Quotable Cinema

" I was such an awful mother... what if you had a mother like Joan Crawford or Lana Turner?" „ Postcards from the Edge “ is a 1990 film directed by Mike Nichols, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Carrie Fisher. The movie stars Meryl Streep as Suzanne Vale, a recovering actress struggling with addiction, and Shirley MacLaine as her overbearing mother, Doris Mann, a former Hollywood star....

"Too many people in our society disappear without trace." (Arkady Renko) " Gorky Park " stars William Hurt as Arkady Renko, a Soviet investigator, alongside Lee Marvin and Joanna Pacula. The film, based on the novel by Martin Cruz Smith, was adapted into a screenplay by Dennis Potter, blending mystery and political intrigue. Directed by Michael Apted, the movie explores the dark world of Soviet co...

"You like watching them die? You like taking them down? Now I'm taking, you down." Ray Quick, in " The Specialist ", from 1994. "The Specialist" stars Sylvester Stallone as Ray Quick, a former explosives expert turned hitman, and Sharon Stone as May Munro, a woman seeking revenge for her parents' murder. The film's script, written by Alexandra Seros, focuses on themes of revenge and betrayal, with...

"Good morning, Vietnam! Hey, this is not a test. This is rock and roll. Time to rock it from the delta to the DMZ!" "Good Morning, Vietnam" is a 1987 comedy-drama film starring Robin Williams as an irreverent and charismatic radio DJ, Adrian Cronauer, who is sent to entertain U.S. troops in Vietnam during the war. The film blends humor with the harsh realities of conflict, as Cronauer's unfiltered...

"For me, stealing's always been a lot like sex." (Corky, in Bound, from 1996) Bound , directed by the Wachowskis, stars Jennifer Tilly as Violet and Gina Gershon as Corky. The film is a neo-noir thriller where Violet, a mobster's girlfriend, and Corky, an ex-con, plan to steal millions from the mafia. Joe Pantoliano also stars as Caesar, Violet's dangerous boyfriend, creating a tense and suspensef...

"Corruption? Corruption is government intrusion into market efficiencies in the form of regulations. That's Milton Friedman. He got a goddamn Nobel Prize. We have laws against it precisely so we can get away with it." Danny Dalton, in Syriana, from 2005. " Syriana ", directed by Stephen Gaghan, is a complex geopolitical thriller exploring the intricacies of the global oil industry. The film stars...

"I'll tell you, right now... I'm in love with you. But, be that as it may, i am not here to force my twisted soul into your life." (Ben to Sera) Leaving Las Vegas (from 1995), directed by Mike Figgis, is based on the semi-autobiographical novel by John O'Brien. The film stars Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson, a suicidal alcoholic who goes to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, and Elisabeth Shue as...

"Never have I seen such a maelstrom of bad taste and sheer magic." (Elinor St. John in "Babylon", 2022) Babylon , directed by Damien Chazelle, is an epic drama that explores the chaotic and hedonistic world of 1920s Hollywood during its transition from silent films to talkies. Margot Robbie stars as Nellie LaRoy, a rising starlet, while Brad Pitt plays the seasoned actor Jack Conrad. The film also...

"Bite my ass, Krispy Kreme!" " Erin Brockovich " is a 2000 biographical drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Julia Roberts in the title role. The film tells the true story of Erin Brockovich, a legal assistant who, despite her lack of formal education in law, helped build a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for contaminating a town's water supply. Julia Roberts won an...

"Who am I?" "You're US Government property. You're a malfunctioning 30 million dollar weapon. You're a total goddamn catastrophe, and by God, if it kills me, you're going to tell me how this happened." (Chris Cooper to Jason Bourne) " The Bourne Identity " is a gripping action thriller that follows Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, as he struggles to uncover his lost identity while being pursued...

"Give it up. It's time to stop running." Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive", from 1993. " The Fugitive " is a thrilling action film starring Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble, a man wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife, who escapes custody and goes on the run to find the real killer. The movie is known for its intense chase scenes, particularly the iconic sequence where Kimble j...

"Good morning, and in case I don't see ya good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" " The Truman Show " is a 1998 satirical science fiction film directed by Peter Weir, starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, a man who unknowingly lives his entire life as the star of a reality television show. The film explores themes of surveillance, free will, and the nature of reality, as Truman gradually d...

"Well, I'll leave you alone with that lady. But if you behave like a gentleman, I'll break your neck." (Lily Vautier in "Trouble in Paradise", from 1932.) " Trouble in Paradise ", directed by Ernst Lubitsch, is a classic romantic comedy featuring Herbert Marshall as Gaston Monescu, a charming thief, and Miriam Hopkins as Lily Vautier, his equally cunning partner. Kay Francis stars as Mariette Cole...

"You weren't ugly then. I made you that way." (Blanche to Jane.) " What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? " is a 1962 psychological thriller directed by Robert Aldrich. The film stars Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson, a former child star who becomes increasingly unhinged while caring for her disabled sister. Joan Crawford portrays Blanche Hudson, Jane's sister and a former movie actress confined to a whe...

"How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?" Walter Neff, in " Double Indemnity ", from 1944. "Double Indemnity", directed by Billy Wilder and based on the novella by James M. Cain, stars Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff, an insurance salesman, and Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson, the femme fatale who lures him into a plot to murder her husband for insurance mo...

"It is infuriating that your unhappiness does not turn to fat!" Sylvie to Reggie in " Charade ". "Charade" (1963) is a classic romantic thriller starring Audrey Hepburn as Regina "Reggie" Lampert, a widow pursued by dangerous men over a hidden fortune, and Cary Grant as Peter Joshua, a mysterious man who may not be who he claims. The film also features Walter Matthau as the cunning CIA administrat...

"Even in my dreams I feel like an idiot who's about to wake up." David in "Vanilla Sky", from 2001. " Vanilla Sky " is a psychological thriller directed by Cameron Crowe, based on the Spanish film "Abre los Ojos" by Alejandro Amenábar. The movie stars Tom Cruise as David Aames, a wealthy playboy whose life spirals into chaos after a car accident, with Penélope Cruz and Cameron Diaz playing pivotal...

"Wake me up if we crash into the mountain. I wouldn't want to miss that." John Wilson in " White Hunter, Black Heart ". "White Hunter, Black Heart" is a 1990 film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, based on the novel by Peter Viertel. The story is a fictionalized account of director John Huston's obsessive and reckless behavior while on location in Africa for the filming of "The African Quee...

"Are you deaf, asshole? No comment!" Sarah Tobias, in The Accused , from 1988. "The Accused" is a powerful legal drama starring Jodie Foster as Sarah Tobias, a young woman who is brutally assaulted and fights for justice against her attackers and those who enabled the crime. The film, directed by Jonathan Kaplan, is notable for its unflinching portrayal of the legal and societal challenges faced b...

"This stinking little carbuncle has had five hundred doses!" " The Witches " is a 1990 dark fantasy film based on Roald Dahl's novel of the same name, directed by Nicolas Roeg. The story follows a young boy and his grandmother as they uncover a secret gathering of witches who despise children and plan to turn them all into mice. Anjelica Huston delivers a memorable performance as the Grand High Wi...

"Maybe I should start taking my pills again." (Laura Baxter in "Don't Look Now", from 1973.) " Don't Look Now " is a psychological horror film directed by Nicolas Roeg, based on the short story by Daphne du Maurier. The movie stars Donald Sutherland as John Baxter and Julie Christie as Laura Baxter, a couple grappling with the death of their daughter while navigating eerie and supernatural events...

"I have a soft spot for those canned American beans."  Simone Théveno (played by Delphine Seyrig) " The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" is a surrealist film directed by Luis Buñuel that satirizes the absurdity and hypocrisy of the bourgeois class. The film follows a group of upper-class friends who repeatedly attempt to have a meal together, only to be thwarted by bizarre and dreamlike interrup...

"Use bribe instead of bullets. We are businessmen not the US Marine."  Johnny Torrio in Capone (from 1975). Capone is a biographical crime film directed by Steve Carver and produced by Roger Corman, known for his low-budget but influential films. The movie stars Ben Gazzara as the infamous gangster Al Capone, with Susan Blakely portraying his love interest Iris Crawford, Harry Guardino as Capone's...

"Boy, I got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals." (Butch to Sundance) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western film directed by George Roy Hill, starring Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy and Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid. The film follows the two infamous outlaws as they navigate a series of train robberies and a relentless pursuit by law enforcement, ultimately...

"!I thought you gentleman were Marxists?" "Yes we are - Groucho Marxists!" * Money Money Money * is a 1972 French Italian comedy film directed by Claude Lelouch. The film stars Leeno Ventura, Charles Denner, and Jacques Brel as a trio of aging conmen who, dissatisfied with their lives, set out on a series of increasingly audacious and humorous scams.  The movie is noted for its satirical take on t...