MovieChat Forums > The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Discussion > The greatest 60 seconds of acting ever? ...

The greatest 60 seconds of acting ever? (SPOILERS)

posted 15 years ago by dan_brit_abroad
225 replies | jump to latest

...when he's told he's got the job, and he tears up in the office til he goes nuts in the street. It's the most emotional piece of acting I've seen for ages.

But is it, as the subject line says, "The greatest 60 seconds of acting ever?"

There are some more famous, more memorable 60 seconds from some legendary actors.

- "I coulda been a contender..." Al Pacino, Raging Bull
- "'Do I feel lucky?' Well, DO you, punk?" Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry
- "Take it off. Take it off." Brad Davis, Midnight Express
- "As God is my witness, I'll never go hungry again!" Vivien Leigh, Gone with the Wind

BUT are they great examples of ACTING, or are they just SHOUTING and GESTURING wildly? Something any of us could do.

I invite you to submit your favourite 60 seconds of acting.

THE RULES
- It must be a SHORT SCENE (around 60 seconds or less)
- The excellent acting must come from ONE ACTOR, not an ensemble. If there are many excellent examples of acting in one scene, choose only one actor you feel performed the best.
- It is the ACTING that we're assessing, not the popularity of the scene.

Let's give it a go then.

[–] dietlind_vh 15 years ago

The scene in signs, where they're all in the basement and the boy gets an asma attack. And the father (Mel Gibson) tries to calm him down...

It's just so intense. And I know how scary it is when someone has an asma attack, especially one like that boy had.

Pretty odd choice, considering what you lot have. haha.

Oh and also, in the Bourne Identity. When Matt Damon gets in the bank and he sees his passport and he's relieved, finally knowing his identity. But then he finds the rest of like a dozen other passports.

Just that whole 60 seconds of relief, and comfort turning into disbelief and more confusion and sort of despair. I thought it was very very well acted. Sort of funny as well..

Uhm yeah I'll leave it at that. =]

[–] alic88 15 years ago

Blade Runner: " All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain"( last scene)

Blood Diamond: " I am exactly where I am supposed to be"( last scene)

Cast Away: Wilson scene

Last of the Mohicans: When the little girl kills herself

American History X: When the younger brother dies.

[–] celsojuninho 15 years ago

Schindler's List: When Liam Neesom is watching the Germans take over the ghetto. His expression is incredibly powerful.

Also Schindler's List, when Liam breaks down at the end and cries. I actually cried at that scene. I think it's the only movie that has ever made me weep.

I can't think of any others right now, but if I do I'll post them later.

[–] kevonw 15 years ago

An earlier post refered to Hal Holbrook in Into The Wild and the scene in which he says goodbye to Chris...I know that without a doubt in my mind that this short scene alone earned him an Oscar nomination.

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRf7CSAfvo

[–] HowIMetYourHobo 15 years ago

Okay, it's a bit longer than 60 seconds (about 3 minutes) but the BB speech in the Extras Special is amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-LDAjb-ZVs

Although, unless you;ve seen up to there before watching, it probably isn't as good.

And Jesus lived happily ever after.
TheHobo

[–] tgk1982 15 years ago

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this one... may be a little longer than 60 sec., but Gary Oldman in The Professional, bathroom scene, talking to a 12+/- year old Natalie Portman. He is absolutely amazing. Was watching the extras on dvd the other week, Portman said that was the easiest scene for her to do in the movie, she didn't even need to act, Oldman was just so real and terrifying that she just stood there in fear of him. On the other hand, though, I am a little biased as I consider Gary Oldman probably the best actor ever born.

Liked that one post about Stallone and Mickey in Rocky (I) in his apartment yelling about his prime. Great monologue.

And how bout these?

-Denzel Washington in Glory, the flogging scene. Anyone who can watch that and not cry, well..., y'know

-Tom Cruise in Collateral, the dying scene in the subway. Not even a Tom Cruise fan but I gotta give him major props for that scene. Brilliantly written and directed too. Great performance by Jamie Foxx, but talking only of shorter scenes here.

-Going back a little, another favorite scene of mine has always been Billy Zane's admission of lying scene in Memphis Belle, his voice control is phenomenal.

-And ok, this is actually two peoples acting, but it's short, brilliant, and you can pick either one. Scarlett Johannsen and Bill Murray- Lost in Translation- Final scene in the street, no dialogue, so wonderfully done by both of them.

-Ed Harris in Enemy at the Gates, taking his hat off. Could be his awesome eyes, but that expression sold those 30 seconds for me.

-And, yah, and 60 seconds of Heath Ledger as the Joker, take your pick.

Fun thread, guys!

[–] JohnnieGreco 15 years ago

Peter Finch as 'Howard Beale' in the movie 'Network' (1976) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/

Many 'ranting' performances during this movie but especially during the studio takes when he starts by joking about the television and ends by shouting at the croud -We are not the truth! You are!!!

How truth these words were and how his performance shattered the ground!

EDIT:

Let me add that for his performances he won the Oscar for Leading actor..
Unfortunatelly he died before he won..

He was the first actor to receive the award post-humously .. the second being of course Heath Ledger..

[–] tilvio 15 years ago

OMG!
I cannot believe that no one is talking about Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) in "Requiem for a Dream" when she's talking with her son (Jared Leto) and crying: "I'm old, I'm lonely".
And the other spectacular minute is when she's taken away from the TV studio reception and she's totally out of herself speaking nonsense, eyes wide open with big tears and freaking nervious smile.... just AMAZING.

And i also liked Naomi Watts in 21 grams when the doctor tell her that her husband and daughters were killed in the car accident: she's just incredible.

[–] graftarian 15 years ago

OMG - I can't believe nobody's mentioned Estelle Getty in 'Stop or my mom will shoot' when she says to the flight attendant -

'It was so cute, when he was 6 years old he walked into the kitchen and said "Mommy! My peepee's stuck in my zipper!'

[–] drew_n_ater 15 years ago

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but...

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, the scene where he's standing in front of Jenny's grave, and he starts to cry, and says that he'll always be there for her, and that he'll watch out for Little Forrest.

That scene always gets me, no matter how many times I watch it.

Am I not 'turtely' enough for the "Turtle Club"?

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Isaac5855 15 years ago

when he's told he's got the job, and he tears up in the office til he goes nuts in the street. It's the most emotional piece of acting I've seen for ages.

I totally agree with you...Smith's powerhouse performance was full of memorable moments, but this was definitely the best.

As for a moment from another film:

I have to go with Jake Gyllenhaal driving away in the truck after learning he can't be with Heath Ledger for the weekend bhecause he has his daughters in BROIKEBACK MOUNTAIN...the look on his face as he's driving away...no dialogue... fighting with all his might to hold back the tears but unable too...outstanding.

[–] BurtReynoldsfromTITN 15 years ago

Al Pacino was NOT in Raging Bull. If you are going to make a reference, please get it right. Also Raging Bull is not where that line comes from. It's from On the Waterfront with Marlon Brando. As for excellent acting look no further than just about any scene, with Marlon Brando or Al Pacino, in the Godfathers. Some of the best acting of all time.

[–] BrnXbmBr2 15 years ago

In the Departed when DiCaprio and Nicholson are sitting at the table in the bar and how DiCaprio is convincing him that he is not the rat

Philip Seymour Hoffmans rant in his bosses office in Charlie Wilsons War

Mickey Rourke in the Wrestler when he is talking to his daughter on the boardwalk with tears running down his face.

De niro in Goodfellas (What did I say?)

"I'm the guy who does his job...you must be the other guy"

[–] dan_brit_abroad 15 years ago

If you are going to make a complaint, please read the whole thread!

Interestingly, BurtReynoldsfromTITN, after being a member for about 18 months, THIS is the first (and only) thread you've bothered to post in. For that, I feel honoured.

Here's a kiss, Burt.
x

[–] StarvingArtistE 15 years ago

1) NOT the Salvation Scene from There Will Be Blood (just because it's already been said) but the scene where Plainview is eating with his deaf child at the restaurant and his old competitor comes in for dinner. The way Daniel Day-Lewis communicates with his child, and ridicules the past competitor with "You look like a fool!".

2) The last scene in About Schmidt where Jack Nicholson is reading the letter from Ndugu.

3) In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, there is a scene between Joel and Clementine (Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet) that is portrayed so well frustratingly by Winslet. It's where she declares "I'd make a f---ing good mother! It's you, Joel! You're the one who won't commit to anything!".

[–] StarvingArtistE 15 years ago

PS, I think the better Will Smith scene from Pursuit of Happyness is when he is sleeping in the bathroom with his son, and there is a person knocking on the locked door. It's so... embarrassing and sad. It's hard to watch him cry.

[–] costa27 15 years ago

Hmmm dunno if this is the "greatest acting" but the scene in Gladiator when the emperor asks Maximus to take off his mask and then Russell Crowe starts going off on one is one of my faves, the music at the end of that scene is awesome too.