Words are powerful agents of change. Words turn our dreamy imaginations into tangible realities. Words hold a multiplicity that amounts to more clever, concise, and carefully constructed meanings and uses. Without words, there is no story. Silent films, with their mannerisms and body language even have their dialogue to carry a story. Narration, conflict, comedy, tragedy, philosophizing, words ebb and flow to create and destroy worlds of possibilities.
Some words are better than others. It is the difference between the “monk” and the “monkey.” Words are their own worlds themselves, transporting us into the mind and heart of the speaker. A character’s impassioned cries, their weary and turbulent hesitance, their reasonable requests, make us feel and understand where they are coming from and where they want to go. Dialogues are great between characters. Monologues show there are times when characters get their point across so well, you could not have said it better yourself.
8 Halloween (1978)
Compass International Pictures
Dr. Samuel Loomis explaining the unknown origin of evil in Michael Myers, while standing in the place where Michael committed murder, does the trick, and is such a treat. John Carpenter was right to cast Donald Pleasance as the voice of reason against a mindless slasher. No matter how hopeless the world seems, Loomis manages to maintain what is left of sanity in an insane world.
7 Gladiator (2000)
DreamWorks Pictures
Russell Crowe introducing himself as Maximus is how everyone should introduce themselves. Our spouse and child have not been murdered, nor have we been enslaved and forced to fight to the death for commoners’ and rulers’ amusement, but the words still hold true. Enough words to garner a sequel from Alien (1979) director, Ridley Scott. Determined to right the wrong, these moving words rally the gladiator in us all.
6 Pulp Fiction (1994)
Miramax Films
Before the bullets fly, Samuel L. Jackson quoting Ezekiel 25:17 to exact vigilante justice, gets better every time he recites it. This monologue takes liberties with the Bible verse and is delivered differently each time; but it sounds righteous enough to be the word of God. Quentin Tarantino’s writing here works with contrasting extremes, visually and metaphorically, through Jackson’s delivery and performance.
5 Ghostbusters (1984)
Columbia Pictures
Rick Moranis is Louis Tully who, unfortunately for him and fortunately for us, gets possessed by Vinz Clortho, a demigod and minion of the evil entity, Gozer. The plot at this point in the film is coming to fruition in a clever and fun way. The end of the world through the unlikeliest of characters is irony at its finest; Louis is locked out of places in the film and then becomes the Keymaster! His fervent energy and comedic timing make for an unmatched string of nonsense words that rival Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll’s wordsmith whimsy.
4 Jaws (1975)
Universal Pictures
Robert Shaw has this calm wistfulness that is incredibly haunting. A matter-of-fact man who skirts death but understands it, maybe even has become numb to death itself, gives a schoolboy charm that is unnerving. Or perhaps he was a drunken sailor telling the tale from the point of view of someone who should have been a dead man. The Indianapolis speech was Steven Spielberg’s favorite moment from the film, and it made everyone think twice about going in the water.
3 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Paramount Pictures
Willy Wonka, the delightful candy maker, turning into a militant rule-follower was completely out of character. When he declares, “you get nothing!” the finite power of that line scars children, making them feel like they are to blame, even though they did no wrong. Gene Wilder is a multifaceted actor and gives us the sarcastic, but good-hearted tomfoolery of the confectionery genius. A performance akin to eye candy that is sweet enough to eat.
2 V for Vendetta (2005)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Hugo Weaving puts on a very vivacious and vaudevillian performance through the literary device of alliteration. Written by the Wachowskis, and based on the DC Comics graphic novel, V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, the screenplay does not mince words. The anti-authoritarian and protesting appeals are strongly written and are carried with powerful, poetic, pageantry. V’s words make you want to fight for freedom forever.
1 Rocky V (1990)
MGM/UA Communications Company
To be fair, the Rocky franchise has a lot of great moments. Rocky V, admittedly, was the least well-received in the series. Between Rocky V and Rocky Balboa (2006), Mickey’s monologue gets the golden glove. Rocky’s boxing coach is more than a contender; he is a life coach. You can feel the life in his every word. His candid spirit takes a hard jab at that indifferent, quitting attitude that rears its ugly head. One of the best performances from Burgess Meredith comes with one of the best motivational scenes in cinematic history.
