Some of my favorite movie scenes (for right now)

You know how much I love movies, so I've put together a list of movie scenes within the movies that make me go "holy shit." Film is one of the weirdest forms of art because it's so young that it only sort of knows how to be bold in what it tries to do. I know there are examples of movies that try to capture the human experience (see any Terence Malick movies), or try to see through fucked up eyes (Enter the Void), or look at the maggots under the buried soft underbelly (see any David Lynch movies). These are scenes that strike a chord within me. The themes all seem to be nostalgic, whether about family or friendship or romantic love. There are also scenes of subtle comedy. I didn't want to include anything that was too broad, just the things that touch me up just right.

• 500 Days of Summer: Reality Vs. Expectations - This is probably the second best scene in the movie (The Han Solo scene being the best), but I really like how his delusions get him in the wrong place and he crumbles because of it.
• An American in Paris: Dancing along La Seine - I really don't like musicals, but I would spend time with my grandmother and watch this and though, "holy shit, that's amazing! Gene Kelly moves like a butterfly!"
• The Apartment: Junior Executive Hat - We all know this is one of my favorite movies, and Jack Lemmon is one of my favorite actors, but this scene is tops in my book. I just love Shirley McLaine in it. She's so effortlessly charming.
• Beasts of the Southern Wild: Showdown with the Aurochs - "I'm recording my story for the scientists in the future. In a million years, when kids go to school, they gonna know: Once there was a Hushpuppy, and she lived with her daddy in The Bathtub." I want this girl to be my best friend
• Before Sunset: Celine and Jesse at the end - The Waltz - I'm so into this movie series that I've seen everything Julie Delpy has been in. Also, it allows me to forgive Ethan Hawke for every vampire movie he makes to pay for his kids' boarding school. This is all dialogue and two great characters who love each other but are separated by themselves and time. The 3rd one is coming out in a few months and I can't wait. When she says, "baby, you're gonna miss that plane." and he whispers, "I know...." I get like a 13 year old girl version of me
• Big Night: The cooking scene - I was in on Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci a long time ago. This is a small movie about two Italian brother, Primo and Secondo who prepare a big meal for a Big Night with a famous musician coming in. The food preparation is lovely and these two make this movie so fun. 
• Boogie Nights: Jesse's Girl/ Firecrackers - This is a ride. You ever been coked up and someone's hitting a drum or lighting firecrackers and they're flashing all their drugs and your buddy is like, "man, we need to fucking rob this guy!" This whole movie is amazing, but this scene is the lynchpin.
• Defending Your Life: Past Lives Pavillion - Albert Brooks often gets called the "Poor Man's Woody Allen," but I don't know why. He has some of the most memorable movies that are heart-warming and funny with loads of charm. Every time this comes on TBS on a Sunday afternoon I'm in for the next 90 minutes.
• Pulp Fiction: The Watch - Everyone forgets 1) how good this monologue is and 2) how handsome younger Christopher Walken was. They always get stuck on the "it was up my ass for 3 years" part. It goes back to why QT is a better writer than director
• Django unchained: Freedom/ I like the way you die - For a movie with a lot of heart and a lot of faults, this is probably the scene that matters most. We know the rest of the movie: he'll kill anyone to get his life/wife back, but this scene shows how he'll do *anything* to save the person he loves: beg, grovel, swap himself for her. Also, I love Anthony Hamilton's voice in the accompanying song.
• He Got Game: One on One, Father Vs. Son - Spike Lee makes great movies and horrible movies. This is a great one that's really underrated. It's about basketball, but it's about family. Fathers and sons and what that relationship means. Who protects who? Who helps who? This is the final confrontation between Denzel (dad) and Ray Allen (son), and it's heart-breaking.
• Killing Them Softly: Living in America - I told you, Brad Pitt is better when he says less. This movie is a great example. He's quiet and menacing and doesn't want to be there, but if he does he wants to get fucking paid. This is a great monologue about America and what it really means (from his perspective) and he's not that far off.
• King of New York: You all got fat while everyone starved on the street! - Chris Walken is up here several times. You know when Biggie called himself, "The Black Frank White?" Frank White is Walken's character. This is a great 90s gangster flick that has really sleepy interesting scenes and very shocking violence. Also, Laurence Fishburne as Jump is great.
• A Bronx Tale: The door test - This is one of my favorite movies. It's DeNiro's first directing job and man is it great. The young guy, Cologeno, is trying to impress a lady and goes to the local mafioso instead of his dad. It's good advice and a telling scene of how loyalties can shift
• Parenthood: Jason Robards and Steve Martin are good dads - I feel like if I were a parent my biggest fear would be turning out a dud and even worse being a dud of a parent. It's scary to think some parents have kids who can be problems, but love of those little guys makes you do what you never would for anyone else.
• True Romance: Clarence & Drexel/ Vincent Coccotti & Clifford Whorley - 1) This is when Christian Slater was still an actor and not always playing Christian Slater. Also, Gary Oldman still plays one of the creepiest/best pimps in the world. It's pretty amazing how creepy he does it in. 2) The Sicilian Scene is infamous because it's written well, acted well, and I love the FOB Italian guy who's all, "why'd Cocotti do that?"
• Take This Waltz: Amusement park - I almost didn't want to include this because the movie flies and crashes like Icarus. I get it, Michelle Williams falls in love with Ricky from American Beauty (personality-wise, not actually him). I do like their use of Video Killed the Radio Star though. Also, there's one of the realest nude scenes in the world in this movie.
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: The intro - I can't tell if it's the narration, the music, or the silhouette shapes. It's probably all 3, but this movie/scene always feeds my idea of running away to start over
• Being There: With the President - Peter Sellers is a genius and this is one of the quietest, amazing comedies I've seen. Dr. Strangelove is always #1 on that list, but this could be a strong contender. He's so effortless in his buffon character who wins *everyone* over. 
• Warrior: Relapse - Nick Nolte does great work, but watching this is so sad and so real. I knew that kid who had a dad with a problem. He didn't want to go home to a sad, angry, little man who would ruin his life. This is that guy as an old man. 
• The Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan is born - and becomes God - This is an overall average movie but I really like the pacing of this scene. I mean, he's the only *super* hero, so how did he come to exist? oh wow?! that's amazing!
• Crimes and Misdemeanors: God is a luxury I can't afford - Be careful what you wish for, because you might actually get it. Then you have to live with it. Woody Allen's best at comedies, murders, and capers. His theme of "the heart wants what it wants" is true in every sense of his movies, not just the positive, happy-ending ones.
• Angels in America (A cheat as it's a mini-series, I know): Belize describes heaven to Roy Cohn in the hospital - I think everyone got an Emmy for this miniseries. Pacino and Streep are the stars, and rightfully so. Pacino as Roy Cohn is loathesome and Streep plays like 5 characters flawlessly. She even makes an amazing old, male Rabbi. But this scene, with Jeffrey Wright in a dialogue/monologue with Pacino, dying on his bed is phenomenal.
• Friday Night Lights (the movie): What is Boobie gonna do? - What's it like to see a dream die? You get to see it right here. The movie isn't as good as the show because the show got a chance to breathe and explore, but this scene with Derek Luke is heartbreaking and frightening at the same time
• Glengarry Glen Ross: You believe in Hell? - We all guard ourselves and protect ourselves, but if you're too guarded you don't get to go in for the kill for whatever that means to you. You can choose everything in your life despite what is suggested to you
• Fresh: Chew his ass up (whole movie) - Remember when "hood movies" were big? This is a a crime caper movie with a 12 year old boy as the hero. It's pretty amazing how much he goes through and how much he takes on his shoulders to see the wrongs made as right as possible
• Love Jones: A Blues for Nina - This is kind of the Black Casablanca. I mean, it's good, but I know that if you haven't seen it before it rings as hokey. This is super 90s, from the haircuts to the snapping to the smoke-filled rooms. I made the mistake of watching it with Chico and I don't think he's stopped making fun of me since.