If you’re reading this on its posting date, Monday the 21st, then I’m on my way back from Iowa after a visit with my bride’s family. So what better film to choose for my first quote?
“Officially, my major was English, but really it was the ’60s. I marched, I smoked some grass, I tried to like sitar music, and I met Annie. The only thing we had in common was that she came from Iowa, and I had once heard of Iowa.” – From Ray Kinsella’s (Kevin Costner) opening voiceover in Field of Dreams (1989), my all-time favorite movie.
Can’t resist another one from the best movie ever. “Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.” – Terrence Mann (James Earl Jones, the best voice on the planet) assured Ray Kinsella that he won’t lose his farm. It’s a long and impassioned speech that you can view on YouTube.
“I only got one thing to say to you, Vaughn. Strike this motherfucker out!” – Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen) to Ricky Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) in the 1989 laugh-fest, Major League. (The only problem with this line is that I tend to use it a lot myself during the baseball season.) 🙂
One more Major League quote from the great Bob Uecker as play-by-play guy Harry Doyle: “Just a reminder, fans, comin’ up is our ‘Die-hard Night’ here at the stadium. Free admission to anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won a pennant.”
“Daddy, there’s a woman outside. She’s not touching the floor!” – Young Victoria in the creepy 2013 thriller, Mama.
“So you’re trying to tell me that a giant spider ate Gladys?” – Sherriff Sam Parker in the hilarious 2002 “creature feature,” Eight Legged Freaks.
“There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.” – Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) in the brilliant 2014 film, The Theory of Everything. (Sounds like a thought for the ages.)
“Revolution is the struggle between the past and the future. And the future has just begun.” – Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in The Fifth Estate (2013), the story of the WikiLeaks founder.
One more from this timely film: “Only someone so obsessed with his own secrets could have come up with a way to reveal everyone else’s.” – Daniel Berg (Daniel Brühl), at one time Assange’s right-hand man.
“Peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” – President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) in the 1997 hijacking thriller, Air Force One.
“If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we’re gonna be winners.” – Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) in the awesome inspirational basketball movie, Hoosiers (1986). Holy crap, it’s been thirty years already?!
“I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You’ve come to fight as free men…and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?” – William Wallace (Mel Gibson) rallies the rabble in the award-winning 1995 historical film, Braveheart.
“You’re a funny guy Sully, I like you. That’s why I’m going to kill you last.” – John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in the 1985 thriller, Commando. (What, you thought I could go an entire post without an Arnold quote?)
Okay, I should be back home in San Diego by now. No better place, don’cha know!