adamquelch

[adamquelch]

1. City Light: I Can See Now (1931)

The most moving and perfect moment in any film I have seen. The narrative, music and performances in City Lights are flawless. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHBHdYgg9fI

[adamquelch]

2. There Will Be Blood: I Drink Your Milkshake (2007)

Plainview: You're not the chosen brother, Eli. It was Paul who was chosen. You see, he found me and told me about your land. You're just a fool. 

Eli Sunday: Why are you talking about Paul? Don't say this to me. 

Plainview: I did what your brother couldn't. I broke you and I beat you. It was Paul who told me about you. He's the prophet. He's the smart one. He knew what was there and he found me to take it out of the ground, and you know what the funny thing is? Listen... listen... listen... I paid him ten thousand dollars, cash in hand, just like that. He has his own company now. A prosperous little business. Three wells producing. Five thousand dollars a week. 

[Eli cries] 

Plainview: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli. 

Eli Sunday: No... 

Plainview: You slithered out of your mother's filth. 

Eli Sunday: No. 

Plainview: They should have put you in a glass jar on a mantlepiece. Where were you when Paul was suckling at your mother's teat? Where were you? Who was nursing you, poor Eli- one of Bandy's sows? That land has been had. Nothing you can do about it. It's gone. It's had. You lose. 

Eli Sunday: If you would just take this lease, Daniel... 

Plainview: Drainage! Drainage, Eli, you boy. Drained dry. I'm so sorry. Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake! 

Plainview: I drink it up! 

Eli Sunday: Don't bully me, Daniel! 

Plainview: Did you think your song and dance and your superstition would help you, Eli? I am the Third Revelation! I am who the Lord has chosen! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hFTR6qyEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Iosf6btzM

[adamquelch]

3. Wall-E: Hello Dolly (2008)

Although I think Wall-E is a somewhat flawed film, the first 20 minutes or so are about as perfect as cinema can get. As a fan of silent film, it was wonderful to see this sort of storytelling with no dialogue in a mainstream family film. With Wall-E, Pixar demonstrate just how much soul computer animation can have. It is one of the most visually beautiful films I have seen. It is incredible how much character they can convey in a computer animated robot who basically doesn't speak for the whole film. 

My highlight is seeing Wall-E in his little home watching an old video tape of Hello Dolly, imitating the actions and longing for companionship.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSKLo9ZCfsk

[adamquelch]

4. Pulp Fiction: Mia and Vincent (1994)

Mia and Vincent's date in Pulp Fiction is my very favourite Quentin Tarantino scene. It has two incredible musical sequences (the dance at Jack Rabbit Slim's to Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell, and Mia dancing in her lounge to Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon.) 

When then get an exciting overdose scene leading to Vincent having to administer an adrenaline shot. 

Milkshake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWkN3akP3cU

You Never Can Tell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYID_csTvos

Girl You'll be a Woman Soon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdMEMGLr9xE

Adrenaline: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOoJoTAXDPk 

[adamquelch]

5. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)

The epic crescendo of Sergio Leone's classic spaghetti western. Ennio Morricone on his finest form, composing The Ecstacy of Gold and The Trio, taking the scene to a new level. Leone's signature extreme close ups on the eyes.

Ecstacy of Gold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn2xSNv0TSk

Duel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP9cfQx2OZY

[adamquelch]

6. Toy Story 3: Ending (2010)

I saw all of the Toy Story films at the cinema, I almost grew up at the same rate as Andy, which gives the third (perfect) installment an extra emotional kick for me. 

The moment that always gets me is when Bonnie reaches for Woody and Andy instinctively pulls away from her. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grSg8cd8v-Q

[adamquelch]

7. Fantasia: A Night of Bald Mountain (1940)

Fantasia is an interesting and ambitious film in the Disney canon. When I watched it as a kid there were two segments that made an impact; The Sorcerer's Apprentice, just because it's the most accessible one. The familiar face of Mickey Mouse and a clear story to follow.

The other is A Night on Bald Mountain, just because it's scary as hell. These are still my two favourite segments and I could have picked either for this list.

The music is by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky. The animation depicts the satanic figure Chernabog summoning spirits from their graves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Oa3f-WFps

[adamquelch]

8. The Godfather: Restaurant (1972)

(spoilers) After claiming at the start of the film "That's my family Kay, that's not me", Michael is plunged into the criminal world in retaliation to the failed assassination attempt on his father. An edge of seat scene. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppjyB2MpxBU

[adamquelch]

9. Back To The Future: Enchantment Under The Sea (1985)

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1i5coU-0_Q

[adamquelch]

10. My Neighbor Totoro: Catbus (1988)

The two sisters, Mei and Satsuki, wait at the bus stop to meet their father. He is not on the bus that they expect and the girls grow worried. Totoro then appears next to the girls and waits for the CATBUS.

My Neighbor Totoro is a magical film about two girls dealing with their mother's illness and their family relationships. It is beautifully animated and incredibly warm and sweet. One of my very favourite films.

I actually met the REAL Tororo in Mitaka, Tokyo. He was working the ticket desk at the Ghibli museum.

[adamquelch]

11. Magnolia: Wise Up (1999)

Magnolia almost feels like a giant 188 minute montage. There are so many characters to keep track of, I found it baffling on first watch. The most beautiful moment in the movie is when all these tenuously linked characters are united singing Aimee Mann's beautiful song “Wise Up”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC96_vph-oI

[adamquelch]

12. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Heigh-Ho (1937)

The one that started them all. Snow White is the first Feature length Disney film and the first feature length animation ever.

It is a very important film to me, a childhood favourite and one of my earliest cinema experiences. 

When I saw the film at the cinema for the 1993 re-release in the UK, for which I was 4 years old, I wasn't aware it was a made in the 30s. I thought it was a new release, and thought so for some years afterwards. 

The music acts as a nostalgic trigger and is deeply ingrained into my childhood.

The Heigh-Ho sequence remains some of the best animation from the Disney Studios.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qG2A9EN5T4

[adamquelch]

13. Goodfellas: Funny How? (1990)

I feel tense every time I watch this scene. Joe Pesci plays the loose cannon better than anyone. 

Tommy DeVito: You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? 

Henry Hill: Just... you know, how you tell the story, what? 

Tommy DeVito: No, no, I don't know, you said it. How do I know? You said I'm funny. How the fuck am I funny, what the fuck is so funny about me? Tell me, tell me what's funny! 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EJLoxdoI-Q

[adamquelch]

14. Way Out West: At The Ball, That's All (1937)

Stan and Ollie approach a saloon, there's a band playing outside, they dance, it's a joy. That's about it. The song is called “At The Ball, That's All” and is by The Avalon Boys. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-84jOEmCf4

[adamquelch]

15. Alien: Teeth (1979)

Surrealist artist H. R. Giger designed one of the best movie monsters of all time for Ridley Scott's 1979 Sci Fi Horror masterpiece. Shots of the alien itself are used sparsely and carefully, adding to the tension and atmosphere of the film. When we get the close up shots of the alien's mouth they are all the more effective.

[adamquelch]

16. Taxi Driver: All the animals come out at night (1976)

Travis Bickle: All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. I go all over. I take people to the Bronx, Brooklyn, I take 'em to Harlem. I don't care. Don't make no difference to me. It does to some. Some won't even take spooks. Don't make no difference to me. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9PCcx7i4xQ

[adamquelch]

17. Glengarry Glen Ross: Pacino's Rant (1992)

"You stupid fucking cunt. You, Williamson, I'm talking to you, shithead. You just cost me $6,000. Six thousand dollars, and one Cadillac. That's right. What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do about it, asshole? You're fucking shit. Where did you learn your trade, you stupid fucking cunt, you idiot? Who ever told you that you could work with men? Oh, I'm gonna have your job, shithead. I don't care whose nephew you are, who you know, whose dick you're sucking on, you're going out. I swear to you, you're going out. What you're hired for is to help us … does that seem clear to you? To help us, not to fuck us up … to help those who are going out there to try to earn a living … you fairy. You company man."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW7WlT6OJxE