Here is my complete ranking for the greatest film scenes of all time (well, my favorites anyway).
1. True Romance - realizing his time is running out and his fate awaits him, Cliff Worley (Dennis Hoppers) enlightens crime boss Vincent Cicotti (Christopher Walken) about the origins of Sicilains. What he says exactly is too offensive to go into detail about, and, frankly's it's not even worth it, because, you have to see it to believe it. Expertly written, shot and edited, it is a scene that will stay with you forever.
2. Reservoir Dogs - angered that he's not getting answers, the ruthless Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) taunts hostage Officer Marvin Nash (Kirk Baltz) by performing a little impromptu dance to Steeler Wheels' "Stuck In The Middle With You", then preceeds to cut off his ear. The word "badass" is redefined forever.
3. Almost Famous - worn out from a long tour, the members of the struggling rock band Stillwater, along with several groupies and young journalist William Miller (Patrick Fugit), hit their tour bus for another gig. There is tension brewing in the band because of their loose cannon lead guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup). As they travel along, Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" comes on the radio. For one moment, the tension is lifted, as one by one, everyone joins in for a festive singalong. The scene is so ethereal and unforgettable that you find yourself singing along. This scene alone makes Almost Famous the masterpiece that it is.
4. Wayne's World - ready for a hard night of partying, Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers), Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) and few buds from Aurora, Illinois hop into the "Mirthmobile". Wayne picks up a cassette, utters the immortal words "A little "Bohemian Rhapsody, gentleman?", pops the tape in the deck, and they rock out to the greatest song in rock history. Freddie Mercury would be proud.
5. North By Northwest - after a day of being chased by global criminals, kidnapped and framed for both drunk driving and murder, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) has been left stranded in a cornfield in the middle of nowhere. All of a sudden, a low flying cropduster swoops down to gun down Thornhill. With Bernhard Herman's score blaring in the background, Thornhill manages to elude the plane and barely escape with his life. Hitchcock's shining moment.
6. Bullit - the ultimate cinema badass, Steve McQueen, in all his glory. McQueen did most of the stunt driving in this death defying car chase from the 1968 cop classic. Quite simply the greatest car chase in film history, Detective Frank Bullit (McQueen) is led through the streets of San Francisco in a harrowing pursuit of a group of assassins who have put a key witness in an important trial in critical condition. Filled with breathtaking scenery, exciting action and a bangup finale only McQueen can deliver, this truly is cinema at its finest. A classic.
7. A Few Good Men - sorry, but I can't leave a Nicholson scene off this lest. As the case of two marines being accused murder begins to unravel, Naval attorney Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) puts the pressure on Colonel Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) to confess to his lies concerning the case. The music swells, anger is building up in their eyes, their throats tighten, sweat profusely shooting out from both of them. Fed up, Kafee demands, "I want the truth", to which Jessup replies firmly "You can't handle the truth!" A scene that makes the viewer's blood run cold.
8. The Omen - the greatest scene ever in a horror film. U.N. Ambasador Robert Thorne (Gregory Peck) refuses to murder his son, despite growing evidence that he is indeed the spawn of Satan. Disgusted by this gesture, Keith Jennings (David Warner), a photographer who has been working with Thorn in investigating several mysterious deaths in Thorne's inner circle, has decided to take matters into his own hands. As he bends down to pick up the seven knives that can kill the child, a truck slowly lurches towards Jennings, and hits a bump. A sheet of a plate gas slides off the back, and travels straight through Jennings' neck, completely separating his head from the rest of his body. A truly terrifying moment.
9. Pyscho - after a long day of eluding the law for stealing from her boss, fugitive Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) checks into the quiet Bates Motel, run by its seemingly harmless owner, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Marion goes to her room to take a shower. As she lathers up, a mysterious figure enters the bathroom, knife in hand. The music (once again by the great Bernard Herman) builds up. The figure opens the curtain, and Marion lets out a blood curdling scream as the figure repeatedly stabs her. Hitchcock only had one better moment (see scene five).
10. Scarface - the firefight. 'Nuff said.
cant believe i didnt mention that!
Ah the childhood memories.
