Certain monologues have always stuck in my head and influenced my writing. Why did they stick in my head? I try to explain…
I think this one always stuck with me because of Christopher Lloyd’s ability to make the construction of a freeway a religious experience…
This monologue actually inspired a monologue in DogSS of War.
The randomness of this monologue is what interests me. “In the spring we would make meat helmets…” How can that line possibly work in a story? Context. If the world is properly built, nearly anything goes. Also, the way the monologue volleys between normal and abnormal. “My childhood was typical…summers in Rangoon. Luge lessons.” I think it ends with a thud, however, and is a good example of how going straight vulgar is often too easy.
I can’t find a clip of the next one, but I found the quote in text. It is from Total Recall — the real one from 1990, not that thing of a remake. I like the way Ronny Cox goes over the top in his line readings, juxtaposed with Schwarzenegger’s nearly plaintive “I am Quaid,” followed by a particularly venomous “You’re nothing, you’re nobody, you’re a stupid dream…”
Cohaagen: Don’t touch that! Get away! Get back! Douglas Quaid: What are you afraid of? Turn it on. Cohaagen: Impossible! Once the reaction starts, it’ll spread to all the terbinium in the planet. Mars will go into global meltdown. That’s why the aliens never turned it on. Quaid: And you expect me to believe you? Cohaagen: Who gives a #@%! what you believe?! In 30 seconds you’ll be dead, and I’ll [shows detonator] blow this place up and be home in time for Corn Flakes! [Shoots several inches near Quaid] I didn’t want it to end this way, I wanted Hauser back, but no, you had to be Quaid! Quaid: I am Quaid. Cohaagen: You’re nothing! You’re nobody! You’re a stupid dream! [aims firearm] Well, all dreams come to an end.
Instant classic…
I really like the “diamond bullet” line.
“I’ll never be hungry again,” is an interesting way to sum things up.
I like the ersatz emotion in this one. Again, I like how it goes over-the-top in its use of language. The dual meaning of “I was their number one son, but they treated me like number two” is also a clever touch.
No fat on this movie at all. Every scene is near perfection.
This movie is a forgotten gem. It needs to be seen more. Side note: Gary Lockwood also kills it in this movie, nearly steals it from Stewart and Fonda in a supporting role.
