79. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (Philip Kaufman, 1978)
Cold calling
A desolate, nerve-shredding ending to a carefully constructed paranoid thriller. Earth is invaded by grown-to-order alien dopplegangers who replace their human counterparts. Just two humans are left standing after a damning purge – Donald Sutherland and his friend Veronica Cartwright. As they meet in daylight after the action he turns to her and points, mouth open, face twisted, letting out a soul-tearing screech.
78. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
The mothership
The extraordinary pre-Star Wars payoff, following an entire movie spent watching Richard Dreyfuss’ increasingly obsessed UFO abductee growing more and more agitated: the arriving of the enormous, luminous and wonderful alien spaceship.
77. LA Confidential (Curtis Hanson, 1997)
Rolo Tomassi
James Ellroy's warped crime thrillers are full of tough guys and hard to spot doublecrosses that come at you like bullets from a fog. The biggest kicker in modern noir classic LA Confidential is the cold despatch of Kevin Spacey's smart and smooth Jack Vincennes, nailed by rotter cop boss Dudley Smith after he unwittingly spills too much info. Spacey makes the moment – charm becomes surprise, then realisation and quick, quick revenge.
76. High Noon (Fred Zinneman, 1952)
Out of time
The climax of Zinneman’s deadline-driven one-man-stand Western, with Gary Cooper’s solitary Marshall running out of time and friends as he prepares to face an old enemy.
75. Clerks (Kevin Smith, 1993)
Video nasties
Within earshot of a mother and her young daughter, rental store clerk Randal puts in a phone order for a lengthy list of depraved-sounding porno films (‘Put It Where it Doesn’t Belong…’).
74. Fatal Attraction (Adrian Lynne, 1989)
Hell hath no fury
No matter how many times villains will find that extra bit of life-spark with which to launch themselves climatically at the hero, it can still be a real jolter. Especially when they've been thoroughly put to bed already (ker-ching) like Glenn Close's gastro-stalker Alex, who pulls a Rasputin in Adrian Lyne's erotic chiller.
Next: 73 - 68
Comments
snooochies
Nov 24th 2009, 4:06
Oh dear! Close Encounters is actually post-Star Wars, having been released in November of '77. Awesome list though, missing the T-1000 though or even Arnie being good from T2
Alert a moderator
NDitum
Nov 24th 2009, 9:30
Oh man, headslapping mistake. Had 1975 in my head. Obviously. I'll see if I can have a tinker... Terminator a good shout - there is a space left!
Alert a moderator
ChristoLaurent
Nov 24th 2009, 10:55
I'd like to nominate Ichi The Killer (...any number of scenes!) and also Gozu, the ending is pretty out there, although I love the actual "Cow head" scene too. Dead of Night (Ealing) has the great ending, especially the moment with the dummy. Although not a great film, but passable, the ending of The Entity..."Welcome Home C**t"
Alert a moderator
Pokoboy
Nov 24th 2009, 11:58
My jaw dropped when Bill Murray played himself in Zombieland. That was a pretty special moment in a mediocre zombie comedy.
Alert a moderator
chenneye
Nov 24th 2009, 14:44
This should have had usual suspects at no.1 and surprised that the kerb scene from American History X is missing.
Alert a moderator
BlueRyan
Nov 24th 2009, 18:48
For that golden 100th place i believe the "I have a Milkshake" scene from There will Be blood should own it. Considering it's one of the most bizzar and subliminal pieces of film in the past decade it should rightfully take the 100th place.
Alert a moderator
Agent69
Nov 24th 2009, 21:26
That Irreversible scene scared me for life.
Alert a moderator
Pokoboy
Nov 25th 2009, 22:49
Is this the same Nathan Ditum thats the reviews editor for official playstation magazine? 10/10 f0r uncharted 2!!! 11/10 surely?
Alert a moderator
joVceski
Nov 26th 2009, 21:30
You have to watch Pascal Laugier's Martyrs, I couldn't pick up my jaw from start to finish, it's so f..... up.
Alert a moderator
mark912smith
Nov 27th 2009, 12:06
Great list and good call no. 5 on the kerb scene from American History X. I thought that the 'tree-rape' scene from the Evil Dead might have placed somewhere?!?
Alert a moderator
jrod85
Nov 27th 2009, 14:39
Thanks Pokoboy, some people haven't seen Zombieland yet. Way to ruin the surprise. Well done, j*****s
Alert a moderator
Pokoboy
Nov 28th 2009, 7:47
ah my bad, apologies.
Alert a moderator
NDitum
Nov 30th 2009, 0:49
Yes, same me as from OPM :) Seen Matyrs. Kinda hated it. It's nasty like falling over. Kerb scene - we had it in the recent shocking moments feature. I guess the shock had worn off...
Alert a moderator
Hadouken76
Dec 1st 2009, 13:09
Whys is there a complete absence of John Carpenter movies? Like the girl asking for an ice cream in Assault on Precint 13? The little boy at the the start of Halloween? The doctor losing both arms in The Thing or the head spider?
Alert a moderator
starwars4life
Dec 3rd 2009, 20:49
Awesome list, really, and yes; everything on this list has good value to be in the 99, BUT there is one film which I would personally place at number one and it was very surprising that you didn't include it: The Machinist!!!! It has one of the most awesome twists and jaw-dropping moments EVER in the history of film! Please amend the list and get it in there, it REALLY deserves it :)
Alert a moderator
starwars4life
Dec 3rd 2009, 20:55
Almost forgot, not nearly as important as the machinist but Lucky Number Slevin deserves a place, it really has the shock factor and I would also say the scene in 'The Phantom Menace' where Maul ignites the double-bladed saber deserves a place further down becaus; although it may not seem like much now and television adverts probably ruined it, it is obviously a big reveal as he only uses one blade earlier and it must have been epic for the ignorant star wars fan at the time!
Alert a moderator
RazorbalNL
Dec 9th 2009, 15:39
GREAT ARTICLE!!!
Alert a moderator
littlebocuk
Jan 8th 2010, 21:39
Some of these moments really had me but I would like to see "Terminator removing his eye" thing in this list.
Alert a moderator