guard. It can be anything, really.

Here are a few great scenes with minor characters from movies that stick out:

Floyd in True Romance - Played by Brad Pitt

True Romance is one of my favorite movies, and a lot of it is down to the brilliant characters, and the equally amazing casting of the movie. Brad Pitt is a diverse actor (12 Monkeys, Fight Club, Burn After Reading, Legends of the Fall, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and in True Romance he definitely makes the most of the little screen-time he is given. As Dick´s roommate, Brad Pitt nails the character of a drugged out lazy-ass. His timing is perfect, and his answers are... well, correct.

L´aveugle in Amélie - Played by Jean Darie

Jean Darie plays "the blind man", and is given a wonderful gift by Amélie (played by Audrey Tautou) who does her best to give him sight through her words, if only for a brief moment. As she guides him through the busy street, she tells him about the sights and smells that surrounds them. Wonderful scene in a beautiful movie. Although the character of Amélie is obviously a huge one, the character of the blind man is a minor in the film. 

Bill Murray in Zombieland - Bill Murray

Bill Murray plays himself in one of the best scenes in Zombieland (one of the best scenes in a comedy the last 10 years, probably). Bill Murray is a one of those guys who you just gotta love. Not only is he funny, but he seems like one of the coolest guys on the planet. He probably is. They could not have found a better guy for this cameo. Ever. Woody Harrelson´s reaction is also golden.

Captain Koons in Pulp Fiction - Played by Christopher Walken

Well, speaking of cool cats... Christopher Walken can do anything, can´t he? In his short scene in Pulp Fiction he manages to deliver a couple of lines that no one else could have done like him. It´s probably the favorite scene for a lot of Walken-impressionists.. both good and bad.

Drexl Spivey in True Romance - Played by Gary Oldman

"I know exactly where your white ass is coming from....". Those words uttered by Gary Oldman. As Drexl Spivey, Gary Oldman shows us another side of his immense talent. And a good portion of humor. It´s as if his character was originally set to be played by Samuel L. Jackson. Only it wasn´t. 

Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross - Played by Alec Baldwin

Considering the talent that is in the room in this scene, it´s amazing to see Alec Baldwin shine so bright as he does in this scene. Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alan Arkin... The character Alec Baldwin portrays wasn´t in the original play, but was included for the movie. And the speech Baldwin delivers in this scene is brilliant. Baldwin does it perfectly, and his language reminds me of his character in The Departed many, many years later. 

Additons or suggestions? Agree, disagree? Feel free to leave a comment.