GREAT MOVIE OPENING & ENDING SCENES
Time for a break, eh? Here are a sample of some great openings and endings to films I've enjoyed. As you read through them, think of some opening/closing sequences YOU enjoyed!
10.) "Brubaker": Robert Redford is a reform warden of a notorious prison who is fired for uncovering corruption that runs as deep as a river. The entire prison yard claps in thunderous single-clap unison of Respect and remorse as he's being driven away at the end (true story). Powerful!
9) "The Verdict": Paul Newman is a down and out alcoholic lawyer who stumbles across one last chance to redeem himself and wins a brutal case no one thinks is winable. The system screwed him, his girfriend sells him out for $500, the Judge is corrupt. He still prevails! In the closing scene, his remorseful girlfriend (Charlotte Rampling) is drunk and phones him from her motel room. (This was filmed before Caller ID). Newman has gone "cold turkey" and is back in his office drinking coffee from a Styrofoam cup and refuses to answer the phone. He knows it's her. Self Respect and Confidence returns. He leans back in his chair to get some sleep. Pull back shot, the phone ringing. Redemption! Screen goes black at the end. He's back!
#8) "The Graduate": Dustin Hoffman rescues the lovely Kathryn Ross from a forced marriage and they escape on foot from the church in a public transit bus as Simon and Garfunkle play out "The Sound of Silence" over the closing credits as the bus disappears down the road.
#7) "Stealing Home": Mark Harmon and Jodie Foster in a GREAT flick that is fun and stays with you for days. He figures out his life, the lessons and the last wishes of his best friend.
#6) "Tom Horn": Steve McQueen's second to the last film in 1980 (he died in November of that year) and was said to have been in great physical pain (Cancer). The Opening shot of him crouched on the ground with a rifle next to his horse along with the bold music and cinematography is intense. Linda Evans, who co-starred in that film recently mentioned on "Larry King Live" that this was a great Western that few people had the chance to see. Catch it. A real actor. Not the ego-fueled junk that passes for art today. McQueen was the "real deal".
#5) "Pale Rider": Clint Eastwood as "The Preacher" takes away a horse from a friend to spare him danger as he rides into town to bring Justice to murdering thugs. The friend appears and saves Eastwood from being shot in the back. Eastwood: (pauses) "Long walk?" (smiles and rides off). What ever became of Sydney Penny? (never saw her after this flick?)
#4) "Children of a Lesser God": What can I say? William Hurt gets to kiss Marlee Matlin at the end. She picked up the Academy Award (c) for 1986. Excellent story!
#3) "Casablanca": Humphrey Bogart's razor edge decision to let the love of his life Ilsa Lund go and take the proverbial "high road" at the end was pure Class. A must-see!
#2) "Author! Author!": Al Pacino in a fun "feel-good" movie survives a roller coaster marriage with ice princess Tuesday Weld. And yet, the pieces of the puzzle for Pacino and a house full of kids ends with a pie in the face and in a dousing of whipped cream. Fun seeing Pacino in comedy without the mob. The "older son" is a trip! ("Alice doesn't live here anymore?") A riot!
#1) "Cool Runnings": You may not believe this, but a true life story of a Jamaican bobsled team in the Olympics with a sad used sled and foul play. The entire team could have been killed. They survive and carry their broken sled above their heads across the Finish Line. Not a dry eye in the movie house.
Now, what are YOUR favorites?
10.) "Brubaker": Robert Redford is a reform warden of a notorious prison who is fired for uncovering corruption that runs as deep as a river. The entire prison yard claps in thunderous single-clap unison of Respect and remorse as he's being driven away at the end (true story). Powerful!
9) "The Verdict": Paul Newman is a down and out alcoholic lawyer who stumbles across one last chance to redeem himself and wins a brutal case no one thinks is winable. The system screwed him, his girfriend sells him out for $500, the Judge is corrupt. He still prevails! In the closing scene, his remorseful girlfriend (Charlotte Rampling) is drunk and phones him from her motel room. (This was filmed before Caller ID). Newman has gone "cold turkey" and is back in his office drinking coffee from a Styrofoam cup and refuses to answer the phone. He knows it's her. Self Respect and Confidence returns. He leans back in his chair to get some sleep. Pull back shot, the phone ringing. Redemption! Screen goes black at the end. He's back!
#8) "The Graduate": Dustin Hoffman rescues the lovely Kathryn Ross from a forced marriage and they escape on foot from the church in a public transit bus as Simon and Garfunkle play out "The Sound of Silence" over the closing credits as the bus disappears down the road.
#7) "Stealing Home": Mark Harmon and Jodie Foster in a GREAT flick that is fun and stays with you for days. He figures out his life, the lessons and the last wishes of his best friend.
#6) "Tom Horn": Steve McQueen's second to the last film in 1980 (he died in November of that year) and was said to have been in great physical pain (Cancer). The Opening shot of him crouched on the ground with a rifle next to his horse along with the bold music and cinematography is intense. Linda Evans, who co-starred in that film recently mentioned on "Larry King Live" that this was a great Western that few people had the chance to see. Catch it. A real actor. Not the ego-fueled junk that passes for art today. McQueen was the "real deal".
#5) "Pale Rider": Clint Eastwood as "The Preacher" takes away a horse from a friend to spare him danger as he rides into town to bring Justice to murdering thugs. The friend appears and saves Eastwood from being shot in the back. Eastwood: (pauses) "Long walk?" (smiles and rides off). What ever became of Sydney Penny? (never saw her after this flick?)
#4) "Children of a Lesser God": What can I say? William Hurt gets to kiss Marlee Matlin at the end. She picked up the Academy Award (c) for 1986. Excellent story!
#3) "Casablanca": Humphrey Bogart's razor edge decision to let the love of his life Ilsa Lund go and take the proverbial "high road" at the end was pure Class. A must-see!
#2) "Author! Author!": Al Pacino in a fun "feel-good" movie survives a roller coaster marriage with ice princess Tuesday Weld. And yet, the pieces of the puzzle for Pacino and a house full of kids ends with a pie in the face and in a dousing of whipped cream. Fun seeing Pacino in comedy without the mob. The "older son" is a trip! ("Alice doesn't live here anymore?") A riot!
#1) "Cool Runnings": You may not believe this, but a true life story of a Jamaican bobsled team in the Olympics with a sad used sled and foul play. The entire team could have been killed. They survive and carry their broken sled above their heads across the Finish Line. Not a dry eye in the movie house.
Now, what are YOUR favorites?
posted by Michael Manning @ 12:03 AM
13 comments
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13 Comments:
Did mine. Here they are:
http://www.diarytown.com/golfwidow/archives/005616.html
golfwidow: I just visited your list and was doubled over in laughter about "The Truth About Cats and Dogs". A scream! 1,070 days is awesome. Keep going. I must be the last person on earth who has not seen 2001: a Space Odyssey. I will rent it! Bravo!!
Excellent list, Michael. I have NO memory for such details, however.
hi michael!
grease-it takes me to a place no other movie can.
beaches-its probably just a womens thing...
apollo 13-wow!
as good as it get-this film covered every possible emotion!
on a side note: i can't wait to see the new version of, "the bad news bears!" that movie is just classic *smiles*
Bud: Details aren't important anyway. Just a sense of passion and your music has that, my friend.
Kerry: Friends of mine in NYC have this cool advantage of seeing musicals like "Grease". How interesting that Brooke Sheilds and Debbie Gibson have been in it! Great tastes & Smiles!
*smiles back* heee heeee
Every time someone asks about movies or music or books, I freeze up LOL when I'm watching, reading, listening, I'll think "Oh wow, I'll never forget this, it's the most awesome thing, can't wait to tell everyone." then i forget. LOL
I'm thinking of middles, like Kenneth Branaugh's Hamlet doing "To be or not to be" OMG! Brillance!
'Night Momma, at the end, when the Sissy Spacek character really does shoot herself - erk...i knew it was coming, but hoped it wasn't.
Close encounters of the third kind-- when the aliens come off the ship and circle around (there is so much about that movie I loved)
Poltergiest, when you think the movie is over, and Oh Oh! It's nnooootttt theyrree backkkkk
The last shot in Last of the Mohicans--at Chimney Rock, where I have quite a few photos I've posted from there on my blog...ohhhh, breathtaking!
You've just reminded me that Mel Gibson did a hell of a good job in his "Hamlet". I'll come by to see Last of the Mohican's pics!
Children of a lesser god is one of my favourites as well. But I like trashy movies that make me swoon as well as the psychological or emotionally deep films. The trashy ones I'm talking about are Pretty woman and the like.
KA831: Oh, okay. I like some trashy ones too. Good point! Thanks for stopping by!!
Stealing Home was a great movie. I also loved the theme song from it as well.
I'm a sucker for many eighties movies. My all time faves include Some Kind of Wonderful and the nineties movie, That Thing You Do.
Hey Michael! Great list! Wow, all I can come up with is Gone With The Wind! Can't remember the actual first shots, but I DO remember the fabo ending! Frankly my dear...
And then there's Cinema Paradiso... my favorite movie of all time! I wouldn't DARE write the ending of that movie out, though, because EVERYBODY should see it if they haven't already... and I wouldn't want to ruin the movie!
Brit Boy and I always love to walk out of a movie saying VERY loudly to each other as we pass people in line... WOW, TOO BAD THEY HANG 'EM IN THE END!
Janet: I saw "Stealing Home" at Walgreen's for $9.99. That movie just stayed with me literally for 3-4 days. Nice feeling too!
Last Girl: Never had a chance to chat much with Brit Boy. But obviously a sense of humor with what you guys do walking out of theaters! Similar to my comment on "Road Rage With A Cool Accent" where my long-time buddy from Chesshire and I would make up wild stories for eavesdroppers in restaurants!! Welcome back!
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