MovieChat Forums > True Romance (1993) Discussion > "That SCENE" (Walken v. Hopper).....over...

"That SCENE" (Walken v. Hopper).....overrated and contrived

posted 6 years ago by replicant4 (219)
31 replies | jump to latest

Sure, I used to love it, too. I think everyone "discovers" the movie, and that scene, in their 20's....maybe even early 30's. And they go gaga over it, and get all effusive and gushy about it. Sure, it's a decent scene...and I'm sure the actors had fun with it. But it is a typical, choreographed "Hollywood scene"....written for the actors to chew up the scenery, and for the audience to get suckered into drooling and fawning. In real life, that's not even remotely how a situation like that would go down. It was just ridiculously polished, choreographed and overacted. Sure, it was fun to watch. But I think I've just...outgrown it.

If you'd like some great acting scenes, there are several in Manchester by the Sea which feel REAL, raw, emotional and extremely well-acted. I could site 5 different scenes in that movie that were so much better acted than the scene in True Romance. Again....the Walken/Hopper scene was fun and cool and all....but the greatest scene in cinema history? Please. It's not even in the top 100. But then again, people tend to get enamored more with drama, style and theatrics then they do authenticity.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DarthRoger (867) 6 years ago

I guess it depends on your taste.

I for one, found that scene to be original and unexpected. The way Hopper's character considers his situation and says "I'll have that Chesterfield now", you knew something was about to happen. And the way he took over the conversation and basically told his killers off... wow! If you're gonna go man, go out in a blaze.

It was an unforgettable scene in a movie that could have been ordinary but most certainly was not.

[–] replicant4 (219) 6 years ago

Sure, it was a fun scene to watch. And it was designed to be. Didn't seem at all realistic, though. It's one of those scenes actors love because they both get juicy monologues. I kinda take those kinds of scenes for what they're worth. A well choreographed back and forth where both actors get to chew up the dialogue. In the end, it does come down to taste, I agree. I certainly don't put it up there amongst the best scenes or acting I've seen....though I probably did when I was in my 20's. Now, it's just a fun (if overrated) scene in a fun (if underrated) movie.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Pretty fair and accurate. TR doesn't hold up like some of it's contemporaries do, but it's still a lot more fun than most stuff coming out today.

[–] BlackMass (694) 5 years ago

It was good, but I much preferred the Oldman/Slater scene. It knew what it was, and didn't feel like a screenwriter reaching for "classic status".

[–] bobbydallas (8054) 3 years ago

i love the Oldman/Slater exchange

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

"In real life, that's not even remotely how a situation like that would go down."

This observation would apply to nearly all great movie monologues/dialogues.

We don't go to movies to see real life repeated on a screen... we go to see an idealized world. I don't necessarily mean a happier world, just one that is clearer in intent than the one we live in.

Christopher Walken oozes menace as he explains the concept of 'tells' to Hopper, but it was Hopper that was the real delight for me here. He usually played the crazy... the guy DOING the menacing. It was unusual to see him on the receiving end, and the way he subtly reveals his fear, then his resignation was beautiful.

[–] Kingswood (1209) 5 years ago

Combine this reply with R_Kane's above and you have my answer to the OP.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I thought it was superb.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Realism is sometimes overrated.

[–] JimmyStrudel (600) 5 years ago

Absolutely terrible take. This scene is amazing and holds up till this day.

[–] VanHellion (605) 3 years ago

I agree with you, Jimmy. Still love True Romance and still love this scene (and many others)

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8391) 3 years ago

Why do you like it? Because actors say naughty words and it is cinematically violent?

[–] Mrmojo4700 (20393) 3 years ago

Why do you think it’s such a memorable scene?

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8391) 3 years ago

I don't think it is any great scene or cinematic achievement,
but it is memorable in the violence of it and of course the
political incorrectness of it, and the macho false bravado as
Hopper faces death. ( did I remember that right? )

I think it might poke something in all of us that we could be
so cool and calm, even cocky when facing certain death,
even taking control of the what he could in the situation and
forcing it to be a quick death by infuriating Walken. It's clever.

[–] Ripkens25 (1897) 3 years ago

Interesting perspective!
That makes a lot of sense.

[–] cyberbob (3488) 5 years ago

This is a completely different kind of film from Manchester by the Sea, and thus requires a completely different style of acting. That is a weird comparison. They're not even from remotely the same eras or genres

One is a popcorn crime-romance and the other is a somber indie drama. Do you think "yeah, it's 'cool' or whatevs, but I've moved on to adult movies that aren't 'cool', but GOOD" actually makes it look like you've matured?

[–] Ripkens25 (1897) 5 years ago

I kind of get what the OP is saying. IMO, it's a very overrated scene (in an underrated move). When I look back on Tarantino movies now, even movies like Pulp Fiction really seem kind of ridiculous. To each their own.