Vic’s Favorite Movie Moments (Part 1)
A Retrospective Essay by Victor DeBonis
Hello, fellow film and movie lovers. I hope your year has started off positive in its own ways. I thought I’d try something I’ve thought of doing for a while, and I wanted to share what some of my favorite movie moments are. There are more to be sure, but I thought I’d begin with 10 of the moments that resonate the most with me. Whether a scene resonated with me in an artistic sense or a personal or emotional one, each of these movie moments has stayed with me through elevating the story to a greater height or voicing a meaningful truth or emotion in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
A few items to quickly discuss before moving to the list:
The first is that this list will consist of 2 essays consisting of scenes from 10 movies combined, and there is so much to say through all of them that I’m trying something different here and splitting the list up into two sections.
The first section that you see here will consist of scenes from 5 movies, and, at a later time, I’ll present another list with special movie moments from 5 other movies that I love. This year, I want to explore different ways of sharing my love for cinema via writing that aren’t always as lengthy as some of them can be.
Second, there is no ranking for any of these. All of these movie moments affect me in different ways, and it’d be strange to determine which one was subjectively “superior” to the others.
Third, there will be plot spoilers involved as I discuss this scenes. Some of these will come from movies that many of you have probably seen, but, if you haven’t viewed one of the films I’m going to mention and don’t want it to be ruined, there’ll be a bold title of the movie with the scene in it and an image before the description of it follows. If you see a scene from a movie that you want to check out for yourself and don’t want to discover the entire narrative, yet, simply view that film, and come back to look at my thoughts on this list.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Parents’ Death in Alleyway/ “Because Nobody Else Can…” Scene in “Batman” (1989):
From early on when I first witnessed this scene as a younger kid, the alleyway scene held a heavy effect on me. This moment has been recreated time and time again for decades, but Burton’s skill as a director provided the eeriness and shock that would drive this tragic, pivotal moment in this soon-to-be hero’s life . Those low angles of young Bruce and his parents casually walking down the streets are followed a second by the hastily stomping footsteps of the thugs preying upon them, and that visual technique drives closer to the ominous approach of Bruce’s folks nearing close to the point of being horrifically murdered.
Danny Elfman’s music slowly fills the moment with a heightening sense of dread as the scene slowly approaches towards that horrible moment in the alleyway. The thick clouds of smoke and shadows and echoed shrieks and deepened voice of the killer legitimately cause this scene to feel like something out of a nightmare. The only difference is that this actually happens to this traumatized boy in this story.
It’s a beautifully shot and viscerally tragic moment.
Then and now, I understood the serious gravity and trauma of what happened to young Bruce and the horror of what would probably drive him to take on his role as he does growing up. In my eyes, no other filmmaker did better justice to this scene than Burton.
The moment in which Vicki Vale discovers Bruce’s identity, immediately following this flashback, is also important to me. It is not a particularly shocking moment. Even as a 13-year-old, I anticipated Vicki, particularly considering her profession as a determined journalist, would eventually find out about Bruce wearing the cape. What resonates to me is when Vicki says. “I don’t know what to make of all this” to which Keaton (the best live-action Bruce AND Batman in my eyes by a long shot) says. “Look, sometimes, I don’t know what to think about all this. It’s just something I have to do.” When Vicki demands to know why, Keaton tells her straight-up. “Because nobody else can.”
These lines speak to me because, as someone who is very introverted and different and has faced his share of difficulties in his path, it is frustrating to know what to make of how life turned out as it did or why some people experience the differences or trauma they do. Keaton isn’t wearing the mask or cape in this moment, but his strength and selfless devotion as his alter ego echoes loudly. This scene is a reminder to me of a powerful idea: No one can ever truly understand why they experience their trauma or are different from others in a specific way, but, in a world without any real sense to it, one should embrace what makes him unique in order to bring light and hope to others. For Bruce Wayne, he uses his emotional experiences from his past (horrible as they are) and his love for his city to shape him into becoming a caped crime-fighter to bring hope and justice to a city he loves. For myself, I use how different I am and my experiences to help me try to bring good to others through my love for movies, film, and writing.
Batman has always stood out to me as one of those characters and heroes who truly speaks to the outcast in many, and this moment neatly illustrates that.
It’s a legitimately inspiring moment I have often revisited when I think of moving forward through the odd moments in life.
“This is how I fight” monologue from Ke Huy Quan in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
This is a fairly recent scene from movies, but it only becomes more relevant and meaningful in recent times and, quite frankly, any moment from the past surrounding any of us. Quan speaks his words with an open honesty from someone who has experienced his thick share of hurt from his life but still strives to pass on generosity and selflessness however I can. You only need to look at the main version of this character and his hardships to recognize the overwhelming bitterness of the world facing him and his wife, but I think most people could also easily understand the difficulty of being good in a world and time in which it just feels that many people are getting more selfish and unkind as time passes by.
When Quan speaks to Michelle Yeoh about others viewing his kindness as a weakness but how he still sees it as perhaps his greatest power and strength in a world that never seems to make any real sense, it rings strongly with the bittersweet truth surrounding what he says.
As I was growing up, being open to others’ emotions and good and bad moments, beyond one’s self, wasn’t emphasized that often to me and others I knew.
Being more open about my emotions is something I am continuing to work on each and every day, and, while kindness is something that I don’t always know if it’s appropriate in specific moments or with specific people, based on how they behave, I am more than aware of the power of generosity and love and the ability of both to literally save something or someone. That can admittedly be a challenge given the amount of cruelty and hardship experienced by many through the previous couple of years.
Yet, the love this character holds for his wife and the powerful support and effect that he has on here, along with the wonderfully written lines about sincerity and being good when others mock it, is beautifully displayed here, and the heart of this bizarre yet incredible movie shines even further in this scene. Ke Huy Quan also manages the perfect balance between sincerity and harsh directness with delivering this monologue about something he knows is simultaneously somewhat simple and vastly challenging at the same time. There is a real sense this character believes it deep in his heart, and I greatly respect this.
When I think of people discussing the positive impact of cinema and its ability to help shape the world into a more positive place, this monologue from this scene often comes to mind, and its relevancy only increases as time passes on.
Diner Scene from “Heat”
I first saw this scene when I was about 16 or 17 years old when I found the DVD, and it was one of the first moments in which I realized the power of movies demonstrated in a variety of ways. At the time of this movie’s release, audiences were eager to see a scene or movie involving two of the most revered actors ever in the form of Pacino and DeNiro. Yet, when I see these two isolated souls who, on the surface, couldn’t be more different (One is a dedicated cop, and the other is a master thief) but still speak about their problems and pains, I see something more incredible than even that.
I see two outsiders discussing the hardship of their individual personal lives and their struggle to connect with others in a longer lasting way.
I see two human beings who, despite their victories and reputations, have nightmares and understand the emotional and price of doing what they do, yet they continue pursuing their passions and what they’re great at, anyway.
I see two complicated yet fascinating figures who know, beyond a shred of a doubt, that they will, at some point, meet again, and, when they do, one of them is not going to make it out alive, and, yet, there is a deeper respect and connection between them than pretty much anybody else they may know.
Admittedly, I could point to my love of this scene coming partly from two of my favorite actors of all time meeting up and exchanging their coolness and impressive charisma as these characters, and that is certainly part of it. Yet, Michael Mann’s calm and collected handling of this scene and Eliot Goldenthal’s subtle, moving music in the background and, of course, what these two talk about provide a moment rich in atmosphere.
Similar to the scene in which Keaton expresses why he loves doing what he does, even if he knows that it might further separate him from others, there is a strongly present evidence of these characters being committed to what they are great at doing and pursuing in the face of their own problems in their lives.
I greatly respect and love the confidence and straight-up honesty in which Pacino and DeNiro say that they don’t know how to do anything else and don’t really want to, even if it makes things harder from there.
This is, yet, another scene that makes me think of my passions for film and writing and the light both bring me in my life through both the good and the bad, and it brings me great delight to know that this scene is still talked about by others for a variety of reasons. The awesome scene in which Al tracks down Robert is great, too, and it has this amazing build-up with its great shots of L.A. at night and Goldenthal’s mesmerizing score.
For the record, yes, the intense bank shootout scene is amazing, too, and is easily in my all-time favorites in terms of action scenes.
Yet, this short yet meaningful exchange between these cinematic giants in this diner speaks the loudest to me in a masterpiece filled with great moments.
Climax of “The Secret of NIMH”
Some of you, who are longtime followers of my work, might remember my essay extensively describing why “The Secret of NIMH” is my all-time favorite movie (Spoiler alert: It still is). In that essay, I describe in thorough detail why the climax to that movie means so much to me, so, if you want deeper insight in regards to what I love about this moment from film, you should probably look up that essay. It’s easily one of the essays I’m most proud of, and I hope that it introduces more to this animated masterpiece.
I’ll try to keep this description as tight as I can and attempt to not repeat too much of what I’ve previously written about.
The sheer optimism and hopefulness in the midst of almost all of it being lost in this scene is just uplifting to me. The heroine of the movie, Mrs. Brisby, has fought tooth and nail and then some throughout this story all for her love for her ill son and the rest of her children. When the music increases its tempo and echoes the horrifying reality of death nearing closer and closer to her children drowning in the mud, things couldn’t be grimmer. Simply hearing the children cry out in genuine fear “Mother!” continues to rattle me to my core.
Just when it appears that the home and the ones Brisby loves the most have been lost forever, the stone that the heroine has been wearing reveals its power and its ability to do incredible deeds based on the love and strength of her heart.
The colors and artwork in this moment is astonishing to the point that, if I ever find a framed image of this scene somewhere, I would pay every penny and proudly mount it on my wall for its artistic beauty and the soul breathing from its hero at the center. Furthermore, the beautiful, golden light shining from the amulet and the heroine cradling it high above her as she rescues her children is every bit as powerful as seeing Rocky proudly proclaim to Adrian in the original 1976 film that he loves her after that riveting final match. An overwhelming sense of victory and passion breathes from both scenes of these masterpieces.
Jerry Goldsmith’s powerful and sweeping score adds to the emotional wonder in this scene of Brisby rescuing her children through her own love and unyielding determination to protect those she cares about. This scene is one of the ultimate cinematic representations of a simple idea: In an often not understanding world and awful situations, the love and selflessness you hold in your heart has the power to make a difference, accomplish what others say can’t be done, and, sometimes, even save someone.
After witnessing obstacle after obstacle of hardship and hurt tossed in this poor mouse’s path, it is joyous to see the miracle performed here and to witness the heroism and power from Brisby and her own heart. And, she doesn’t accomplish this because of physical strength or being an outgoing, extroverted persona stepping in to kick rear and take names. Mrs. Brisby rescues her kids in this climax because she is brave and cares about and treasures those she loves just that much.
I’ve mentioned before that I see my own mother in this brave, quiet, selfless soul, but I also see myself and perhaps anyone I’ve known who cares about others, whether it’s family or friends or their best friend, with a familiar devotion or passion and will go above and beyond to help them or make them happy.
Other less selfless souls could learn a thing or two from Mrs. Brisby.
It takes a ton for me to get teary-eyed watching a movie, but this moment gets my tears flowing in quick fashion.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again: For all she goes through and demonstrates through her tremendous heart and courage and other great qualities, Mrs. Brisby will always be a genuine superhero in my eyes and one of the most inspiring characters I’ve ever known, and this special moment with her demonstrates that to pure perfection.
The climax of “Spirited Away”
When it comes to masterpieces, such as “Spirited Away” trying to find a favorite scene from this movie is similar to asking me to choose my favorite puppy if there were several in front of me. I love all of them in different ways, and it can be a chore trying to narrow down which one captures my heart the most. Yet, as I revisit this classic time and time again, the scene that always brings the biggest smile and satisfaction to my face is undoubtedly the climax.
It starts off splendidly enough with one of the witch characters in the film serving the heroine of the movie, Chihiro, tea in her cottage in the middle of the woods amidst other imaginative characters. This moment is heavily reminiscent of “Alice in Wonderland” and adds to the fantastical absurdity of everything surrounding the heroine as she waits for her friend, Haku, to see if he’s okay.
Yet, it’s the strong friendship between Chihiro and Haku that lends to the true magic of this scene. Chihiro’s love for her friend shines wonderfully here from her tearful concerns of Haku possibly dying from his earlier injuries to the joyful animation of her running to enthusiastically greet him in dragon form and openly express her satisfaction that he’s alive. This scene’s wonder is complimented to magnificent effect by Joe Hisaishi’s uplifting score as the witch in the woods commends Chihiro’s friendship for essentially rescuing him from his death.
I miss movies where characters would openly cry about something that genuinely upset them or causes them fear.
I miss movies that take the time to express in a thoughtful manner about the impact that one’s love for somebody or something else can have on them.
The mood of the scene lifts higher as Haku, in the form of a dragon, carries his friend higher into the moonlight clouds and helps her discover the connection between the two of them that has lasted for a very long time.
I could watch the moment in which Chihiro and Haku both happily shed tears as they learn about their connection not only as great friends looking after each other in their own ways but, also, as the latter being a spirit doing his best to guide and protect her.
The climax for “Spirited Away” can be viewed in many different lights. It can be viewed as a wonderful representation of someone discovering who they are in their own story and the powerful role that someone (a friend or family member or mentor) has in that journey. In addition, it can be shown as an example of two close friends discovering the power of their relationship and love along with the realization of the extent to which their love has helped each other develop for the better. Further still, this scene works as a wondrous example of someone discovering the power of something spiritual having helped them or guide them in some way.
Whatever this scene speaks to me or to others, I often think of this incredible scene as a prime example of movie magic in its purest form, and the sheer joy and love flowing through it and the creative power that helped bring it to life will never be lost on me.
I hope that you enjoyed the first part of some of my favorite moments in cinema.
Keep an eye out for Part 2, and continue to watch some good movies!