Quotable Cinema

"I don't want to need you, 'cause I can't have you."  Robert Kincaid in The Bridges of Madison County from 1995. "The Bridges of Madison County" is a romantic drama film directed by Clint Eastwood as Robert Kincaid, who also stars in the movie alongside Meryl Streep as Francesca Johnson.  The film, based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, tells the poignant story of a brief, yet int...

"Sometimes, in order to see the light, you have to risk the dark."  Dr. Iris Hineman in " Minority Report ". "Minority Report", directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Philip K. Dick's short story, is a 2002 sci-fi thriller set in a future where a specialized police department apprehends criminals based on foreknowledge provided by psychics called "Precogs." The film stars Tom Cruise as Chief Jo...

"The show must go on Satine. We're creatures of the underworld. We can't afford to love."  Harold in " Moulin Rouge! " from 2001. Moulin Rouge! is a visually stunning musical film directed by Baz Luhrmann, known for its vibrant energy and unique storytelling. The movie stars Nicole Kidman as Satine, a cabaret actress, and Ewan McGregor as Christian, a young poet, with Jim Broadbent portraying the...

"Mister, is this heaven here or not?" Anne Parillaud, " Nikita ", from 1990. "Nikita", directed by Luc Besson, is a gripping French action-thriller that follows a young woman, played by Anne Parillaud, who is transformed from a drug-addicted criminal into a deadly assassin for a secret government organization. Parillaud's intense and captivating performance earned her critical acclaim, while the f...

"May I take your trident, sir?" In " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ", the butler, played by Ian McDiarmid, says this line to Steve Martin's character, Freddy Benson. In this scene, Freddy is dressed in a comically elaborate costume, resembling a king or noble, adding to the humorous and absurd nature of the film. "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" is a 1988 comedy film directed by Frank Oz, starring Steve Martin...

"You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been that sentimental."  Scottie, played by James Stewart, in " Vertigo ". "Vertigo" is a 1958 psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak. The film explores themes of obsession, identity, and deception, set against the backdrop of San Francisco, creating a haunting and suspenseful narrativ...

"I don't care about the money. I'm pulling back the curtain. I want to meet the wizard."  Nicholas in " The Game ". "The Game" is a 1997 psychological thriller directed by David Fincher, starring Michael Douglas as Nicholas Van Orton, a wealthy investment banker, and Shawn Penn as his brother Conrad. The film explores themes of paranoia and reality as Nicholas becomes embroiled in an elaborate and...

"Sometimes the truth isn't good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded." Batman, in " The Dark Knight ", from 2008. "The Dark Knight", directed by Christopher Nolan, is a critically acclaimed superhero film that delves into the complex moral dilemmas faced by its protagonist, Batman. The film is renowned for Heath Ledger's iconic performance as...

"I find loneliness is the physical pain which hurts all over. You can't isolate it in one part of your body."  Billy Hayes in " Midnight Express ". "Midnight Express" is a 1978 film directed by Alan Parker, based on the true story of Billy Hayes, an American student who is imprisoned in Turkey for smuggling hashish. The film explores themes of survival, human resilience, and the brutal realities o...

"We want you to get out of New York... permanently." "Inspector... By sundown?"   From " Death Wish ", 1974. "Death Wish" is a gritty crime thriller that stars Charles Bronson as Paul Kersey, a New York City architect turned vigilante after his wife is murdered and his daughter is assaulted. Directed by Michael Winner, the film explores themes of justice and revenge in a crime-ridden urban environ...

Hans Gruber: "This time John Wayne does not walk off into the sunset with Grace Kelly." John McClane: "That was Gary Cooper, asshole." "Die Hard", directed by John McTiernan, is a classic action film that has become a cornerstone of the genre. The movie stars Bruce Willis as the tough and resourceful NYPD officer John McClane, who battles against the sophisticated villain Hans Gruber, portrayed by...

"David. If you kill him, he will win." Detective William Somerset, played by Morgan Freeman, in " Seven ", from 1995. "Seven", directed by David Fincher, is a gripping thriller that stars Brad Pitt as Detective David Mills and Morgan Freeman as Detective William Somerset. The film follows their pursuit of a serial killer, John Doe, played by Kevin Spacey, who uses the seven deadly sins as motives...

"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win." " The Shining " is a 1980 psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, the film follows the terrifying descent into madness of a writer isolated with his family in a haunted hotel. Kubrick's masterful direc...

"I hate L.A. All they do is snort coke and talk."  Tess Trainer, played by Annie Ross, in Short Cuts . "Short Cuts" is a 1993 drama film directed by Robert Altman, featuring an ensemble cast including Andie MacDowell, Julianne Moore, Tim Robbins, and Annie Ross. The film intertwines multiple storylines based on the short stories of Raymond Carver, exploring the lives of diverse characters in Los A...

"A temptation resisted is a true measure of character." Dega, in " Papillon ", from 1973. "Papillon", a 1973 film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, stars Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman in the roles of Henri Charrière and Louis Dega, respectively. The movie is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Henri Charrière, which recounts his experiences and escape from the French penal...

"Shit! All I can see is female impersonators." Shirley in "Priscilla Queen of the Desert". " Priscilla Queen of the Desert ", directed by Stephan Elliott, is a 1994 Australian comedy-drama that follows two drag queens, Mitzi (Hugo Weaving) and Felicia (Guy Pearce), and a transgender woman, Bernadette (Terence Stamp), as they journey across the Australian Outback in a lavender bus named Priscilla....

"Don't confuse kindness with weakness."  Gabriel in "Swordfish." " Swordfish ", directed by Dominic Sena, is a high-octane action thriller released in 2001. The film stars John Travolta as Gabriel Shear, a charismatic and ruthless mastermind who recruits a talented hacker named Stanley Jobson, played by Hugh Jackman, to assist in a complex heist involving a massive amount of stolen government fund...

"I find that Paris is most beautiful in the rain." Gabrielle to Gil, in " Midnight in Paris ", from 2011. "Midnight in Paris", directed by Woody Allen, is a charming romantic comedy that explores nostalgia and the allure of the past. The film stars Owen Wilson as Gil Pender, a disillusioned screenwriter who mysteriously travels back to the 1920s Parisian art scene, and Rachel McAdams as Inez, his...

Thomas: [seeing Verushka, the model, at a party the evening of the day she had just told the photographer that he'd better hurry because she had to catch a plane to Paris]: "I thought you were supposed to be in Paris." Verushka: [taking a toke of her marijuana cigarette] "I *am* in Paris!" "Blow Up " (1966) is a British-Italian thriller directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, featuring David Hemmings...

"What is real? How do you define real? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then 'real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain." Morpheus to Neo in The Matrix . "The Matrix" is a groundbreaking sci-fi film released in 1999, directed by the Wachowskis and starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, and Carrie An...

"I've got a friend in Palm Springs, Lenne Green. He owns the Oasis. Do you know him?" "I got a friend in Hollywood, Donald Duck. You know him?" Dialogue snippet between Eric 'Rick' Masters and Richard Chance. "To Live and Die in L.A." is a 1985 crime thriller directed by William Friedkin, known for his work on "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection." The film stars William Petersen as Secret Se...

"The nicest thing about feeling happy is that you think you'll never be unhappy again." Luis Molina in "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" from 1985. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is a dramatic film directed by Héctor Babenco, based on the novel by Manuel Puig. The movie stars William Hurt, who won an Academy Award for his role as Luis Molina, a transgender woman sharing a cell with political prisoner Valentin...

"They worship everything and they value nothing."  Sebastian, in "La La Land", from 2016. "La La Land", directed by Damien Chazelle, is a modern musical that tells the story of aspiring actress Mia, played by Emma Stone, and jazz musician Sebastian, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, as they navigate their careers and romance in Los Angeles. The film features standout performances by its lead actors, who...

"Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner."  Neil McCauley in " Heat ", from 1995. "Heat" is a crime thriller directed by Michael Mann, featuring an all-star cast including Robert De Niro as master thief Neil McCauley and Al Pacino as dedicated LAPD detective Vincent Hanna.  The film is renowned for its...

"I wonder how a degenerated person like that could have reached a position of responsibility in the Army Medical Corps!" "He was drafted."   Hotlips O'Houlihan to Father Mulcahy, referring to Hawkeye. The 1970 film " MASH " stars Donald Sutherland as the irreverent surgeon Hawkeye Pierce, Elliott Gould as the mischievous Trapper John McIntyre, Sally Kellerman as the strict head nurse Major Margare...