They may take our lives …
There are two related conventions that any filmmaker can rely on in a pinch: the trial scene and the pre-battle speech. I say they are related because there is usually a speech involved in a trial scene. And both scenes provide an emotional crescendo into the climax of the film. Sometimes, they work. Often, they don’t.
I always hate to see a trial scene tagged onto a film that doesn’t need one. I am going to exempt Scent of a Woman from the unnecessary trial scene category because every movie needs Pacino claiming he’s going to “take a flamethrower to this place”, but there was no need for it in Patch Adams. When in doubt, when you’re not sure if the audience is emotionally involved or not, put them on trial and let them plead their case.
The same goes for the pre-battle speech. If you’re not sure whether or not someone is a leader, let them plead their case before their army. Mel Gibson’s plea for Scottish freedom was a key moment in that film, but somehow Keira Knightley’s plea for pirate freedom just seemed odd.
Speeches and monologues are very difficult to pull off, because it is a scene that is essentially focused on one actor and not a dialogue between performers. It can be difficult to inspire an army of extras who may or may not be responding in character, which can lead the actor to overact. I have a lot of respect for a good speech. A bad one is like one ugly scratch down the middle of the film.
And so, why all the commentary on movie speeches?
Because I wanted to show you this:
December 21st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Will Ferrel’s bit is the best! I could identify most of those movies, which I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.