On Tuesday night the American Film Institute is going to air a television special with their list of the 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
I learned so much about fellow Kossacks from their lists of favorite albums and books that I'd be interested in seeing other people's favorite movie quotes, your predictions of what will be on the AFI list, and your predictions of what the number one AFI quote will be.
AFI is judging the quotes by
- cultural impact: whether a quote is circulating through popular culture, frequently quoted and its reference/meaning understood by a significant number of people, and
- legacy: whether a quote evokes the memory of the rest of the film and helps keep the memory of the film alive for future generations.
One note: song lyrics are not included, so "I see you shiver with antici....................................... pation" from
Rocky Horror Picture Show and other similar lyric quotes are not eligible.
Ever since I heard this show was going to be on I have been thinking about my favorite movie quotes and which ones I hope make the list.
I've also been trying to guess which quote will come in at #1.
I see a lot of movies and have a lot of favorite quotes. I have a good memory for dialogue and when I like a movie I tend to memorize long sections of the script, so sometimes my very favorite part is not the quote that passes into to pop culture consciousness.
A few of my mainstream favorites off the top of my head:
I'm Spartacus! from
Spartacus
She's my sister and my daughter! from Chinatown
I can't swim. from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
I'm funny how? You mean funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you? from Goodfellas
Rollo Tomasi... from LA Confidential
My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I AM the President. from The American President
You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk? from Dirty Harry
I'm the only one here. Who the f#ck you think you're talking to? from Taxi Driver
To my big brother George, the richest man in town. from It's a Wonderful Life
Some of my "off the beaten track" favorites:
Is he smart or is he... ["like me" implied but not said] from
Forrest Gump
You're using this conspiracy theory as an excuse to avoid sex with me from Annie Hall
I have ice in my glass from Cast Away
one more dying quail a week and you're in Yankee Stadium from Bull Durham
Don't interrupt me, honey from American Beauty
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Thank you. from All the President's Men
Whoever saves one life saves the world entire from Schindler's List
Marines are not allowed to die without permission from Full Metal Jacket
Did you love your father? .. Prove it. from Contact
Here is a website about the 100 quote project. It has the complete list of 400 nominated quotes as well as a short list of great quotes that did not make the final cut.
My prediction for #1: "make him an offer he can't refuse" from The Godfather
Your turn. What are your favorite quotes? What are the lines you watch an entire movie to see? What is the climactic line you can't help but say right along with the character?
I thought we needed something a little lighter for the Saturday before some possibly disastrous Sunday pundit appearances.