# Best scenery chewings in cinematic history **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418 "2008-06-18T23:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lysitheia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@Lysitheia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lysitheia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/81 "2008-06-21T18:14:30Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] You have to act before you can _over_act. [/QUOTE] Touche. OTOH, the Hadenbot seems to have two settings: 1. Insane rage bot (see above) 2. Channeling Keanu Reeves ( " Amidala, I love… wait, what’s my motivation again? " Therefore, I would argue that Christiansen is “acting” in the same way Binky the elephant can “paint” a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/82 "2008-06-21T18:18:36Z")
[QUOTE=Lysitheia] Therefore, I would argue that Christiansen is “acting” in the same way Binky the elephant can “paint” a picture. [/QUOTE] I’ve seen elephants paint and I’ve seen Keanu Reeves act. Your comparison is deeply insulting to the elephants and I request you withdraw it. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/83 "2008-06-21T18:41:07Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Pacino gets his in Michael Mann’s _Heat_: “I’m angry. I’m very angry, Ralph. You know, you can ball my wife if she wants you to. You can lounge around here on her sofa, in her ex-husband’s dead-tech, post-modernistic bullshit house if you want to. But you do not get to watch my fucking television set!” I can’t watch it without laughing out loud. [/QUOTE] Wasn’t he chewing gum while chewing the scenery? That’s a two-fer! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/84 "2008-06-21T22:48:23Z")
Katharine Hepburn’s “Did your father sleep with me or didn’t he?” scene with her husband (Peter O’Toole) in _The Lion in Winter_ was but one of several great scenery chews in that movie. (Highlights of that scene begin at 8:10 in [this clip](http://youtube.com/watch?v=R6gfd6Npe98).) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/85 "2008-06-22T01:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=kidchameleon] Wasn’t he chewing gum while chewing the scenery? That’s a two-fer! [/QUOTE] You just thought it was gum. He actually bit off a little piece of the set and was chewing on it during the scene. “'Cause she’s got a great ass! And you’ve got your head all the way up it! When I think if asses, a woman’s ass, something comes out of me.” – Lt. Vincent Hanna, _Heat_ Stranger ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/86 "2008-06-22T05:27:42Z")
Ben Afflek didn’t have that many scenes in **Boiler Room** , but the ones he did he really took over. [Group interview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqDtf1aw818&feature=related) [Close the deal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NRlulKvYNs&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/87 "2008-06-22T14:09:51Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I’ve seen elephants paint and I’ve seen Keanu Reeves act. Your comparison is deeply insulting to the elephants and I request you withdraw it. [/QUOTE] Oh come on. Keanu Reeves can act. It’s just that in most of his films he chooses not to. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/88 "2008-06-23T00:11:14Z")
[QUOTE=BrotherCadfael] Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham? “…and cancel Christmas!” [/QUOTE] I am eagerly awaiting the final Harry Potter movie for one huge reason I want to see Alan Rickman do Snape’s death scene. That will go down in cinematic history, my friends. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/89 "2008-06-23T00:17:03Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] I am eagerly awaiting the final Harry Potter movie for one huge reason I want to see Alan Rickman do Snape’s death scene. That will go down in cinematic history, my friends. [/QUOTE] Actually it was pretty understated in the books as I remember. I mainly want to see McGonagall/Smith lead the desks in a cavalry charge. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/90 "2008-06-23T01:36:07Z")
That too! And it might be understated in the book…but can you see Alan Rickman passing up such an opportunity? He did a pretty good job stumbling around the chapel during the final fight scene in _Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves_. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/91 "2008-06-23T07:22:42Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] “'Cause she’s got a great ass! And you’ve got your head all the way up it! When I think if asses, a woman’s ass, something comes out of me.” – Lt. Vincent Hanna, _Heat_ [/QUOTE] I read somewhere - probably here - that that line was a complete ad-lib. Look at the other guy’s (Hank Azaria’s) reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/92 "2008-06-23T14:16:40Z")
[QUOTE=It’s Not Rocket Surgery!] You guys all forgot about the MASTER! William Shatner, _Star Trek II_! **KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!** [/QUOTE] TWOK is reputedly the film where the director made Shatner go through the scenes a couple of times, to wear him down to the point where he could no longer ham things up. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/93 "2008-06-23T15:18:35Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] Actually, I would have picked _The Professional_ as his top scenery chewing moment. [/QUOTE] Its not even just the **one** scenery chewing moment… For me the pinaccle is just the one which finishes with… “Death is… Whimisical today…” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/94 "2008-06-23T16:46:01Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] I read somewhere - probably here - that that line was a complete ad-lib. Look at the other guy’s (Hank Azaria’s) reaction. [/QUOTE] Speaking of ad-libbing\* how about Gene Wilder realizing his grandfather was right in _Dr. Frankenstein_? He reads out of his grandfather’s notes and gets all excited… **It! Could! Work!** \*Marty Feldman reportedly ad-libbed the scene where Madeline Kahn arrives in the carriage, which is what made me think of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/95 "2008-06-23T18:14:24Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] I don’t think anybody’s yet mentioned Samuel L. Jackson, which is astonishing. What’s his best candidate role/rant? **The Negotiator**? [/QUOTE] Or in _A Time to Kill_ “and I hope they burn in HELL!” ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/96 "2008-06-23T21:48:58Z")
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Geoffrey Rush yet, who is the biggest ham this side of Christmas: his signature role was probably as Shiny McShine, and he’s done nothing but riff on that since, usually with a nod and wink to the camera as if to say “Look, I, Geoffrey Rush, celebrated thespian, am pretending to overact”. Uh, Geoff, it’s not a parody if you do it _all the damn time_: Casanova Frankenstein wasn’t a send-up, it’s all you ever do. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/97 "2008-06-23T22:32:48Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Speaking of ad-libbing\* how about Gene Wilder realizing his grandfather was right in _Dr. Frankenstein_? He reads out of his grandfather’s notes and gets all excited… **It! Could! Work!** \*Marty Feldman reportedly ad-libbed the scene where Madeline Kahn arrives in the carriage, which is what made me think of the movie. [/QUOTE] [nitpick]_ **Young** Frankenstein_[/nitpick] I think Mel Brooks movies should be excused, because the entire purpose of every actor in the movie is to chew the scenery as much as possible. Hell, even Paul Newman chewed away in _Silent Movie_, and he didn’t say a word. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/98 "2008-06-23T23:53:00Z")
[QUOTE=Scissorjack] I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Geoffrey Rush yet, who is the biggest ham this side of Christmas: his signature role was probably as Shiny McShine, and he’s done nothing but riff on that since, usually with a nod and wink to the camera as if to say “Look, I, Geoffrey Rush, celebrated thespian, am pretending to overact”. Uh, Geoff, it’s not a parody if you do it _all the damn time_: Casanova Frankenstein wasn’t a send-up, it’s all you ever do. [/QUOTE] Certainly his Capt. Barbossa in the 1st **Pirates** movie would qualify. “You best start believing in ghost stories Miss Turner. You’re in one.” ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/99 "2008-06-24T00:01:34Z")
Ok–this is a kind of obscure movie…_Hope and Glory_…John Boorman directed it–about a family living in London during the Blitz. I always thought Sammi Davis, who played the teenage daughter did some major scenery chewing…I thank God my teenage daughter doesn’t act like that. Has anybody seen this movie? It’s one of my all-time favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418/100 "2008-06-25T13:13:14Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Oh come on. Keanu Reeves can act. It’s just that in most of his films he chooses not to. [/QUOTE] I’d say Keanu worked in The Matrix, because he stood there slack jawed as everyone else explained the plot to him. He didn’t have to speak, apart from such wise words as: “Whoa. I know Kung Fu” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-scenery-chewings-in-cinematic-history/453418.md?page=6)