Boris Karloff: And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches plus two.
In the same spirit, how about Linus explains Christmas?
It’s kinda short, but for my money Lex Luthor’s “When I was 6 years old, my father said to me …” speech is one of my all time favorites. I love that Superman Returns paid homage, but I hate how they butchered it.
This clip from the great Ruggles of Red Gap (from YouTube) is missing the bit that leads up to it. This is unfortunate, because it’s the context that makes this so beautiful. Ruggles, a British valet who’s won in a game of cards by an American millionaire, comes to America expecting the worst. While there, however, he learns to love his new country. In this scene, he’s in the local bar, and the subject of The Gettysburg Address comes up. No one in the bar can remember how it goes. Then the stiff, stuffy Ruggles, off in the corner, quietly begins to recite the speech.
The closest thing to a speech by Keanu Reeves is probably the ending of The Matrix.
Marion’s speech at the end of Robin and Marion.
It’s an interesting movie and a very different take on the Robin Hood story. This is Robin’s (Sean Connery) last few weeks. He’s been off to the Crusades and Marion has become Prioress of Kirkley Abby. They’ve reunited as have some of his surviving men. He has one last battle with the Sherrif (Robert Shaw) and he’s been badly, probably mortally, wounded. Marion gives him a drink that she says will take away the pain and drinks some herself. Of course it is poison.
Her speech is about how much she loves him, more than sunshine and things to eat, more than children, more than God or one more day. He tells her that she’s done right, that he’d never have had a day like that again.
Damn it’s beautiful and heartbreaking but completely right.
Nah, I think it was that one-liner from Point Break assumes Bill and Ted stoner voice “You’re going down Bodie…that’s the way it’s gotta be”.
I still don’t know why I remember that.
That movie is full of great speeches.
Dennis, Holy Grail:
“Look, strange women lying on their backs in ponds handing out swords … that’s no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. / You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you! / I mean, if I went around saying I was an Emperor because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, people would put me away! / Ah! NOW … we see the violence inherent in the system.”
Theoden had several good speeches in The Two Towers and in The Return of the King. Particularly, his monologue at Helm`s Deep and his speech before the charge of the Rohirrim.
Gotta love these: Wilford Brimley’s finest hour, IMHO
Absence of Malice hearing scene part 1 of 2
and
[Absence of Malice hearing scene part 2 of 2](Absence of Malice: Hearing Scene, Part 2 of 2)
We really can’t leave out:
Howard Roark’s testimony in The Fountainhead.
I can’t find the text online, but Hackman’s little speech in The Firm about why he became a lawyer is pretty good. It ends something like, “I looked at those long, tan legs, and I knew I had to be a lawyer… The wives had long, tan legs, too.” The way he delivers it with a little “Yeah, I know I’m a corrupt ass” twinkle in his eye is just awesome.
Thomas Gibson as Aaron Hotchner on “Criminal Minds,” to the serial killer’s sidekick that they caught:
HOTCHNER: And this morning I decided to save your life. You’re gonna tell me where my killer is. You’re gonna give me an address, and you’re gonna tell me how to get inside without raising an alarm. You’re gonna draw me a map if I need one.
(Steven starts to shake his head.)
HOTCHNER: And you’re gonna do this because he’s never been nice to you. He constantly insults you and belittles you. He makes you feel ugly and stupid and worthless. Nothing you ever do is right. Never good enough. You hate him, Steven. And you’re also going to tell me because you know you screwed up last night. He told you that your paramount concern was not to attract the attention of the authorities, and you know the punishment will be severe. Nobody knows better than you what he can do to people. I’ve spent a long time studying monsters like your friend, and I can promise you … he’s gonna do things to you that even you can’t imagine.
I couldn’t agree more. That scene in the conference room made the movie. Damn, that was good.
Another keeper from LOTR… Elrond warns Arwen of what she must expect if she casts her lot with Aragorn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjRDfD09a-U
Neil Page addressing Del Griffith in Planes Trains and Automobiles
I haven’t seen many female speeches yet:
Tracy Flick’s campaign speechfrom Election (starts at 3:36)
Elizabeth I’s speech to the House of Lords from Elizabeth.
That’s my favorite movie, if forced to make a choice. But I prefer, as best speech, when Sir Thomas finally gets to speak his mind after being judged guilty at his trial. Hard choice though, I love them both.
"I forego my vengeance for my dead
son, for the common good. But I
have selfish reasons. My youngest
son had to flee, accused of
Sollozzo’s murder, and I must now
make arrangements so that he can
come home with safety, cleared of
all those false charges. That is
my affair, and I will make those
arrangements.
But I am a superstitious man...and
so if some unlucky accident should
befall my youngest son, if some
police officer should accidentally
shoot him, or if he should hang
himself in his cell, or if my son
is struck by a bolt of lightning,
then I will blame some of the
people here. That, I could never
forgive, but...aside from that, let
me swear by the souls of my
Grandchildren that I will never be
the one to break the peace we have
made."
(Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather)
Gene Hackman? C’mon-- the man gives great speeches. Hoosiers, Crimson Tide, The Firm.
Anyway, I came in here to second the Al Pacino speech in Any Given Sunday.