What's your favorite scene (from film, TV, anything), and why? It's a basic question, but I figure it could stimulate some good discussion on what makes a scene "good".
Personally, I always find myself poring over the final scene of the Better Call Saul episode, "Chicanery". It's incredibly well-structured, with every single line and action made to feel definite, all leading to the climax of the scene which, if you haven't seen it, I won't spoil here. It's one of those scenes I can watch again and again and still feel entirely enthralled by, and I figure much of that credit has got to go to the stellar focus on the scene's pacing. It never stalls, and every single interaction between the characters and the setting only stretch the tension of the scene further.
I'd love to hear what some of your favorite scenes are!
Starling's final in-person encounter with Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. There's just so much going on and it's a master-class in scene structure with all the power-trading, revelations, and turnarounds. Plus it hits a bunch of emotional notes from suspense to comedy.
The end of Bonnie and Clyde where the pair are massacred, mostly in slow-motion, but a little in normal motion, because, when you see it, you have to think how it was done, It is more effective and poetic almost, than the massacre at the end of The Wild Bunch.
Peter, it's well worth reading Easy Riders, Raging Bulls as it's not only a really insightful book but it also starts with explaining how that scene in Bonnie and Clyde kicked off the auteur director revolution.
I think when Jesus of Nazareth gives a parched Judah Ben-Hur water on his desert slave-march in Ben-Hur (1959). Some great understated acting by the Roman guard in that scene too. o O ("What'daya think you're do -- uh, never mind...") heh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoyywKt1_0
I prefer the opening scenes. But here are some of my favorites:
1) Heat (1995) - Neil's walk through the hospital - why? Well, you get to know the main guy by him not saying anything.
2) Man on Fire - Creasy's crazy night with a gun at the mansion/bad primer - defines who he really is
3) The Lake House (Bullock/Reeves) - meeting father and brother at the entrance to the architect's office - no words just Revees and Christopher Plummer
Have a good one everyone!
Cheers,
J.