Is it raining? ... Some quotes stay with you
because they mean the film is finally over
and the pain is about to end
Photograph: Kobal
Frankly, my dear AFI, I couldn't give a damn what you think are the top 100 quotes from American films. Well, that's not strictly true, but after going through the list, there certainly are some rather odd choices.
Now, as has been pointed out many times since such lists became de rigueur, they are designed to encourage debate and can never please all of the people all of the time. But, really, how can it be that, of two quotes from the Graduate, "Mrs Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" only comes in at No 63, while "Plastics" is at No 42? Both come from classic scenes in a great film, but surely it's the Anne Bancroft moment that forever sticks in people's minds?
As for the rest, all the usual suspects (though not the Usual Suspects) are well represented, with Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard and, er, Jerry Maguire all making repeat appearances in the Top 100.
It's not all gentle Hollywood schmaltz, though. The Terminator turns up a couple of times, and Scarface is in there, with "Say hello to my little friend", though god knows what it's doing all the way up at No 61. And, if you're going to pick a line from Al Pacino as Tony Montana, surely it should be the immortal: "I only got two things in this world, my word and my balls. I don't break 'em for nobody."
The AFI's judges were asked to pick their favourite quotes on the basis of cultural impact and legacy from a list of 400 nominated movie quotes. No wonder the choices seem a little pedestrian at times, though it doesn't explain the appearance of Dirty Dancing in the top 100. Cultural impact? Legacy? Dirty Dancing?
Oddly, Apollo 13 is also in there at No 50, with "Houston, we have a problem," which leaves one wondering what exactly defines a film quote. Surely the Houston line is best remembered for happening in the real world, rather than in some Tom Hanks thriller? Though given that American politics resembles more and more a bad Hollywood action film these days, perhaps there is some kind of political commentary going on.
Over here at Guardian Unlimited Film, we're a little distressed that "Is it raining? I hadn't noticed" from the final scene of Four Weddings and a Funeral hasn't made it onto the list. Though, admittedly, the only good thing about the line is that it means the film is about to end.
