Even better is the scene right after showing Saito’s anguish at having to concede to Nicolson’s demands (despite the act he puts on for Nicolson).
Here’s another one: “Forrest Gump” Lincoln memorial scene (reflection pond reunion with Jenny)
Not quite as high brow, but the same scene in Renaissance Man.
Eowyn saying “I am no man” after stabbing the Witch King. Kind of cliche but I remember everyone in the theatre cheering.
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid getting cornered and having to jump down the cliff into the river.
Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times. The whole thing will do. Thanks.
The murder scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
The last scene in Alfred Hitchcok’s Psycho where he’s fully turned into his mother.
Terry telling Charlie off in On The Waterfront. "
I’ll chime in a few more later.
Ashley finally grabbing Scarlett and kissing her hard.
When Scarlett finally realizes she’s been pining after the wrong dude and Rhett turns to her and says, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
When Dorothy is knocked out, she sees that evil neighbor woman biking past with Toto in the basket.
The Titanic’s violent split and sinking amidst tons of people freezing to death in the water. Brrr!
Indiana Jones facing the animated martial arts dude and simply pulling out his gun and shooting him.
“Stand up, miss Jean Louise, your father is passing.” from TKAM
Doesn’t she say that just before stabbing him?
I’ll offer the President’s speech in Armageddon.
And Casablanca, from start to finish.
“Some Like It Hot”: the scene on the yacht, when Tony Curtis claims that he doesn’t respond to women, so Marilyn Monroe does everything she can to seduce him.
And shortly thereafter, when Dorothy opens the door, and everything outside is in color.
Lawrence of Arabia – The speck on the horizon that becomes a rider.
Blade Runner – “Tears in rain.”
Picnic – Kim Novak coming down the steps.
Dr. Strangelove – Slim Pickens riding the bomb.
Tombstone - “i’m your huckleberry”
Platoon - When Elias getting killed by the VC
Raiders of the Lost Arc - Indy shoots the sword dude
Titanic - “I’m the king of the world!”
Point Break - Johnny Utah chases Bowdie out of the plane without a chute
Last of the Mohicans–Alice’s last scene.
Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn! Just kidding, although I submit that quote as another memorable movie moment. Doesn’t she stab him in the back while he’s facing Merry though?
The “Little Johnny Jones” sequence from Yankee Doodle Dandy
Moulin Rouge!, from the meeting of Christian and Toulouse-Lautrec (I’m not checking the spelling) until the end of “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend/Material Girl”.
Brokeback Mountain, “… Jack, I swear…”
Glengarry Glen Ross, Alec Baldwins cameo.
Absence of Malice, Wilford Brimley’s cameo.
The Manchurian Candidate, two scenes, (1) the last time these words were spoken: “Raymond, would you like to play a game of solitaire?”, and, (2) the bizarre pick-up scene between Janet Leigh and Frank Sinatra.
Beauty and the Beast, the library scene. “Be Our Guest”. “Belle”. “Gaston”.
I could go on and on and on…
Never, in a life of Sundays, would I have ever thought Point Break would make it on any “best movie moment” list.
Dr. Strangelove - The American president speaks to the Russian President over the phone. If I were to list my favorite comedic moments, this is number one with a bullet.
Fargo - woodchipper
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - the ending
Gladiator - My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius
The Natural - Hitting the light standard
North by Northwest: “That’s funny, that plane’s dustin’ crops where there ain’t no crops.”
To Have and Have Not: “Anybody got a match?”
Dirty Harry: Scorpio (Andy Robinson), kidnapping a bus full of children, sees Harry standing on an approaching bridge, calming waiting for him.
The Long Goodbye: Marty Augustine (Mark Rydell) smashes a coke bottle in his girlfriend’s face, then explains to Philip Marlowe (Elliot Gould), “This is what I do to someone I love. You, I don’t even like.”
Trainspotting - When the boys are celebrating their drug sale, Begbie gets into his typical bar fight and while steaming in the aftermath, he calls to Renton to get him a cigarette. In an incredibly tense scene, Renton lights the cigarette for him and Begbie exhales smoke into Rent’s face. I never, ever get tired of watching it.
Sense & Sensibility- maybe not a great moment- but just a beautiful, almost artistic portrait of Eleanor sitting on the stairs, drinking a cup of tea, while the rest of the family is bawling over Willoughby.
**The Naked Gun **-- the whole baseball scene; topped off with “Look, It’s Enrico Palazzo!”
“Hello, Dmitri? Listen, I can’t hear too well… Do you suppose you could turn the music down just a little?”
In fairness to the fictional president, how DO you begin a conversation where you have to tell the Russian president that you’ve accidentally started WWIII?
That’s the winner for me. It gave me chills just reading it right now.