Category Archives: Scenes I Love

Scenes That I Love: Prohibition’s Funeral From Once Upon A Time In America

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Once Upon A Time In America (1984, dir by Sergio Leone, DP: Tonino Delli Colli)

Change comes with a new year.  That’s just an inevitable fact of life.  Sometimes, it’s good chance and sometimes, it’s bad change and sometimes, it’s change that is both good and bad.  That’s certainly the case with today’s scene that I love.

In Serigo Leone’s 1984 masterpiece, Once Upon A Time In America, 1933 brings with it the end of prohibition.  While the nation celebrates the right to once again legally drink, gangsters like the ones played by James Woods and Robert De Niro mourn the loss of their business and try to figure out a new way to pay their bills.

In this scene, Prohibition — that law that was hated by so many — is given a send-off by the people that it made very rich.

Happy New Year

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

Happy New Year!

In Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown started the year by falling asleep while trying to read War and Peace and missing out on talking to the little red-haired girl.  He probably caught pneumonia by falling asleep outside while it was snowing.  Poor Charlie Brown!  His friends should be ashamed of themselves for leaving him out there!

The important thing is that no matter how many times these things happen to him, Charlie Brown never gives up faith.  He’s going to keep trying to talk to the little red-haired girl.  He’s going to keep reading War and Peace.  He’s going to to keep trying to kick that football.  He’s going to try to get a strike with every pitch.  Even if the first day of 2024 isn’t your best, there are 365 more to go!

Happy 2024!

Through The Shattered Lens Wishes A Happy Birthday To Steven Spielberg

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today the Shattered Lens is happy to wish the great Steven Spielberg a happy birthday!

It’s perhaps impossible to pick just one scene or just four shots to represent the career and the talent of Steven Spielberg.  So, in honor of his birthday, I am going to share the moments when Steven Spielberg won his first two competitive Oscars, for directing and producing 1993’s Schindler’s List.  His words are even more important today.

Scene That I Love: Jordan Meets The Government In The Wolf Of Wall Street

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Since today is Martin Scorsese’s birthday, it only makes sense that today’s scene that I love comes from one of his best films.

In this scene from 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) hosts a meeting with two federal agents on his yacht.  Jordan knows that the agents want to put him in prison but that they don’t have enough evidence as of yet.  The main agent (played by Kyle Chandler) knows that Jordan’s arrogance is his greatest weakness.

This scene, with its faux friendly banter and it’s iconic shot of Jordan throwing money to the wind, is one of Scorsese’s best “confrontation” scenes.  DiCaprio and Chandler perfectly play the two adversaries.  Jordan knows that the agent is determined to catch him but Jordan also knows the agent will never be rich and there’s no way Jordan’s not going to remind him of that every chance that he gets.  The passive aggressiveness of it all is truly a wonder to watch and, in its way, just as intimidating as the conversations between the gangsters who populate many of Scorsese’s other films.

From The Wolf of Wall Street:

Horror Scenes That I Love: Barbara Steele in Black Sunday

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The British-born actress, Barbara Steele, became a star in Italy in the 60s, working with directors from Riccardo Freda to Mario Bava to Federico Fellini.  One of Steele’s defining roles was in Bava’s 1960 film, Black Sunday.

In this scene, Steele’s witch is sentenced to be executed and, since this is a Bava film, it won’t be a quick execution.  What makes this scene stand-out is Steele’s defiance.  It’s hard not to admire her refusal to give those judging her what they want.  You watch this scene and you have no doubt that if you get cursed by Barbara Steele, it’s going to be a curse for life.

Horror Scenes That I Love: Sissy Spacek in Carrie

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Sissy Spacek hasn’t appeared in many horror movies but the one in which she did appear is such a classic and Spacek’s performance was so strong that she qualifies as a horror icon regardless.  In 1976, Sissy Space played poor and victimized Carrie White, the shy high school student who ended up burning down the prom.  Her performance became one of the few horror performances to be Oscar-nominated and Carrie launched a series of Stephen King adaptations.

In one of the best scene from the film, Carrie is forced to deal with both an insensitive principal and a brat on a bicycle.

Horror Scenes I Love: Giovanni Lombardo Radice in The House At The Edge of the Park

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

I miss Giovanni Lombardo Radice.

The Italian writer/actor passed away earlier this year, on April 23rd.  He is missed, both for his wit and charm and for his talent.  He was great storyteller and always had the best anecdotes to share about the films in which he appeared, even though he himself often expressed amazement that people were still watching his movies.  Giovanni Lombardo Radice was an artist and a gentleman.

I’ve shared this scene before but I’m going to share it again because it’s Giovanni at his best.  Giovanni, incidentally, is dancing with his frequent co-star and friend, Lorraine de Selle.

From 1981’s The House On The Edge of the Park: