Everyone remembers the “Mad as Hell Speech” from Sidney Lumet’s 1976 satire, Network.
Personally, I think this scene below is just as good. Replace “tube” with TikTok and AI and you’ll have a pretty good explanation for why the world today is full of so many ignorant people who think they know more than they do.
(Usually, heavy-handed scenes annoy me. Fortunately, much like David Fincher with Aaron Sorkin’s script for The Social Network, Sidney Lumet knew the right directorial tone to take when translating Paddy Chayefsky’s script to the screen. One shudders to think of what Network would have been like with a less skilled director behind the camera.)
Today is the birthday of Peter Weller, the actor best-known for playing the original Robocop in 1987. Robocop is best-known for being violent and satirical but it also features one of the saddest scenes that I’ve ever seen.
Trying to piece together who he was before he was rebuilt, Robocop visits his former home and has flashbacks to his past life as Officer Murphy. The house is empty now but the flashbacks show that it was once full of life. Even with only half of his face visible, Weller shows Murphy’s loneliness as he walks around the house that he once called home.
I’m a big fan of Gerard Butler, mainly because of his macho performances in action films and thrillers. I also appreciate his ability to sing. I remember being surprised and impressed with his performance in Joel Schumacher’s version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I really enjoy the song “The Music of the Night,” and since I reviewed one of his thrillers today (SHATTERED), I thought I’d balance it out with a video of him belting out a tune. Enjoy!
Today’s scene that I love comes from Bob Fosse’s 1979 masterpiece, All That Jazz.This scene features the legendary Ann Reinking at her best. Roy Scheider said that he cried after shooting this scene.
I love the Hong Kong actor and comedian Stephen Chow, who just happens to be celebrating his 63rd birthday today. While he may be best known for the smash hits SHAOLIN SOCCER (2001) and KUNG FU HUSTLE (2004), I first became a fan when I saw his James Bond send up, FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE. I was so impressed with his deadpan delivery style in the film, and even though he seems kind of goofy, he turns out to be a major badass. I loved it!
In honor of Stephen Chow’s birthday, I present this scene from the Hong Kong comedy FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE. Enjoy!
Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to the one and only Bruce Campbell!
A true American success story, Bruce Campbell first met and befriended Sam Raimi when the two of them were high school students in Michigan. Campbell first gained attention in Raimi’s Evil Dead films and he’s been a mainstay in Raimi’s films ever since. He’s also been a favorite of the Coen Brothers, Don Coscarelli, William Lustig, and scores of other director. Few actors can balance both drama and comedy with the adroitness of Bruce Campbell.
Campbell, of course, is best-known for his performance as Ash Williams, the S-Mart store clerk who lost his hand while spending the weekend at a cabin, spent some time in the past, and later earned the right to tell us all to say “hail to the king, baby.” Campbell’s ability to do often violent slapstick comedy, along with his ability to deliver the most absurd of dialogue with a straight face, came together to make him into a true pop cultural icon. Though Campbell has since announced his retirement from playing Ash (saying that, at his age, he can no longer physically spends hours a day getting beaten up), he remains a beloved actor to horror fans everywhere.
Today’s scene that I love comes from 1992’s Army of Darkness and it features Bruce Campbell at his best. All Ash has to do is remember three simple words and say them before taking the Necronomicon from its place. Of course, Ash being Ash, things don’t quite work out that simply….
Last night, I watched the #FridayNightFlix presentation of TwinDragons. Jack Chan played twin brothers who shared a psychic link. One of them is a composer and the other is street racer and martial artist. In this scene, the two brothers team up to fight off a group of bandits. Double the Jackie means double the action!
Happy 71st birthday to Kathleen Turner! The very first time I remember seeing her was with Michael Douglas in the jungle adventure film ROMANCING THE STONE! I just loved the movie and thought she was so beautiful. I also thought Michael Douglas was great as the rascally Jack Colton. A teenage me thought this mudslide scene was hilarious. I still do! Click on the link below and enjoy!
The Rangers are losing again so I’m going to treat my sorrows with a scene that I love from a baseball movie. In this scene from 61*, Roger Maris gets his sixty-first homerun of the season and he breaks Babe Ruth’s record.
I love this scene because it’s what baseball is all about.
Through the Shattered Lens