Movie Milestones: 25 Years of Top Gun

Can you believe it's been 25 years?!? One of the most iconic, quotable, and all-around fun movies of the 80's has over the years become one of my personal favorites. With one of the greatest casts top to bottom and some of the most memorable scenes in history, Top Gun definitely deserves the title of a "Movie Milestone."

This Tony Scott classic (don't get to put those three words together that often) stars a 24 year-old Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell as a fighter pilot sent to Top Gun to train and hone his dog fighting skills and become one of the navy's top pilots. His co-pilot is Goose (Anthony Edwards with a full head of hair and a cheesy mustache). His top competitor at Top Gun is Iceman (Val Kilmer), a bleach-haired, cocky hot shot that is out to take down Maverick. Along the way, Maverick falls for one of his instructors, Charlie (Kelly McGillis).

Best scene: This is so hard to choose. There are so many iconic scenes in this that can be quoted endlessly. Scenes like the first classroom scene where Maverick has to explain his stunt with the MIG. Or the volleyball scene as Maverick and Goose take their rivalry with Iceman and Slider to the volleyball court. Or any scene that takes place in the air as they fight each other and the enemies. However, if pressed to pick one best scene, it would have to be the bar scene. We get our first glimpse of the quirky relationship between Maverick and Goose, as well as get introduced to Iceman and his RIO Slider, who becomes the brunt of many of Goose's one-liners. You see how Iceman resents Maverick immediately for taking his best friend's spot at Top Gun, and you see Maverick's supreme arrogance that makes him such a great and often dangerous pilot. ("That's right, Ice . . . Man, I am dangerous.") We also get introduced to a game that, who knows how many times, Maverick and Goose have played. "OK, you have to have carnal knowledge, of a lady this time, on the premises." He makes his introduction to his target, who happens to be Charlie, by informing her that she has lost that loving feeling (a declaration that makes me worrisome about Tom Cruise starring in the musical Rock of Ages next year). I could watch that scene start to finish over and over and over . . .

Best line: I could quote this movie all day. "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash." "I feel the need. The need for speed." "The plaque for the alternates is in the ladies' room." "I'm gonna hit the brakes, he'll blow right by us." "Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full." "Slider, you stink." "I could go on forever, baby." (Wrong movie, but I find it applicable to the current situation.) The line I have to go with as my favorite is actually a series of banter between Maverick and Goose as they explain to Charlie what they were doing inverted over the top of a MIG. "Communicating . . . Keeping up with foreign relations . . . Giving him the bird." Then Goose butts in while demonstrating, "You know, the finger!" Charlie replies, "Yes, I know the finger, Goose." Goose's response as he retracts his finger: "Oh, I'm sorry. I hate it when it does that." Classic.

Most Iconic Moment: Maverick is finally finding a way to cope with the death of Goose after a terrible accident in the air. He stands on the back of his air craft carrier with Goose's dog tags in his hand, the same dog tags he hadn't let go of since the accident. He is finally ready to move on which he shows by hurling Goose's dog tags in the ocean. For as action-packed as this movie is, it is hard to make it through that moment with Maverick with a dry eye.

The Time Tester: This is where we look at what, if anything, from this film has stood the test of time the best. For Top Gun, this answer is easy: the score and soundtrack. After 25 years, this remains one of my all-time favorite scores from top to bottom. Featuring such classic 80's anthems like "Danger Zone" and "Playing With the Boys," and ending with the classic score theme. The only way to describe it is, "Dum-dum-dum, duh-duh-duh-duh-dum-dum, duh-duh-dum, duh-duh-dum, duh-duh-dum-dum-dum." You know what I'm talking about! Put on top of that the boys belting at the top of their lungs "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and the Oscar-winning love song "Take My Breath Away," wow. I can't imagine ever topping that.

The Lasting Impact: Looking back on Top Gun, one of the biggest lasting impacts is the amount of careers it shot into superstar status. Tom Cruise had already been made a star after Risky Business, but this film made him a bankable legitimate movie star, following this up with a run of films no other actor can claim to their resume. This film also saw the launch of Val Kilmer's career, who has become one of the most eccentric talents of the last 25 years. Add to that supporting performances by Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, Tim Robbins, and Meg Ryan, you have what turned out to be one of the most stacked casts of the 80's. After you look at the careers Top Gun launched, you then have to look at its lasting effect on movie making itself. Now I know it's no Citizen Kane or Casablanca, but to say it had no lasting effect on the way these types of films were made is simply pathetic. In many ways, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott have been trying to recreate something that brings about the iconic status that Top Gun has using the same formula, but nothing can ever quite match a standard-setter.

After 25 years, this film has definitely stood the test of time. I actually had this film running in the background while I wrote this article. Some things are a little dated. Top Gun takes place at the end of the Cold War, and we see a nameless, faceless enemy we could only assume is someone from the Cold War. However, one thing that makes it unique is the nameless, faceless enemy. The focus is not at all on the enemy, but on the people and the relationships built through the experiences they had at Top Gun and beyond.

Movie Milestones

I'll admit it. I haven't gotten to the movie theatre much this summer. This is partially budgetary reasons (I don't make the fortune it now costs to go to the movie theatre on a regular basis or have the connections Todd has), and partially because not a ton of movies this summer have caught my interest (I've also been really busy, but that's another story entirely). Because of this, I haven't been able to write much about the movies that have been coming out this summer. Instead, I have decided to write about some great achievements in film that celebrate major birthdays this year. These segments on the site will be entitled "Movie Milestones." Be on the lookout for future installments.

Emma Stone: Rising Star

Emma Stone is one of the most interesting cases of instant stardom in Hollywood in recent memory. Just four years ago, she was in her first movie. Now, she may be the most bankable young star out there. How did we get to this point? Where did her crazy popularity come from? Yeah, I am not sure either. I have been trying to figure that out.

In 2007, after doing just 12 television episodes as an actor, Emma Stone got her break by getting cast as one of the supporting females in Superbad. From the first time I saw her on screen, I knew there was something different about her. She had these huge, beautiful eyes and her voice had a raspiness to it that made her sound different than anyone else on screen. I had no idea, though, that in four years that she would be a big star. I assumed she would become one of the underused, underrated supporting comedy actresses, adding to the list that includes the likes of Leslie Mann, Kristen Wiig, Jenna Fischer, and Elizabeth Banks.

In 2008 and 2009, Ms. Stone started to get a few more roles. She had small parts in The Rocker, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, The House Bunny, and Paper Man. She was starting to become more of a familiar face, but still to everyone she was just “Jules from Superbad”. Later in ’09 she got one of the female leads in the surprise hit Zombieland. This movie is where she really came into her own. She played a character that was not quite like what we had seen her as before, and she looked smoking hot. As shallow as it sounds, one of the requirements for an actress to really be taken seriously as a big star, they need to be eye candy. I was not sure that she could have that quality until this movie. It wasn’t until after this that I finally cared enough to learn her name.

Now, obviously Emma Stone’s star-making role was Easy A. At no point did I think the movie would be good, until I started watching it. It was such a fresh movie, and I wasn’t really sure why. It was a fairly clichéd script with some good actors and some annoying characters. But it was Stone as the main character that gave the movie its heart and appeal. The way she appears on screen in all of her movies is so grounded and real. You cannot really take your eyes off her. There is something in those eyes, something in that voice that intrigues us all. Her Golden Globe nomination was well-deserved. She probably should have won. I would almost compare her acclaim, appeal, and impact of this role on her career to Terrence Howard’s part in Hustle & Flow.

After some voice work, we get to 2011, a monster year for Ms. Stone. We start out with Friends with Benefits, which is only a cameo, but isn’t the fact that she has a cameo proof that she has arrived? It is not like it is just a bit part, it is sort of crucial, with the male parallel character being played by Andy Samberg. Later in the summer came Crazy, Stupid, Love, which is another really strong character for her. She played basically the one character that everyone can relate to in the film, and brought an undeniable amount of heart to it.

Finally, we have the current megahit The Help. In that brilliant ensemble cast, it is Emma Stone that got the lead role. The film is such a strange case in the industry right now. It has won the box office for the third straight weekend. It had a fairly corny, lame trailer, so I am not exactly sure how it shot onto the scene so rapidly. The movie is pretty good, but very slight and unchallenging. How is this movie so successful and widely appealing? The only answer I can come up with is Emma Stone. She is to that level already. Everyone goes to see this movie: young, old, guys, girls, black, white… It does not matter. It isn’t one of the new faces Jessica Chastain or Octavia Spencer. It isn’t the bit part specialist Viola Davis. It may be the subject matter in some circles, but it can’t be for all of them. It is the director’s second film, so it can’t be that. All I can think of is that Emma Stone is getting the people in the seats. Other than some glowing reviews (and let’s be honest, that has no bearing on box office success), Ms. Stone is the main reason why I was intrigued by the movie. It is crazy to think that a girl can be planted on the scene one year, then four years and one leading role later she can simply appear and make her film into $100 million hit in a few weeks. The movie is not a blockbuster and it is not a normal August release. It is a November-type release, and one that under normal circumstances would not have gotten too far off the ground. Some people may differ with me on this, but that is exactly how I view this phenomenon.

So, what is next for The Help and Ms. Stone? I view The Help as being this year’s The Blind Side. If there were 10 spots at the Oscars still, it would be a lock for a nomination. Now, it is less of a sure-thing, but still very possible. Recently, the Oscars have been focusing on nominating more films for, about, and/or by women, so it will certainly get its share of votes. They cannot ignore that box office number either, which will most likely pass $200 million by the time its theatrical run is done. Viola Davis will be nominated, and I would put Stone right there in the running for a Best Actress nomination. The Golden Globe nod is almost assured, but the Oscar is really possible.

When I think of Emma Stone’s rising star and how rapidly it got there, I can’t think of any other comparison than Julia Roberts. Within three years of her acting career starting, she had already been named Hollywood’s sweetheart and gotten two Oscar nominations. Ms. Stone has a similarly pretty face and is becoming the female movie-goer’s next favorite star. She is incredibly likable and very down-to-earth. I can totally see her being one of this generation’s top actresses in 5-10 years. And if people still do not know who she is, I guarantee that they will after her appearance as the female lead in the new Spider-Man flick next year.

So, does anyone agree? What do you like most about Emma Stone and/or The Help? Can she be as big of a star as I indicated?

Power Rankings: Telling off Your Boss and/or Quitting Your Job

The idea for this list spawned from a recent rewatching of Fight Club, which got me thinking about other great ways that people have told off their bosses. That led to the job-quitting part because, well, it basically is quitting. Now, this is list is really sketchy. It was fairly thrown together, so I am going to need some input in the end. I know that I have to be missing some huge ones. I came across a blog that had the end of The Truman Show on there, which I never would have thought of, so I will not include that one. Here it goes:

Others receiving votes:

“I’m mad as hell…” from Network (not exactly quitting, but close enough to be an honorable mention)

“I Quit! Hahaha I Quit!...I QUIT.” from That Thing You Do!

“I’ve always had an odd preference for very, very young girls…” from Reality Bites

10. “You better lawyer up, asshole.” from The Social Network

Now, I know Eduardo wouldn’t like to consider Mark his boss, but he was. This climactic scene in the best film of 2010 got the entire audience’s blood flowing when Eduardo found out that he was getting screwed out of his ownership of the business. He proceeds to tell the Mark that he better lawyer up because he isn’t coming back for 30%, but for everything. It was a brilliantly-acted scene and a fantastic way of telling off your boss.

9. “So don’t pay me, now leave me alone.” from American Beauty

In the first of two American Beauty scenes on this list, Ricky Fitts, a waiter (and drug dealer) is out smoking pot during his shift when his boss walks out on him and says that he isn’t paying him to do whatever it is he is doing. So, in the most nonchalant way, he says, “Fine, so don’t pay me…. I quit. So now you don’t have to pay me, now leave me alone.” Lester basically goes from 6 to midnight after hearing this and proclaims that he is now his personal hero. It is just about the greatest “I honestly do not care” middle finger ever given to a boss. I love it.

8. “Get your own fucking cheese!” from The Wrestler

This is a painful way to quit…literally. Randy is finally fed up with his degrading boss and the whiny customers at the deli, so he punches the meat cutter right on the blades and bleeds out profusely. He smears the blood all over his face, tells off the customers, and he storms out of the store, knocking over everything in sight and yells, “I’m outta here!” That is one way to go, terrorizing everything on the way out the door. It is a tough scene to watch, but one of the many great ones in the best film of 2008. (bad video quality on the clip below, sorry)

7. “The old payola won’t work anymore.” from The Apartment

This is a great, subtle quitting sequence. Baxter, who made a career out of letting executives use his apartment for their own business, decided one day to not have it anymore. When he was asked for the key, he gave up the key to the executive washroom. He stated that he wanted to become a human again, and that there was basically nothing that his boss could do to stop him from quitting. It was a great scene in an otherwise overrated Best Picture winner.

All Washed Up




The Apartment

— MOVIECLIPS.com

6. “I hate this job…and I don’t need it!” from Office Space

This is a hilarious scene. This movie has so many great, relatable workplace rebellion scenes. This is one of the best scenes. Joanna works for a tool of a boss at a restaurant who makes his employees wear a bunch of pins on their clothes to “express themselves”. She gets fed up with it one day, flips off her boss and the customers, saying that was her way of expressing herself, then quits on the spot. If only we all could be so bold and spontaneous in quitting our jobs…

Joanna Quits With Flair




Office Space

— MOVIECLIPS.com

5. “Someday, you’re gonna be sorry...” from Major League

This is a great scene in a classic sports comedy. Ricky Vaughn was getting cut by the team in his manager’s office, and in classic Wild Thing stature, he flips out. He starts yelling at his boss in a rage about how he is going to get another chance and take it out on the Indians when he plays them with his new team. He then throws a fastball at the locker, only to find out that the team was just pulling a prank on him. (could not find a clip for this one, so I will post the quotes)

Rick Vaughn: I got news for you Mr. Brown, you haven't heard the last of me. You may think I'm shit now, but someday you're gonna be sorry you cut me. I'm gonna catch on somewhere else and every time that I pitch against you I'm gonna stick it up you're fuckin' ass!
[Throws baseball against locker]
Lou Brown: Good, I like that kind of spirit in a player. The only problem is I didn't cut you.
Rick Vaughn: What?
Lou Brown: I think someone's been having some fun with you.

4. “Go fuck yourself, you fucking child!” from Charlie Wilson’s War

This is an amazing scene. Gust gets passed up for a promotion, and he lets his boss know of his displeasure. It is so awesome. It is a scene that only someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Slattery could have pulled off with that brilliant Aaron Sorkin writing. It is definitely the best case of telling off your boss that I could think of. It goes on for three minutes of amazingly-written banter and concluded with a brilliant couple lines and another broken window. And if you look in the background, you see the entire office staring at them, so you know it’s good. I love it.

3. “If you weren’t such a bitch, we’d feel sorry for you.” from Wanted

This is one of those great instances when the main character finally snaps and lets it out on his boss. His constantly nagging boss was at it again, and after telling her not so politely to shut up, he lets her know that everyone in the office knows all of her little secrets, breaks her beloved red stapler, and tells her off, leaving her absolutely speechless, along with the rest of the office. Then he takes his keyboard and breaks his annoying coworker’s face. Awesome!

2. -TIE- “I’m just an ordinary guy with nothing to lose.” from American Beauty

Now, this scene is about as cool of a way to quit a job as possible. If only Fight Club hadn’t had a very similar scene the same year… Anyway, Lester decides to blackmail his boss, convincing him to pay him his salary and benefits and threatens to make up an untraceable sexual harassment lawsuit against his boss. It is one of the many brilliant scenes in that nearly flawless movie of our time.

2. -TIE- “I am Jack’s smirking revenge.” from Fight Club

This is such a good scene. Not only is it a great blackmail scene, but he also beats himself up and rubs all the blood on his boss seemingly accidentally, so when security shows up, it looked like he just got beaten by his boss. He had no choice but to oblige. It is a lot like the American Beauty scene, and while this one is less believable, it is just as awesome.

Jack's Smirking Revenge by movieclips

1. “Who’s coming with me?!” from Jerry Maguire

After Jerry accidentally sends out a scandalous memo, he is forced to quit. On his way out, he takes his skills, his fish, and anyone else who will follow. DOROTHY BOYD! THANK YOU! She is the only one who will go with him (not even his secretary), but he made his point. He starts his own firm. He went out like a rockstar, and became somewhat of a legend. I love that movie. Only Cameron Crowe can make a scene with such feeling and awkwardness like this one.

So, what did I miss? Other blogs have mentioned Joe Versus the Volcano, but I haven’t seen that so I shouldn’t use it. Terry mentioned Click, but I haven’t watched that either. Let me know what you come up with.

Power Rankings: Harry Potter

It has been almost a month since the final Harry Potter film was released. The chaos and pandemonium are starting to settle as the "Decade of Potter" has come to an end, and I thought it was time for some perspective. I have viewed all eight of the Harry Potter (properly pronounced "Pah-uh" according to every cast member) films in the last year for the first time. Having never read the books, I can provide an unbiased opinion on the quality of the films alone without comparing them, unfairly as always, to the source material.

8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

The first thing you need to know about this list is that I didn't not like any of the eight Harry Potter films. They are all incredible. However, if I were to pick a least favorite, this would have to be it. That doesn't mean this third installment in the series didn't have some things going for it. It was the only Potter flick directed by Alfonso Cuaron, which brought a darker, edgier feel to Hogwarts. It also brought about the first appearance of Gary Oldman as the title character (not Harry Potter, the other one). What made this one a little lower than the others has to do more with circumstance than anything else. First, Azkaban brought us a new Dumbledore in Michael Gambon after the passing of the great Richard Harris. Although Gambon filled the shoes admirably, it was hard to fully appreciate his performance with Harris's brilliant interpretation of the Hogwarts headmaster still fresh in the mind. Another drawback to Azkaban was the age of the three main characters. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were starting to grow up, the film felt a little darker, but it also felt like they were acting more like children than the rest of the film deserved. It was a transition film in many ways.

7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Just like Prisoner of Azkaban, this was a transition film as it started to set up all the madness that would come in the final three parts. In Order of the Phoenix, we see Helena Bonham Carter and Imelda Staunton join the Harry Potter ranks for the first time on the evil side, as well as the unforgettable Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) on the good side. All three characters end up playing major roles in the finale of the saga. In this plot, Staunton's Delores Umbridge tries to take over Hogwarts while not teaching the children what they need. This brings about secret training sessions with Harry as the guest teacher. The training sessions are a lot of fun as you see Harry start to show some confidence in his superior skills as a wizard. However, like I said, the primary purpose of this film is to set the stage for the final three. This leaves us with a solid story, but not quite as exciting as the others higher on the list.

6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

One thing I love about Harry Potter is how every film is connected. They aren't completely disconnected stories that just happen to involve the same characters like many other franchises. In Harry Potter, each film builds on the last almost as if it is one story just split into 8 parts. However, out of all the Harry Potter installments, Goblet of Fire is the one that stands the best on its own. If someone were to pick a Potter film to watch with no background to the plot line (other than the first one), this would be the film. It's primary story line has the least to do with the films that came before, however it has a LOT to do with the films that come after. In this story, we see Harry competing in what can best be described as a wizard decathlon with the champion gaining the Goblet of Fire. One of his competitors is fellow student Cedric Diggory, played by a young, not so blood thirsty (or pale), Robert Pattinson. The competition brings a lot of fun throughout the movie, but some other important events happen as well. It is the first time Harry and his friends start to notice the opposite sex. The kids are starting to grow up. The most important event of Goblet of Fire is the arriving of Lord Voldemort, played to perfection by the great Ralph Fiennes. For a film that focuses so much on a game, it turns out containing one of the main turning points of the whole series.

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

The numbers don't really mean much from here on out. The first three films were a definite 8, 7, and 6. The last five films on the list might as well be 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E. They are that close in quality. However, they are ranked the way they are for a reason. At number five, we have the penultimate installment to the series. As Voldemort's army starts to attack, the Harry Triumvirate go into hiding and regroup. Out of all the Harry Potter installments, this is the first that is allowed to breathe. For the first time in the series, we get extended periods of time where the characters sit and talk. This was obviously a result of splitting the last book into two movies which really benefited both installments. Although this also is a transition film, setting up the grand finale, this film is so great because of these rare moments of stillness that occur throughout the movie. It allows for characterization of the Big Three, and also gives a chance for Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson to show how talented they have become. Also, I love a good cliffhanger that perfectly sets up a dramatic conclusion.

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

In the second installment of the franchise, we see some of the first developments of the primary conflict of the series between Harry and Voldemort. We also see Kenneth Branagh make his appearance in the world of Harry Potter as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, a famous hero of the wizard world that turns out to be more phony than not. We also see the emergence of one of my favorite characters, Dobby the House Elf. The first few films, this being one of those, I found so fun and amazing. At the beginning, when the main characters were younger, so much of the story is filled with wonder and magic. They are kid stories with a little edge to them, which appeals to me. They also featured the more laid back Richard Harris as opposed to the serious Michael Gambon in the role of Dumbledore. This was a great example of the early years of Potter as they searched for the Chamber of Secrets.

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Who is the Half-Blood Prince? Harry tries to figure this out as he also starts to learn more about Voldemort. What makes this simple plot line stand out among the rest is the development of the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore. Michael Gambon really shines as Dumbledore in this film as he and Harry travel together. Their travels culminate in the outstanding and shocking ending as the characters are forced to pick their sides for the final battle.

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

If a franchise is a success, then it is usually pretty hard to get better than the film that started it all. Sorcerer's Stone sets the stage so well for everything else that happens in the series. What can make or break a series like this is how well the first film draws you into the world it creates. That is actually the strength of this film. Being someone who never read a Harry Potter book and knew nothing about the plot other than a few characters names, I never felt confused or out of the loop to what was going on. It sets the magical world in motion with many memorable characters that are with you from start to finish. We get to know and love Richard Harris's Dumbledore, as well as start to crack the wonderful mystery that is Alan Rickman's Severus Snape. It's hard to argue with the beginning, unless . . .

1. Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

. . . you are talking about the end. The only thing that could top such an outstanding start to this landmark series is its unforgettable finish. There were so many unanswered questions going into the final installment that I had serious doubts to how well it would be able to tie up all the loose ends it created in the previous 7 films. Not only did it tie up all these loose ends, but it threw some curveballs and plot twists into the mix that really enhanced the finish instead of draw away from it, which it easily could have done and very often does. Unlike Part 1, this film moves very fast as it races to finish off the remarkable story. Although this film seemed to be the first time the story felt rushed, it did not seem to matter much due to the fact that everything was being thrown into the chaos of the final battle and ending. It fit the tone of the film, and brought about a finale that was pretty much . . . perfect.

Power Rankings: Sports Scenes in Non-Sports Movies

I recently watched the 1938 gangster picture Angels with Dirty Faces, in which about halfway through the tough guy main character sort of referees a teenage basketball game. It is a really random scene considering the genre, but it is a really good and pivotal scene for character development. That got me thinking about what other great non-sports films have memorable sports-related scenes. Some scenes on this list are for their intelligent way of portraying the sports, and others are more for humorous effect. The list has a total of 4 football scenes, 2 for basketball, and 1 each for bowling, racing, baseball, and tennis. It is a fairly well-rounded list, but I know that I probably overlooked a bunch of scenes. It is a difficult list to just make up. Check it out:

Others receiving votes:

Rowing Crew in The Social Network

Alabama Football in Forrest Gump

Rooftop Hockey in Clerks

Golfing in Sideways

10. Gas Mask Football in Jarhead

This is a brilliant scene that is a perfect example of the dark humor in this highly underrated war film. The company staff sergeant (Jamie Foxx) is being interviewed by a reporter, talking about the gas suits and how they work while two soldiers are playing catch in the background. The staff sergeant decides to get everyone in full gas suit gear in 100+ degree heat to play a full game of football. It is a really good scene that shows what the soldiers were going through and showing how they cope with the external factors of their seemingly boring mission. The scene after, in which the soldiers all strip down to embarrass the staff sergeant in front of the reporter, also makes this scene even more memorable.

9. Jesus Bowling in The Big Lebowski

There are a ton of classic scenes in this Coen Brothers ridiculous comedy, but the scenes centered on bowling are the some of the funniest. The scene that most stands out to me is when Jesus (John Turturro) does his dirty little routine before bowling a strike, then proceeds to do a little dance when he turns around. The looks on The Dude, Donnie, and Walter’s faces are priceless. The three of them then talk about Jesus and how he is a pedophile. Then the two teams exchange a few words. It is just one of the many classic scenes in that movie and maybe the most memorable bowling scene in any movie. I honestly cannot even think more than a handful of them, though. Either way, this is a great scene and one of the many that gives this movie its cult status.

8. Tennis Match in Strangers on a Train

This scene is all about the level of suspense that Hitchcock is able to bring. It just happens to take place at a tennis match. The tennis pro who has yet to hold up his end of the murderous deal is playing his big match, with his stalker in the audience. The entire crowd is watching the ball go back and forth, with the exception of the stalker, who has his eyes forever locked on the player. The match is where the big climax of the movie takes place, and the shot of the crowd is one of the most brilliant shots Hitchcock ever did. This movie is perhaps his most underrated thriller, and it is scenes like this one that make it so intense.

7. Football Game in Little Children

This is a personal favorite of mine. Brad (Patrick Wilson) invites Sarah (Kate Winslet) to a football game with a bunch of off-duty cops that he got reeled into playing. The scene sets up to just be a continuation bit, but the scene is a few minutes of legitimate football with the narrator’s voice reminiscent of the guy from NFL Films. It is the most random sports scene I have ever seen, yet it is one that handles itself more seriously than almost any other. It is a lightly humorous few minutes, and yet it is completely vital to the movie, since it is there that Brad asks Sarah to run away with him. I cannot think of a more oddball, brilliant football scene than this one. It could have just as easily not even been shown and cut to after the game, but Todd Fields decided to let his characters breathe in all facets of their lives. I appreciate that in a writer.

6. The Game in MASH

This is probably one of the most recognizable sports scenes in non-sports films. It is a piece of classic Robert Altman filmmaking in which ringer Spearchucker Jones (Fred Williamson) teaches the 4077^th a thing or two about football in attempt to stand a chance against the General’s team of legitimate former semi-pro players. The rag-tag group of surgeons make a bunch of low-brow, semi-illegal plays, until the final Longest Yard-type play that wins the game for the MASH unit. It is a hilarious scene that serves as the climax for the best film of Altman’s career and one of the funniest movies ever.

5. Chariot Race in Ben-Hur

This was one of the more obvious choices for this countdown. It is almost too obvious since the chariot race is such a vital part of the movie that it may almost seem like a sports movie. That is to say that it is not a random scene in a movie about something completely different. But either way, this is one of the most exhilarating sequences in all of film. The special effects and editing in the scene are possibly the best of any movie of that era, and it just might rank as the best racing sequence in the history of film. It could be put out in a movie now and be completely relevant.

4. White Guys vs. Black Guys in American History X

This is a scene that immediately came to mind when thinking about possibilities for this list. It is a scene that, although unrealistic at times, is actually a pretty decent representation of a streetball game. Obviously the scene is more about the tension between the characters than about basketball, but what better way to illustrate those racist feelings than a good old game of b-ball? The scene’s dynamics are interesting, considering the anti-hero protagonists are the ones the audience is probably rooting for, yet it makes it very clear that they are not worthy of it. The basketball shots themselves are cleverly cut and are fairly seamless, with the exception of the final dunk which it is clear that Ed Norton was going up for a layup and not a reverse, two-handed jam, but that is beside the point. The scene works on almost every level, and is one of the strongest scenes in the amazing movie.

3. Chief Playing Basketball in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

This is actually a compilation of two scenes, but they are equally brilliant. The first is a scene with McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is teaching the monster Indian patient called Chief to play basketball, hopping on the shoulders of another guy and telling him to dunk the ball. It is a great showcase for Nicholson’s charisma and a flawless representation of the character dynamics in the movie. Then, the actual game against the guards is a great, brilliantly constructed scene in which Chief gets into the game and looks like a natural (sort of). These scenes explain exactly what the patients in the institution care about, knowing that little pickup games like this are likely the closest that they can get to feeling normal.

2. TIE: Baseball Play-By-Play in Good Will Hunting & One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

These two scenes seemed like obvious choices to me to be included since they might be the best scenes in their respective movies. The only problem is that no sports are actually shown in them…but it is close enough. In Good Will Hunting, Sean (Robin Williams) is describing when he knew that his wife was the one, and he does it through a play-by-play of Carlton Fisk’s world-famous home run in a game that he had tickets to, but was actually “seeing about a girl”. It may very well be the scene that won Williams the Oscar. It is absolute brilliance.

The similar scene in Cuckoo’s Nest is Nicholson, upset with the recent ruling that the patients cannot listen to the World Series during down time, proceeding to make up his own baseball scene to cope. He runs around the ward getting everyone excited (including himself) acting as if the game were happening before their eyes. It is a fantastic scene in that movie and one that many people would probably remember as being one of the best.

1. Football Quiz in Diner

Coming up with a top scene was really hard. I labored over my list of contenders for a while trying to choose one. I could have made it the two tied for second, but that would have been anti-climactic. Instead, I chose another without any visual representation of sports. Sorry. This scene in Diner is one of the many that gives the movie its status as one of the most believable coming-of-age movies. Eddie (Steve Guttenberg) decides to give his fiancée Elyse an impossible 140 question quiz on his favorite team, the Baltimore Colts, of which she must score a 65 to retain him as her fiancée. The scene is shown from the perspective of Eddie’s friends in the other room, listening in and answering the questions that they can. You really only hear six questions that he asks, none of which are close to common knowledge. She scores a 63, a figure that Eddie “checked very thoroughly”. He then walks out of the room to his friends, and “The wedding is off.” This is a perfect scene, one that the makers of The League probably wish they could have come up with. It shows the struggle that the friends have with the barrier between immaturity and maturity. Giving your fiancée a quiz on a football team to show if she is committed or not…brilliant. It seems far-fetched, but I wouldn’t put it past a college-age guy. It is a scene that is flawlessly written, like the rest of the movie, and one of the very best scenes in that film.

So, that is my list. I am sure that I missed some big ones. So, let me hear about it in the comments.

More Top 10s of 2010

Since Terry and Zach have been posting their top lists of 2010, I decided to post a link to a couple of my own lists that I wrote a while back on our base site. Here they are:

Top 10 Performances of 2010:
http://almostsideways.com/Blogs/Todd/Top%20Lists/2010/Top%2010%20Performances.html

Top 10 Ensemble Casts of 2010:
http://almostsideways.com/Blogs/Todd/Top%20Lists/2010/Top%2010%20Ensemble%20Casts.html