G-S-T Quick 5 – Favorite Movie Monologues

One of my favorite elements in a film is a succesful (and memorable) monologue. When an actor can deliver a series of lines and carry the scene on the talent of that speech, it brings a certain weight to the movie. Many times in movies a monologue can consist of throw away lines or be a cheesy sequence all together, but I have assembled some of my favorites that are truly great below because they really are standout performances. They are impressive, dramatic and in a few cases stand the test of time but yet they all  exist on a level that showcases the actor’s true talents and is an example of how wonderfully imaginative lines can be without the aid of visuals, props, scenery and the like.

So here they are, my “Favorite Movie Monologues“…

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1.) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre – Walter Huston

Walter Houston won an Oscar in this film and for damn good reason. As the “prospector” he is very unassuming but as the movie plays out he shows how many varied but subtle layers are underneath that rough demeanor. I raved about this in a write up I did last year, but watching this clip makes me want to watch the movie again and real soon. Funny about this bit because it is not just a great monologue, it is also expository foreshadowing and I think that is missing from a lot of films today. Regardless, he just stole the movie. Lastly, I really apologize but those jerks atYouTube have disabled the embedded video for this clip. Still it’s worth going there to see it.

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2.) 12 Angry Men – Lee J. Cobb

Most people you ask will tell you that Henry Fonda‘s performance was the best in this film. Yet, the more I watch this film (usually the night before I myself have Jury Duty) I discover more things about this monologue which make me think that Cobb is the real star of this film. His intensity, his control, and his range still stand up and stand out after all these years. This is a near perfect movie not only because of Cobb, but Fonda, Warden and the whole talented ensemble.

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3.) Any Given Sunday – Al Pacino

I’ve been a fan of Al for years and to me his best roles to date are a dead tie between Carlito’s Way and (don’t laugh) Dick Tracy. Sure The Godfather was great but Al didn’t really shine in that movie when you have Brando, Caan and Shire to contend with.  Anyway, yes, he’s taken some terrible roles in the past decade but I still think he’s a powerhouse of acting talent and emotion. This monologue just gets me every time. In some way and kind of saddens me as I view it as his swan song since I have yet to see him do a film recently that really captures his spirit of old. But he’s Al right? What’s he got left to prove?

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4.) Layer Cake – Daniel Craig

To be fair and frank with you all, this should be followed under the category of “narration” (which is constant in Matthew Vaughn productions). Now despite that, the lines in the opening sequence aren’t as dramatic as others on this list, yet they still have a presence and weight to them. As such I believe they could be spoken without all the music, cuts and imagery and Craig could be on screen and sell the lines even more so and they’d be equally impressive…I don’t know, but I just like it.

However if you purists out there want a “true” monologue – I think this perfect one from Michael Gambon in this segment fits the bill. Short but to the point and so bloody true to life.

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5.) The Third Man – Orson Welles

And last, the definitive series of monologues (in my opinion) delivered by the one and only Orson Welles from The Third Man. In this scene, he, on the ferris wheel, tries to rationalize his actions by removing himself from the emotional and physical closeness to the people he profits from. Simply stellar and though I’m not a huge fan of Welles, it’s tough to deny his talent and charisma, especially in this one scene. Ship to minute 3:45…Welles is astounding! And how can you not love the parting “Cuckoo Clock” monologue?

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So that’s what I’ve got. What are some of your favorite monologues?