Thursday, April 2, 2015

Blogathon: A Fistful of Moments (p. I)

Fisti, over at A Fistful of Films has unleashed Hell. Again.

While his proposed blogathon isn't asking for a slew of flaming arrows to rain hot death, he is instead asking for cinematic moments that have been seared into our minds forever. Wisely, he has suggested to keep the number of scenes under a hundred, which is appreciated, as I can think of about five hundred nude scenes right off the top of my head. Just kidding. It's more like a thousand.

Anyway, while I'm assuming that much smarter bloggers are going to absolutely nail this with moments that truly define cinema, I'm going to go with 21 scenes that occasionally fill the void in my head, where a functioning adult brain should reside. When possible, I've loosely grouped them into categories, attempting to connect the childlike emotion(s) that surface when these moments originally flickered on the big screen. 

GROUP #1: It's the Little Things...

Jerry MaGuire (1996) - Jerry's life has seemingly bottomed out. But after resigning his biggest client, he's back. Jerry gets in his car and wants - no, absolutely has to sing. He struggles at first, but then he finds the perfect song in Petty's Free Fallin'. I'm not Tom Cruise, but this scene? This is me.

Pulp Fiction (1994) - Is there anything cooler than this exchange? Well, fine, it's like a million-way tie with everything else in QT's classic, but still.

GROUP #2: Oh shit!

Meet Joe Black (1998) - You were probably seven when this came out, but I saw it theatrically. I have never, ever heard that many people scream then immediately laugh their asses off as Pitt finally decided to take his eyes off of Claire Forlani for one (final) moment. Not that I blame him...

Pink Flamingos (1972) - I had read about the infamous scene in Rolling Stone and decided I had to see it. So did every student living in my dorm (upon my receiving the VHS tape in the mail weeks later). And after it happened, they looked at me with such hurt and distrust in their eyes, I basically had to move off of campus immediately. Thanks a lot, Divine. I'd tell you to eat shit and die, but...well, you kind of already did.

GROUP #3: Perfection

Big Fish (2003) - Tim Burton could helm a Johhny Depp-led remake of Patch Adams and I would still forever love him for Big Fish. In a sea of perfect moments, Ed Bloom's gesture to Sandra is my absolute favorite. 

Fight Club (1999) - I don't think there's a better final minute in a movie. Ever. 

Braveheart (1995) - The way William Wallace's wife silently glides across the frame has always stayed with me. So to, the idea that in my final moments I'll be able to smile peacefully. This scene has a lot going on (and is a tad ridiculous, I'll be honest), but I love it regardless.

Group #4: Aww...

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) - Look, I was eleven when I saw this, and I'm assuming that I probably cried like the wee girl I was. Twenty-four years later, it still makes me shed a tear. Due to awesomeness. It's a flaming thumbs-up from beyond the grave. From a cyborg. I know, I know. I can't breathe either.

Forrest Gump (1994) - I couldn't contain my sadness when Forrest talks to Jenny's grave. I wept. I was so inconsolable, it was probably embarrassing. Good thing everyone else in the theater was crying, too. Even the stinky hippie next to me. Though his tears may have been unrelated to the onscreen happenings.

Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow. I know, I know.

I can't wait either.

22 comments:

  1. Pink Flamingos! Yes! The ultimate date movie.

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  2. Oh God, Pink Flamingos! I didn't tell anyone that I watched that when I did. I felt like I kind of had to keep it to myself. Great picks! Especially that Pulp Fiction one.

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    1. That's what I would have done, had I not had twenty other people crowded into my dorm room at the time. It was pretty traumatic. I became the 'Pink Flamingos' guy for a minute. Not good.

      Mia Wallace's rectangle has always been one of my favorite scenes. I don't know why it's there...but I love it.

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  3. FUCK! Now I want to watch Pink Flamingos...or do I?

    Thank you so much for this, buddy...and for having a PART TWO TOMORROW...and for categorizing these...like...I heart you so much right now.

    And that Fight Club moment has popped up quite a bit so far...and I'm loving it!

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    1. OMG! That tag! I just noticed that.

      You win...you win!!!

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    2. Don't do it. Honestly. If you see Pink Flamingos walking down the street, politely cross to the other side, and then run like Hell in the opposite direction. It's uncomfortably bad. But....oddly, memorable?

      Oh, and as for winning a blogathon, well, no. Not even close. But I do recall a certain Mt. Spankmore....

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    3. LOL! Every once in a while I browse my blog stats to see what pages have the most looks, and Mt. Spankmore is always at the top of the list. Like...I will admit that was probably my greatest post ever...and I have you and your blogathon to thank for it.

      You know, and all the wanking.

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    4. Mt. Spankmore ranks number one? That's probably why I always get a handful of hits on the post with all the links. You guys all did such a great job with it, it makes perfect sense (though, to be fair, you going f--king crazy in the best possible way didn't hurt).

      Ah, the wanking.

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  4. Awesome post! Now I am thoroughly curious about Pink Flamingos. I may have to watch it, although the voices in my head are telling me I'll sorely regret it.

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    1. Thanks!

      But...listen to the voices in your head! Please! I'm sure they are some solid individuals. Mine only encourage such lurid endeavors. Those f--kers.

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    2. The voices in my head are a bit unreliable ... and not necessarily sober.

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    3. Well, at least they'd be fun at a party.

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  5. Excellent picks! I used a Jerry Maguire scene myself for this blogathon. Great movie!

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    1. I couldn't agree more. I gotta check out what you went with!

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  6. For years I've been waffling on whether I have to see Pink Flamingos or will actively avoid it for the rest of my life just because I heard about that scene in advance. And I generally like John Waters making it tougher. Great call on Pulp Fiction. And yeah, the tag is all sorts of awesome.

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    1. Oh, there is no waffling about it. Don't do it. Let me fall on that grenade for you.

      Man, picking a scene from Pulp Fiction is damn near impossible. I swear every frame of that movie is iconic.

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  7. Oh that Braveheart moment is so beautiful! Gibson may be an asshole but I still love this movie

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    1. There's such a palpable sense of peace in that scene, it's incredible. They've tortured him, the crowd wants blood, his friends are devastated....not to mention that he is about to be beheaded, but still, Wallace (and the audience) are kind of okay with it.

      Amazing.

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  8. I like how you divided these into sections!

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    1. Thank you very much, Best Name for a Website EVER.

      (I will be visiting ASAP)

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  9. "I'm not Tom Cruise, but this scene? This is me." YES! Love that. And of course I love that you highlighted the square moment in Pulp. What a great little scene.

    And the shit. Yes, Divine, thank you oh so very much.

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    1. Jerry MaGuire is an all-timer for me. I love how Crowe routinely catches the little things that make his characters actual people. Jerry committing to finding a song/any song is one such moment.

      The square! Why does this even exist? Who cares!

      That's not even the worst scene in Pink Flamingos, huh? Yikes.

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