Weaving Emotion into Words

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"
                          - Gerard Butler as Leonidas in 300

This is probably my favourite quote from the film 300.  Delivery is everything and Butler weaves just enough feeling into the line to make it believable.  I guess an actor is at the top of their game when they get this right; too much or too little emotion and the line just won't sit right with the audience.  I guess 300, like the epic Gladiator, benefits from a strong script, so that in itself will motivate the actors to produce their best work.

On the flipside, I recently caught a glimpse of a trailer for Gravity.  The special effects look very good, but I enjoyed them more with the sound muted.  This was because, in my opinion, the lines didn't sit well with the action - I felt the emotion was being overplayed in an almost robotic fashion.

Which quotes stand out for you simply because of the way they were excellently delivered?  Do you feel any scripts suffered because of an over or underplaying of emotion?  Conversely, was a weaker script bolstered by good acting?

Richard Dreyfuss' final lines in Stand By Me. Very understated but never fails to tug at the heart strings.

Robert Shaw delivering the USS Indianappolis soliliquy in Jaws. Perfect delivery!

''You have offended my family, and you have offended the shoalin temple'' -

- Bruce Lee Enter the Dragon -

''Never take your eyes of your opponent, even when you bow''

- Bruce Lee Enter the Dragon -

''You f**k with the bull, you get the horns''

- Nicolas Cage Kiss of Death

Agree with superflyweight's choices.

One line I immediately thought of was Clarence's "f*** you" as he shoots Drexel in True Romance, not the most profound line but it was bursting with anger and disrespect and the timing was perfect.

The whole maniacal speech when Dionna humiliates Vinny in Summer of Sam with Dancing Queen playing is another, sheer genius.

But seriously, this one. Not for Richard's threats but for the way the confidence drains out of Sonny.
 

There is the "I'm Godzilla, you're Tokoyo" from Things to do in Denver when you're dead, which I always thought was short and to the point!

Paddy Considine is terrifyingly intense in Dead Man's Shoes.

To true. Superb performance

"Ive had it with these mutherf*cking snakes on this mutherf*cking plane!!!"

 

God bless to everyone who has mentioned Dead Mans Shoes. Crackign film and brilliant performance from Considine. I like the scene where he is at his brothers grave side in his para uniform. His face has it written all over it that this is not over and there will be consequences, there are as well.

Wesley Snipes - Blade 2 or 3 can't remember

''Obviously they do not know WHOM they are f**king with''

Gonna have to give Dead Man's Shoes another go. I've watched it and am very familiar with all the lines and scenes people are referring to but it didn't seem to make as much of an impact on me as it has the reat of you.

Be nice to see if it's better second time round...also be nice to get chance to watch something other than In the f*****g Night Garden (not sure that's the original CBeebies title though)

I am a little biased Dave as I am a big Shane Meadows fan. Always loved the bloke but when he made a documentary on the Stone Roses last year he basically became beyond any criticism in my eyes. Most people rightly rave about This is England or Dead Mans Shoes but for those that have not seen it they could do worse than watch A Room for Romeo Brass. Another top drawer performance from Considine in that one.

As an aside Considine is a massive boxing fan, saw an interview with him where he was asked what he does to relax his answer was go to the loo with a copy of Boxing News. That is pretty much exactly what I do, top man.

Shot 21 LCFC wrote:"Ive had it with these mutherf*cking snakes on this mutherf*cking plane!!!"

 

Have you ever seen the edited version of that line?

"I've had it with these monkey fighting snakes on this Monday to Friday plane!"

A film which had massive impact at the time was ''I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang'' from the early 1930s. A sizeable part of that impact was due to the haunting and soul destroying last line delivered by the ever excellent Paul Muni.

For those with a cinema interest beyond just latest releases, I would highly recommend the film and also much of Muni's work (six times a Best Actor nominee although only once a winner).

guildfordbat wrote:A film which had massive impact at the time was ''I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang'' from the early 1930s. A sizeable part of that impact was due to the haunting and soul destroying last line delivered by the ever excellent Paul Muni.

For those with a cinema interest beyond just latest releases, I would highly recommend the film and also much of Muni's work (six times a Best Actor nominee although only once a winner).

''I steal'' - whats so haunting and soul destroying about that.

Muni was excellent in the original Scarface guildford. As you say a fine actor.

On the subject of older films that fall well into this category Brando's "could have been a contender" speech from on the waterfront is absolutely excellent, so much frustration and pent up resentment. Recently read the book and when I got to that line I could see Brando delivering it clear as day.

Jeff - yes, Brando's speech from 'On the Waterfront' is a perfect example from older films.

Onetwoforever - I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you haven't seen the film.

Also love the closing scene of the Hustler where Minnesota Fats concedes defeat. Newman was never better than in that film. And there is a cameo from Jake La Motta to keep us boxing geeks happy.

Godfather 2 -
I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!

My all time fav for direct no messing impact is from Once upon a time in the West opening scene. 3 gunslingers waiting for Charles Bronson at a dusty old train station

Harmonica - And Frank?
Snaky - Frank sent us
Harmonica - Did you bring a horse for me?
Snaky - Well......looks like were....
(laughs)
Snaky - Looks like we're shy 1 horse
Harmonica - You brought two too many

My favourite scene from the Godfather two is where Michael meets Fredo in the boathouse and tells him he means nothing to him now and then basically tells Al Neri to get rid of him once their mother dies. Absolutely chilling acting and writing.

sodhat wrote:

Shot 21 LCFC wrote:"Ive had it with these mutherf*cking snakes on this mutherf*cking plane!!!"

 

Have you ever seen the edited version of that line?

"I've had it with these monkey fighting snakes on this Monday to Friday plane!"

Luckily not or I would have definately put the remote through the TV screen...

The faux piety and arrogance in Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goethe in Schindler's List when he's looking in the mirror and saying "I pardon you" as he develops a Christ complex juxtoposed with him coming to his "senses" and shooting the boy who couldn't clean his bath properly

Ralph Fiennes was'nt in Schindlers list your talking about The patient Englishman film.

Rowley wrote:I am a little biased Dave as I am a big Shane Meadows fan. Always loved the bloke but when he made a documentary on the Stone Roses last year he basically became beyond any criticism in my eyes. Most people rightly rave about This is England or Dead Mans Shoes but for those that have not seen it they could do worse than watch A Room for Romeo Brass. Another top drawer performance from Considine in that one.

As an aside Considine is a massive boxing fan, saw an interview with him where he was asked what he does to relax his answer was go to the loo with a copy of Boxing News. That is pretty much exactly what I do, top man.

 
He was quite a scary b'stard in Romeo Brass, would rather live next door to his Dead Man's Shoes character than Morell.

Rowley wrote:God bless to everyone who has mentioned Dead Mans Shoes. Crackign film and brilliant performance from Considine. I like the scene where he is at his brothers grave side in his para uniform. His face has it written all over it that this is not over and there will be consequences, there are as well.

Spoiler alert!

Eddie Murphy (when he was still funny), could translate a random selection of words into comedy gold.

superflyweight wrote:

Rowley wrote:God bless to everyone who has mentioned Dead Mans Shoes. Crackign film and brilliant performance from Considine. I like the scene where he is at his brothers grave side in his para uniform. His face has it written all over it that this is not over and there will be consequences, there are as well.

Spoiler alert!

To be honest superfly anyone who has not seen Dead Mans Shoes by now does not deserve any kind of consideration

I haven't seen it, but I'm gonna.

Sorry Stella, please try and forget anything I may have said about the film thus far on the thread, apart from the bits about it being brilliant.

Stella, make the effort. The scene in the pub where his demeanour suddenly changes is a real whoa moment.

The scene where the woman is shaving her vagina and the kid in the opposite house is charging his peers 5 dollars for a view of her room is probably the greatest scene in history Stella

I like the scene with the talking kittens, they're ever so cute.

Watching it now on you tube. The part where he says 'you ya c.nt' made me jump. What a woos.

"I've seen things you people can only dream of....
attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion....
I watched c-gleams glitter in the dark near the tannhauser gate....
All these moments will be lost like a teardrop in the rain
Time to die.............."

Very poignant..........and moving...

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"I've seen things you people can only dream of....
attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion....
I watched c-gleams glitter in the dark near the tannhauser gate....
All these moments will be lost like a teardrop in the rain
Time to die.............."

Very poignant..........and moving...

Rutger Hauers second best speech but brilliant none the less.

Some men get the world...and some men get ex-hookers and a trip to Arizona..

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Ralph Fiennes was'nt in Schindlers list your talking about The patient Englishman film.

You need to be quiet and watch the film, then watch the credits...then be quiet again...idiot! The man received an oscar nomination for his role!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"I've seen things you people can only dream of....
attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion....
I watched c-gleams glitter in the dark near the tannhauser gate....
All these moments will be lost like a teardrop in the rain
Time to die.............."

Very poignant..........and moving...

Not really as it was all made up tosh.

His speech from Hobo with a Shotgun is better in my opinion (and no, I am not joking - its a thing of beauty/ amazement)

Adam D wrote:His speech from Hobo with a Shotgun is better in my opinion (and no, I am not joking - its a thing of beauty/ amazement)

Having seen "MACHETE" I was hoping for good things from "HOBO..." but sadly it was absolute tosh. I'd go as far as to say that it was on a par with "Planet Terror" for

MACHETE was poor imo.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:MACHETE was poor imo.

That's all that needs to be said really
Perhaps if Ralph Fiennes was in it, eh?  

DAVE667 wrote:

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:MACHETE was poor imo.

That's all that needs to be said really
Perhaps if Ralph Fiennes was in it, eh?  

Don't get me wrong its the type of movie that if I had a brain I could leave it at home and enjoy watching Machete but the acting was second rate.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:MACHETE was poor imo.

That's all that needs to be said really
Perhaps if Ralph Fiennes was in it, eh?  

Don't get me wrong its the type of movie that if I had a brain I could leave it at home and enjoy watching Machete but the acting was second rate.

It's got Danny Trejo in it FFS! What did you expect, Hamlet?

if I had a brain I could leave it at home

Seems to me that you do it every time you log on here!

There's a brief reference to another 1930s classic on the current ''American v British Gangster Films'' thread - Angels With Dirty Faces.

That reminded me of Jimmy Cagney's closing scene in which he continues to bamboozle the audience eighty years on.

SPOILER
About to go to the electric chair, Cagney delivers an emotion packed plea as he begs for mercy and leaves viewers unsure as to whether he is about to die ''yellow'' or is heroically feigning cowardice so as to encourage younger others towards the right path.

Cagney was a remarkably versatile actor. Besides the gangster movies for which he is best remembered, he was also a fine song and dance man as in his Oscar winning performance in Yankee Doodle Dandy (albeit not my type of film).

A cricket fan and a cagney fan. You're a man of some tastes guildford. If you express any kind of love for fairly obscure boxers from the early 20th century and I may well be moving in with you.

Rowley wrote:A cricket fan and a cagney fan. You're a man of some tastes guildford. If you express any kind of love for fairly obscure boxers from the early 20th century and I may well be moving in with you.

Oh Jeff - if only you had said obscure footballers from the early 20th century, a PM inviting you to move in would be on its way now! My great uncle was a journeyman professional in both England and Scotland during the 1920s and early '30s. The boxers I've heard of from that time (Dempsey, Robinson) could hardly be called ''fairly obscure''. Guess some things are not to be.

To be fair guildford we have people on the boxing boards for who the name Dempsey is obscure so don't do yourself too great a disservice.