Jonathan gets it absolutely correct about the AFI's list of nominations for best movie quotes:
By quotes, the AFI explains, they mean the greatest "quips, comebacks, and catchphrases." Swell.Why pay homage to great writing when you have catchphrases to exhalt? I'm going to assume that we won't be seeing a beautiful, heart-rending line like "She gets the winter passion, and I get the dotage?" Nah, who needs that when you've got "I'll be back."
Now, I've perused the list. The whole
list. (Never mind why I did it: I did, indeed, have some time to kill
yesterday) You can find the four hundred nominated quotes here
(in PDF format). I have a number of problems with this list, but the
main one is that more than a few of them are comebacks---and they don't
provide the line the comeback is responding to. To put it bluntly (and
crudely): it's a half-assed list. Now while some doozies are nominated
in their entirety (i.e. "Surely you can't be serious. I am serious. And stop calling me Shirley.")
most of them are stand-alones: apparently, you are neither entitled to
context, nor to enjoy more of the brilliant writing which made it a
memorable line in the first place. Sigh. Anyway, Jonathan's trying to
rectify the situation: go over and nominate your best movie line ever.
Here are mine:
When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for their
were no more worlds left to conquer. Benefits of a classical education.---Die Hard
You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say
anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe
just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put
your lips together and... blow.--- To Have and Have Not. (this is
one the list, but it's a fave. Forgive me for repeating it) (Moment of
abject admiration for Lauren Bacall. Gawd. To be able to pull off a
Lauren Bacall moment in real life. Wouldn't that be something? Sigh. )
There may be honor among thieves, but there's none in politicians. Lawrence of Arabia
What do you believe in, then? Well, I believe in the soul, the cock,
the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high
fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent,
overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe
there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and
the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core
pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than
Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that
last three days.
---Bull Durham (this is on the list in abbreviated format, because
there are dirty words and ideas in there. Personally, I love the bit
about the novels of Susan Sontag being self-indulgent, overrated crap,
but hey, that's just me.)
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. ---An Ideal Husband