"Would it be alright if I show the children the whoring bed?"- MY FAVOURITE SCENES OF 2014

          As I wrote yesterday, 2014 was an great film year and there are many, many scenes that have stood out in both good and bad movies. I tried limiting this list to 10 scenes and I failed. I have a good feeling I have forgotten at least a scene or two but I am pretty happy with what I have here. I noticed that I have shown preference to more humorous stuff this time. Not sure why. It is what it is.

Note: There are spoilers in this list for people who haven't seen Gone Girl, Whiplash and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Honourable mentions: The penis catalogue in Nymphomaniac, vol.1, "Bismil" in Haider and Noni singing "Blackbird" in Beyond the Lights. It's difficult to pinpoint singular scenes from Birdman because of the format of that movie. Still, special shout-out to the scenes between Emma Stone and Edward Norton on the roof and Riggan's fight with the critic.

15.

"I'll Have to Dance with Cassie" in God Help the Girl

God Help the Girl was an odd little musical and it reaches its highest point with this little dance number. It is absolutely delightful and the song is addictive and it just puts me in a good mood every time I watch it or even think about it.

14.

The Dinner scene in Nightcrawler

Speaking of things that put me in a good mood when I think about it, this scene has stayed with me wayyyy more than any of the more disturbing/cooler scenes in this totally disturbing and cool movie. I seriously just think of how odd and creepy and funny it is at random moments and laugh to myself. Both Russo and Gyllenhaal are excellent here.

13.

Greta and Dan listen to music all night in Begin Again

Awww this scene is so adorable. It makes me think of one of my most favourite quotes from one of my most favourite movies- "You are literally like my musical soulmate."

12.

The H.A.L.O. jump in Godzilla

This scene is here not only because of its stunning visuals but also because of its completely unnerving sound. There's a sense of apocalyptic dread that the scene presents so well.

11.

The Dance-off in Guardians of the Galaxy

There are better action pieces in the film but I still cannot believe that they had the balls to do this in its main climactic scene. The music in the film is a major aspect of why everyone loves it so much and here it is put front-and-centre in the most insanely awesome way.

10.

Jenko finds out about Captain Dickson's daughter in 22 Jump Street

Yes, the ending is far more clever but I seriously think I out-laughed a completely filled cinema hall in this scene. It's just too fucking funny! His dancing notwithstanding, this is the moment Channing Tatum totally won me over.

9.

The Elevator fight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Even though Cap is my favourite Marvel superhero because of his inherent goodness, a scene like this proves that he is also a total badass. I loved the action sequences in the film and this one was definitely the best. My favourite moment from it: Cap gives everyone a choice to get out before he basically beats them up to a pulp. What a gentleman.

8.

The School in Snowpiercer

This scene captures the sort of tonal change that Korean movies usually seem to have- it is absurd, satirical, terrifying and thrilling. Allison Pill's cameo here is my second most favourite of the year. 

7.

Lip-syncing to Starship in The Skeleton Twins

There are a precious few things in the world better than Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig full-on dramatically lip-syncing and dancing to Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now". It is as beautiful as it sounds and I can watch this scene on repeat.

6.

The Car fight in The Raid 2

The Raid 2 is one fantastic action sequence after another but this one takes the cake. I don't know how they choreographed and then filmed this scene. There are fights going on within cars, outside cars and between cars, all simultaneously. If they make any more sequels, I'd love to see them try and top this scene.

5.

The High School Battle in The Guest

I am taking the whole part that takes place in the school into account (because I can). It looks gorgeous and I love how bloody it is. The final showdown between our villain and heroine nearly made my heart stop, and this also has my favourite use of soundtrack among last year's films. 

4.

Mrs H. in Nymphomaniac, Part 1

I know I laughed the most in 22 Jump Street but this is still the funniest scene of last year. It's Lars von Trier's sick humour at its best. Just so awkward and weird and Uma Thurman friggin kills it every second (my absolute favourite cameo of 2014). The whoring bed, the traumatized children, the fact that this woman makes tea for her husband who's just left her, the girl he has left her for AND the other beau of this girl, and the screaming- so good!!

3.

The Creation scene in Noah

As much as I enjoyed Noah, I have nearly forgotten it except for this scene. Of course there is a Biblical source to the whole movie which this scene very clearly shows, but this movie is also about death and violence and the scene portrays that incredibly well too. It is breathtaking to look at as well.

2.

Amy kills Desi in Gone Girl

I was so sure no scene would beat this when I had watched it for the first time. One did but that doesn't make this scene any less brilliant. It is Hitchcockian and brings to mind not only something like Psycho but also Hitch's quote about why blondes make the best victims (ha!), "They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints." Rosamund Pike is at her cool blonde best here and poor Neil Patrick Harris really gives it his all (no pun intended). It is shocking, scary, stunning and unforgettable.

1.

The Final Performance in Whiplash

If this scene was a whole film by itself, it would have been my favourite film not just of 2014 but probably this entire decade. Yeah, yeah, I do know it won't work without what comes before it but god, I have never been that shaken like on a molecular level by any scene like this before and probably never will. The music, the cinematography, the editing, the way the dynamic shifts between our protagonist and antagonist within the tiny moments of this scene- just everything is goddamn out of this world! This scene makes me feel like I can like punch a hole through the wall or the moon or something. It is a marvel of a scene and it has changed the way I think about movies and what movies can do. I was and still am completely blown away by it.

        Tomorrow, I am going to post my Heroes and Villains lists. You can check out my Favourite Shots of 2014 list here.

What are some of your favourite scenes of 2014?

"I am not formed by things that are of myself alone."- FAVOURITE SCENES OF 2013

        They're finally here! My "best of 2013" lists are go! I begin with my favourite scenes/sequences of the movies that released in 2013. Last year I divided this list into a normal Best Scenes list and a Best Action Scenes list but this time, it's back to being one list. 

P.S.- There are a lot of endings that have made their way into this list so SPOILERS of course!

P.P.S.-I am going to say right from the start that 2013 was a fantastic year for movies and all my lists are actually very long and I am only highlighting a part of them, so please don't think that I don't appreciate the things that haven't made it into my lists.

Honourable mentions: The dance scene in The Heat, the Gos gets his ass kicked in Only God Forgives, "Let It Go" in Frozen.

10.

 Westray dies in The Counselor

One the whole, I found The Counselor to be dull and forgettable, except for one fantastically shot and freakishly creepy death scene towards the end. This mode of killing was described earlier in the movie and seeing it executed is both brutal and thrilling. Brad Pitt does excellent dying man acting too. Best death scene of the year :)

9.

Ryan gets detached in Gravity

This scene stood out the most for me on my first viewing of Gravity and it *almost* distracted me from the enjoying the rest of the movie because I was that floored by it. In one single take, the kind that the duo of Emmanuel Lubezki and Alfonso Cuaron have become famous for, we see Sandra Bullock's Ryan Stone spiraling into space and how the camera moves closer and closer to her until we start seeing from her perspective and then it moves back out again. It's absolutely gobsmacking, visually, thematically and emotionally. Bravo.

8.

Barrel of monkeys in Iron Man 3

Some time at the beginning of 2013, Iron Man 3 was my favourite movie of the year and this scene had contributed a lot to that (admittedly I had seen about 5 movies at that point). As fun as Jaegars and Kaijus fighting each other was, this is THE action sequence of the year in terms of pure action, thrill, innovation and just delight. We actually fear for those people's lives and it is amazing to see Iron Man save them in such a way, along with that hilarious twist at the end of it.

7.

The ending of Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips is a very tense movie that keeps you enthralled throughout, barely letting you catch a breather and it is the same way for the characters in it, especially Tom Hanks' Captain Phillips. We see all the hardships that he goes through, protecting his ship from the Somali pirates and then being kidnapped by them, and how he still remains stable and calm. We almost wonder at his resilience to these incredible events, but then, right at the end, he lets go. And its shattering. I dare you to watch that scene without crying.

6.

Going to The World's End in The World's End

Gary King and his two musketeers come face-to-face with the Network at the last bar of their epic bar crawl and the one-liners that are unleashed have to be seen/heard to be believed.

It is the ultimate scene about defiance. Beatiful.

"Go back to Legoland, you cunts!"

5.

Frances' speech in Frances Ha

I was tempted to put the awesome dance-y run across New York streets set to David Bowie's "Modern Love" here, but I was left with my mouth hanging open and my heart completely gone when Greta Gerwig's Frances explains to some people at a dinner party what she wants in life. 

"It's that thing when you're with someone and you love them and they know it, and they love you and you know it, but it’s a party! And you're both talking to other people and you're laughing and shining and you look across the room and catch each other's eyes. But not because you’re possessive or it's precisely sexual but because that is your person in this life. And it's funny and sad but only because this life will end. And it's this secret world that exists right there in public unnoticed that no one knows about. It’s sort of like how they say that other dimensions exist all around us, but we don't have the ability to perceive them. That’s what I want out of a relationship or just life, I guess."

When movies manage to explain something that you know to be true but have never articulated, it's just the best thing ever. I cried.

4.

The ending of This is the End

I am not going to write about it in case someone who has not watched the movie is reading this post. All I am going to say is that I was ASTONISHED, SHOCKED, SURPRISED, FUCKING MINDBLOWN at it. Never expected it in a million years and god, it was heavenly ;-) 

3.

The piano duet in Stoker

Holy moly, I have never been aroused more in a scene that doesn't involve Ryan Gosling, ever. It's sinister and sexy. The chemistry between Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode is fantastic. The fact that nothing happens makes it even more eroticised. Musical notes and sexual tension heightening together to reach a crescendo, oh my!

2.

Lemmons in The Wolf of Wall Street

I am taking into account the full sequence from the Country Club to Jordan saving Donnie's life because I can. Everything, from the way Leonardo DiCaprio distorts his face when the lemmons trip starts, to the way he crawls, to the never ending steps in the Country Club, to the opening of the car door, to him screaming nonsense on the phone, to him fighting Jonah Hill's equally tripped out Donnie, to Donnie stuffing his face with salami because why not, to the juxtaposition of Popeye eating his spinach and Jordan snorting his coke- it is all part of the funniest sequence of the whole year. It's crazy and unbelievable and rip-roaringly hilarious and man, Leo is officially the modern master of physical comedy. I can't imagine the state of the set on the days this whole sequence was shot.

1.

"Everytime" in Spring Breakers

Even a doped out Leonardo DiCaprio opening his Lamborghini with his legs cannot trump this scene in terms of what-the-fuck-ness. As funny as this scene is, what with James Franco's Alien showing his sensitive side by playing and singing "Everytime" by Britney Spears, "one of the greatest singers of all time, an angel if there ever was on this earth," on his white grand piano while the sun sets to inspire a trio of girls in leopard-print monokinis and pink ski masks to go rob spring breakers followed by the actual, rather violent robbing, it simultaneously subverts and pays an ode to pop culture, which is what I love about it the most. Think 20-30 years ago, such a scene would have been set to classical music and it would have been big men carrying out these armed robberies. But the world is changing and pop culture is changing and the American dream is changing and the scene captures all that, amidst some of the most beautiful cinematography of the year. It is monumental.

Breaking Emotions Blogathon- ALL OF THE EMOTIONS!!

       When Mettel Ray announced her Breaking Emotions blogathon, I commented on her blog with a very enthusiastic “Count me in!” not taking into account the fact that I would be traveling, attending a full-blown film festival and going to college in the meantime, and hence having me no time or brain power to actually write the posts.

      To make amends, I have decided to just tackle the beast once and for all and give you guys a gargantuan Breaking Emotions: ALL OF THE EMOTIONS post. Enjoy!

Note: This post contains SPOLERS. Also, I haven’t seen some of these movies in a while now and I just want to apologise in advance in case I forget some of the details of the scenes. HATE was the hardest emotion to list down as I am not in the habit of remembering scenes I have disliked in the past. Conversely, LOVE was the emotion with the most number of choices for me to choose from because I love films! :)

3) Antichrist- SHE injures herself

The only reason this scene is #3 and not #1 is because I don’t remember when the scene starts and when it ends and I really don’t want to rewatch and find out. That entire last half hour of Antichrist is a hellish experience with this being the creepiest part of them all. Gahhhhhhh!

2) No Country for Old Men- Anton Chigurh visits Llewelyn Moss’s hotel room

I have spoken about how Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh manages to fill me up with fear by just being in a scene. This scene stands out the most for me because of the tension that it builds up and the idea of Chigurh standing outside your door with that damned gun of his is fucking terrifying *squeaks and hides under the bed*.

1) Magnolia- the raining frogs

Never in my life have I been more freaked out by a scene. I was so into the movie and then these gigantic freakin’ amphibians just start crashing onto windscreens of cars and on people and there’s blood everywhere and they’re huge and gross- you get the picture *shudders*.

3) Blue is the Warmest Colour- Adele and Emma have sex for the first time

I know it is a bit controversial including this in my list, but let me explain. I have no actual problems with the scene. Heck, in the whole context of the film and the big fight at the end, I think it makes total sense why the scene is there. But at the same time, the only time I have watched it is next to my friend and an ex-professor and amidst a sea of middle-aged men. Also the fact that it was the only time in the entire film festival when there was total silence in the crowd, and well, all the ass-slapping on screen ended up being kind of deafening. It was a very weird experience.

2) Bridget Jones’s Diary- Bridget makes a speech at her office’s party

It is one of those scenes that you can’t help but relate to and be embarrassed by.

1) Festen- the racist guests

Festen is, on a whole, a very uncomfortable movie. The story, the people, the way it is shot- it just makes you feel awkward. But never more than when a whole room full of white people decide to mock a black man by singing a song about a racial equality. So unpleasant.

3) The Hours- the whole movie really, but the ending specifically

I don’t know what exactly is it about The Hours that makes me so, well, emotional. Even the trailer makes me cry. If I had to choose just one scene though, it will probably be the ending when Clarissa has finally decided to embrace life, with Virginia’s voice-over in which she’s narrating the letter she wrote to her husband. It’s beautiful and uplifting though with the obvious tragic connections.

2) City Lights- the Flower Girl finally realises who the Tramp is

To quote The Dreamers, “You remember the last shot of City Lights? He looks at the Flower Girl. She looks at him. And don’t forget she’d been blind, so she was seeing him for the very first time and it’s as if through her eyes, we’re also seeing him for the very first time. Charlie Chaplin, the most famous man in the world! And it’s as if we’ve never really seen him before.”

How can you not cry?

1) Titanic- Jack Dawson dies

16 years. It’s been 16 years since this film released and I am still a blubbering mess by the end. And to date, even though I must have watched the film at least 30 times, I secretly hope he won’t die but alas, EVERY TIME! *sniffs*

3) Cafe de Flore- the connection

Cafe de Flore is a very beautiful film showing two apparently disconnected stories. The scene that finally reveals why and how they are related is surprising and also very gorgeously shot.

2) Sympathy for Lady Vengeance- the revenge

The way people behave always has the power to surprise us. The whole scene with the guardians taking revenge on the Mr. Baek was not something I expected from this film. It was both satisfying and sickening, and hence kind of awesome.

1) The Shawshank Redemption- Andy escapes

Has any other hole in a wall made your heart skip a beat like this one did? Even if one knows this scene, you can’t quite deny that sudden rush one feels as they realise what Andy has achieved.

3) Midnight in Paris- Gil meets Salvador Dali

“I see a rhinoceros.”

2) The Apartment- the ending

My cheeks actually start hurting by this point. Jack Lemmom and Shirley Temple are the cutest!

1) Moulin Rouge!- the Elephant Medley

Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, all the songs, the elephant- it’s all so perfect and happy and pretty and colourful.

3) Inglourious Basterds- Hans Landa interrogates Monsieur LaPadite

Quentin Tarantino is a god when it comes to words. The way he just builds up this scene, with Christoph Waltz’s unique brand of nastiness and all the tension just heightening till we get that gory conclusion- it’s amazing.

2) Boogie Nights- Dirk, Reed and Todd visit Rahad Jackson

Those bursting firecrackers. I have never been more on edge during a scene. And it works excellently with the pressure escalating as Dirk, Reed and Todd attempt to scam Rahad. And of course, we all know how it all ends.

1) Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix- Dumbledore versus Voldemort

This is my favourite duel from all the Harry Potter movies. It is spectacular, thrilling and then it ends with Harry being possessed by Voldemort and defeating him internally just as how Dumbledore defeats him with his powers.

3) The Amazing Shit-Man Spider-Man- the final climax

Ugh cranes? Really, Spidey? Really? To save everyone from turning into lizard-people? GAH THIS FILM IS SO STUPID!!!

2) Chennai Express- Rahul and Meena try to escape from Thangaballi by communicating through songs.

I could have really chosen any moment from this film to be on this list. It *is* an amazingly idiotic movie. But I was so enraged by Shahrukh Khan using his hit songs from his good movies in all these moronic ways. Why would one mock their own legacy in that way? And then that Tangabali dude sings too. Ugh, no!

1) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- the feast

I love Indiana Jones, like for realz. But even 10 year old me could sense how offensive this scene was. And I usually don’t act all patriotic and whatnot, but didn’t Spielberg and Lucas do any research at all? It’s just shameful.

3) Pulp Fiction- Mia and Vincent enter the Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest

I saw this film on my 16th birthday and for someone who has practically grown up watching dance numbers in movies, this was nothing like I had ever seen before. It was strange and sexy and awesome and it’s still my life’s mission to learn the dance perfectly, for both parts.

2) Before Sunset- Celine sings a waltz.

The whole ending is as perfect as they come but I could really just sit and watch Julie Delpy singing on her guitar and Ethan Hawke reacting to it for my whole life.

1) Fight Club- Jack versus Jack

My most favourite scene of all time. My brain just explodes every time I watch this scene. How did they do it? I don’t even want to know. I just want to bask in its awesomeness. 

        And that’s it. I hope you like my choices. And please check out all the other brilliant entries for the blogathon.