The one shot that made them a star

Cafe Society
1

Was recently watching Reservoir Dogs. Mr. Pink flees the robbery, takes cover behind a car, and the camera dollies in as he fires over the hood, his entire face clenched. “That’s the shot that made Buscemi a star.”

There are quite a few of those: the shot that marked the turning point for an actor going from obscurity to being known, or character roles to stardom, or hey-it’s-that-guy to he’s-awesome.

M. Culkin slapping his face and screaming is the first that comes to mind. Julia Roberts shrieking with laughter and ducking her head in the bubble bath. Hugh Jackman prowling in the fight cage. Kate Winslet looking up from underneath the hat. (Yes, she was already known, but she wasn’t mainstream, IIRC.)

What others?

2

I might toss Anne Hathaway’s bit of physical comedy in falling off that chair in The Princess Diaries. That utterly endeared her to the audience, apparently forever (so far), and she’s run with it from there.

3

Ving Rhames with that Band-Aid across the back of his neck.

Sharon Stone getting interrogated.

Susan Sarandon dabbing lemon juice.

Sean Connery getting a backrub.

America Ferrera rolling around in that plastic fishbowl chair in a hotel lobby.

4

Good ones!

:confused:

5

Does the shot of Boris Jeltsin on top of that Russian tank count?

6

Ursula Andress coming out of the water in Dr. No.

7

The reveal shot of Frankenstein’s monster not only made Boris Karloff a star, but also created an icon that goes far beyond films.

8

I gotta concur with Rilcham, Susan Sarandon was a star way before Atlantic City. Maybe her star turn was getting her freak on in Rocky Picture Horror Show.

9

Atlantic City and Goldfinger, respectively (although the laser inchng towards Bond’s crotch might be a better choice).

Susan Sarandon was sort of well known before then, and had bigger roles after, but that one scene got her a lot of attention.

10

And all of it VERY MUCH deserved! :eek:

11

Hugh Grant’s bashful smile in Three Weddings and a Funeral.

Julie Andrews singing in a mountain meadow in The Sound of Music.

Harrison Ford’s smirk in the cantina in Star Wars.

Robert DeNiro talking to himself in the mirror in Taxi Driver.

Will Smith punching the alien and snarling, “Welcome to Earth!” in Independence Day.

Tommy Lee Jones’s pep talk to the search teams in The Fugitive.

12

Those are what I’m looking for. The other four actors were already known before the shots you mention. They’re signature images, to be sure, but not spark-to-the-fuse moments. For instance, I was going to include John Travolta strutting down the street, but then remembered he’d been known as Barbarino for several years by then.

13

He was 25% more bashful in the better known sequel…!

Sorry.

:wink:

14

D’oh! :smack:

Of course you’re right: Four Weddings and a Funeral it is.

15

Lana Turner walking down the street toward the camera in a tight fitting sweater and skirt.

16

Dustin Hoffman floating by in a pool, face up with sunglasses.

Some might argue for pounding on the church balcony window, but the pool nailed him for me.

17

Marlon Brando screaming “Stella!” in A Streetcar Named Desire
Judy Garland singing “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz
Marlene Dietrich singing “Falling in Love Again” in The Blue Angel
Robert Redford’s card game at the beginning of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
John Travolta carrying paint in Saturday Night Fever
Jack Nicholson getting stoned in Easy Rider
Vivian Leigh with suitors on the porch at Tara in Gone with the Wind

18

Technically, he was 33.333…% more bashful in the better-known sequel. :wink:

19

Known, yes. A star, no. Ditto Harrison Ford. He was in American Grafitti, but it was the cantina scene that made him a star.

20

Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise saying: “I like your wife.” with the smarmiest smirk ever. Until then I thought he was just some kind of 21 Jumpsreetesque pretty guy.