By Chris Kavan - 10/20/10 at 11:13 AM CT
I know that at some point in life you have got the urge to just up and start screaming and yelling at a person, an object or just to the world. The vast majority of people are able to suppress such an urge, and that is usually a good thing as most outbursts will lead to violence, embarrassment or other tragic consequences. Good thing for all of us that characters in film are much likely to spout off and we can live vicariously through them.
1) Network - "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!" - as Howard Beale says these immortal words he sparks a mini revolution as people all over the city take up the cry. Of course Beale is a bit off his rocker, suicidal and all, but that doesn't stop his "friends" from exploiting him for their own gain. People often forget buy later in the film, Arthur Jenson has his own rant - one which leads to tragic consequences for Beale... but great ratings!
2) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - "Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight." Clark W. Grizwold has had some rotten luck - but nothing compares to expecting a Christmas bonus for a nice new pool the entire family can enjoy and instead getting a membership to the jelly-of-the-month club. What follows is one of the greatest expletive, name-calling rants ever put on film. This is one you have to experience uncut, the TV version just doesn't do it.
3) Animal House - "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" John Blutarsky may not be much on facts, but he does his best to fire up his fraternity against certain destruction. You've got a love a guy who can down a fifth of Jack, smash a guitar and end up a Senator. TOGA TOGA TOGA!
4) The 25th Hour - "CENSORED" Dropping more f-bombs in one speech than should be allowed by law, Monty Brogan throws a big F-you to everything wrong with New York City and does so by offending pretty much every race and creed he can think of. This is one angry man, people, and he's going to let you know it.
5) Full Metal Jacket - "If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training, you will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war. But until that day you are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Earth." Pretty much anything Gunnery Sergeant Hartman says can be considered a rant just because of the way he says it: angry and in-your-face. Sure, he's trying to make you be all you can be, but he is one abusive taskmaster. Tough love for sure, but he finds out that you can only push some people so far before they break - and he finds out the hard way.
Sound off! Who else rants the best? Anyone get you fired up or pissed off? Let me know!
Comments
Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/21/10 at 01:08 PM CT
And also Tony Montoya - Pacino does have some good ones. I also thought about De Niro in Taxi Driver - both those guys are awfully loud sometimes... but in a good way.
LeeAnn M.
LeeAnn M. - wrote on 10/21/10 at 10:40 AM CT
How about Al Pacino's rant in two courtrooms..."And Justice for All", and "Scent of a Woman." Both films are great, but Pacino's rants make the films memorable.
