Top 10 greatest monologues

10. True Romance – 1993 – Dennis Hopper – “You.. are part eggplant….”

Watch the clip here.
OK, so technically this entire scene is a 2-way, but Hopper’s achingly cool acceptance of his fate, followed by his decision to go down with his middle finger firmly extended by insulting Walken’s ancestry, is strong enough to stand on it’s own. It has all the trademark Tarantino touches, racial slurs, palpable tension, but in my humble opinion this is the greatest scene he ever wrote, and delivered to perfection by the late, great Hopper. Cinema gold.

9. Blade Runner – 1982 – Rutger Hauer – “I’ve seen things.”

Watch the clip here.
Roy Batty’s emotional, fatalistic swan song, as he laments the loss of memories at life’s end. Dripping in neo-noir style, and with that unforgettable Vangelis score, this was Hauer’s career highlight. Unlike Roy Batty’s lost memories, no-one will ever forget this scene. They’ll probably forget “Blind Fury” though…

8. Manhattan – 1979 – Woody Allen – “He adored New York City….”

Watch the clip here.
The combination of Gershwin and the most beautiful photography of New York City is a good start, and then every angle of Isaac’s (Allen’s) neuroses take a stab at writing the opening chapter of his book. One of the most memorable openings of any film ever, the monologue perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the film. Clever and neurotic, this is classic Woody Allen.

7. M – 1931 – Peter Lorre – “I must..”

Watch the clip here.
The final confession / plea in front of the criminal’s court. Every aspect of the film is a masterpiece, and Peter Lorre’s performance is one of the highlights. When you consider this as one of the earliest talkies (Lang’s first) this is even more impressive. The wild eyes, the conflicting personality, the bravery of the performance. The film, and the scene which rightly put the inimitable Lorre on the map and showed us Lang had made the switch to sound with ease and a masters touch.

6. 2001 a Space Odyssey- 1969 – Douglas Rain – “I’m afraid, Dave.”

Watch the clip here.
A haunting end to the life of a HAL9000. As Dr Bowman makes the journey to HAL’s mainframe, the computer pleads for it’s life. HAL’s already eerie monotone voice slows to a drawl while singing “Daisy Daisy”, the words set over the claustrophobic breathing sounds of Dr Bowman’s suit.

5. GlenGarry Glen Ross – 1992 – Alec Baldwin “ABC – Always Be Closing“

Watch the clip here.
Bathing in his own masturbatory arrogance, no-one has ever painted a more frightening and domineering picture of corporate smarm as Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross, and this scene is the personalised plate on the $80000 BMW. A more intense verbal reaming is not possible. Sure, there are a few pathetic shaky words from the others in the room, but this scene is ALL Baldwin. Scary stuff.

4. Apocalypse Now – 1979 – Marlon Brando – “I’ve seen horrors…”

Watch the clip here.
Fat, drunk, unrehearsed, but the stars aligned and created something perfect. Lighting which was only really intended to conceal Brando’s luxurious man-boobs, actually worked to the film’s advantage, creating an ethereal atmosphere that complimented this savage tale of children’s severed limbs. Despite reading the lines for the first time from cue-cards off-camera, Brando delivers the dialogue as impressively and as effortlessly as if he was sliding a huge jelly down his cavernous throat.

3. Network – 1976 – Ned Beatty – “The primal forces of nature“

Watch this clip here.
You dont have to be as crazy as the mad prophet of the airwaves to be affected by the immensly powerful delivery of this cynical preacher (Beatty as Arthur Jensen) – greed and power personified, the spokesman for a world driven by profit and cash-flow. It is testament to this film’s script that there were three seperate monologues as contenders for this list, but it was Beatty’s sermon on his “New World Order” that won out in the end.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird – 1962 – Gregory Peck – Atticus’ closing defense

Unfortunately I cannot find a video clip for this, but listen to the audio here.
7 minutes of Gregory Peck’s powerful screen presence. A fantastic monologue appealing for justice, equality and fairness. Peck remains cool while he bargains for an innocent, but ultimately doomed man’s life, pleading for the court to forget their bigoted ways. One of most iconic speeches in any film ever, and a moment totally deserving of the number two spot.

1. The Great Dictator – 1940 – Charles Chaplin – “I don’t want to be an emperor..”

Words can do no justice to the emotional delivery of Chaplin’s famous monologue. Cementing his legacy as a great dramatic actor and writer, as on top of his already established reputation as director and physical comedian, The Great Dictator’s final monologue does with words, what City Lights and The Kid did with pictures. A glorious demonstration of why Chaplin’s films were so important. A comedy, with a heartfelt and profound message, simple genius, and rightful claim to the top spot.

So that was my personal top 10 list of film’s monologues. I hope you enjoyed revisiting some of these scenes. Honorable mention goes to George C Scott’s “addressing the troops” speech in Patton, and James Stewart’s “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” filibuster, both of which narrowly missed the cut.

Top 10 “culturally British” Films

After my revisiting of British war movie The Dam Busters, I decided to continue with the British theme. Here are my current personal top 10 films directed by a Brit, or financed/produced by good ol’ Blighty.

10. Trainspotting

While it is undoubtedly a great film, Trainspotting makes number 10 on the list purely for being a major turning point which established the UK once more as a major player in the movie industry. It made household names of Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle and Danny Boyle, who have all gone on to become major players. The film uses gritty social realism, typical of UK directors such as Ken Loach, but adds an upbeat indie flavour, a style which is now very much associated with UK cinema, and a style which Danny Boyle can largely take credit for.

9. The Holy Grail

Considered by many to be Monty Python’s finest moment, the Holy Grail takes the legend of King Arthur and turns it on it’s head. Every aspect of the film seems impervious to the decay of time, largely due to the aptly period style and timeless silly British/Python humour. Every Brit over 25 can quote at least one line from this film, and if they cant, well I blow my nose at you, so-called “Arthur King,” you and all your silly English K-nig-hts!

8. Brazil

Terry Gilliam’s Orwellian satirical masterpiece. Calling it British is perhaps a stretch, but thanks to Monty Python it is safe to say that we consider Gilliam more British than any other “Johnny foreigner”. Jonathan Pryce, Michael Palin, and Ian Holm lead the Brit-dominated cast admirably.

7. A Clockwork Orange

Stanley Kubrick’s take on Anthony Burgess’ dystopian novel of the same name, the film which changed the way we heard Beethoven’s 9th and the William Tell overture. The film is gifted with Kubrick’s visual flair and ear for music, as surreal set design and eerie synth music assault the senses. It is a picture which asks many questions of its viewer; the morality of personality control and how to define the many grey shades of “goodness” are issues ported squarely from the novel, and the Nadsat laden screenplay is handled with dry, darkly comic wit. Malcolm McDowell puts in the performance of a lifetime as the intelligent, dangerous and at times strangely charming Alex.

6. Withnail & I

One of the most quotable films ever made, the black comedy Withnail & I is a cult movie which portrays 2 unemployed actors as they awake from the excessive drug-fuelled 60s into the dark, economically unstable murk of 1970s Britain. The plot is simplistic, but excels due to the scarily natural performances of the 2 leads, Richard E Grant and Paul McGann. Drug-fuelled paranoia, crazy drug dealers, camberwell carrots, homosexual predators, mania and depression, the script is darker than night, yet manages to end on a touching note. GET IN THE BACK OF THE VAN!

5. A Matter of Life and Death

Some slightly wooden dialogue does not harm this incredibly loveable film. Michael Powell’s “A Matter of Life and Death” is metaphysical, thoughtful and delicately directed, and inspired many films to follow. Industry-leading production design and art direction impress even today. In a move not typical of the era, the ending is rather cleverly left open to interpretation. High production values and masterful direction make this an easy choice for number 5.

4. The 39 Steps (1935)

Of the many interpretations of the 39 steps, it is Hitchcock’s that stands head and shoulders above the rest. All of the director’s trademarks are here, the everyman caught up in the wrong place and the wrong time, the knack for bypassing the censors with ambiguous innuendo, maguffins galore, the criminal with a distinguishing abnormality, exciting chase scenes and technically inspired camerawork. While many of these themes were perhaps honed and bettered in his later American films (North by Northwest’s main concept is extremely similar and borrows entire scenes with minimal alteration) it is in the 39 steps we see the Director mastering his trade. An important film for Hitch fans and the whole of the British movie industry.

3. The Red Shoes

Many of the greatest names of modern cinema have gone on record to say this is the most beautiful technicolor film ever made, and it is not without reason. The Archers (Powell and Pressburger) play once again with the line between reality and fiction, as the film’s incredible ballet centerpiece (which could stand as an accomplished ballet in its own right) becomes a visual metaphor for the situations surrounding the film’s leads off-stage. The Red Shoes deserves a place on the list for the ballet sequence alone, yet it is the deftly handled intertwining story of the ballet and the characters that elevates this to masterpiece, and it is truly one of the greatest British films.

2. The Life of Brian

Perhaps a controversial choice for second place, but in my personal opinion, the best of the Monty Python films, and the greatest comedy this country has ever produced. Not quite as silly as Holy Grail, but it makes up for it in spades with intelligent religious satire. Endlessly quoteable, with quick and clever gags, you are left thinking that this silliness could actually be an entirely plausible beginning of a worldwide fanaticism religion.

1. The Third Man

Directed by Carol Reed, uncle of loveable drunkard Oliver Reed, this British-made film noir was an easy number 1 choice for a number of reasons. The brilliant performances from everyone involved, the breathtakingly beautiful Vienna shot in stunningly lit black and white, Anton Karas’ unique zither score which stays with you for days, one of the most iconic character reveals in cinema history, and a razorsharp screenplay with a gripping finale, all add up to my quintessential British film. A must-see.

So there we have it, my current top10 British list. Yeah I know, no David Lean, no Dr No etc.. This is a highly personal list, and by this time next month it will probably change! Special mention should be made for a couple of films I really wanted to put on the list, notably the Ealing Studios production The Lady Killers, and Peeping Tom, which narrowly missed the cut. I hope you enjoyed the list, and if you haven’t seen them yet, make sure you check all these films out as soon as you can.