There's this idea in "how-to" screenwriting circles that the first image of your movie should somehow encapsulate the essence of its story. The above image doesn't strictly qualify: it appears a minute or two into Chariots of Fire after a short opening scene set in the late 1970s at the funeral of one of the key characters. But its incandescence is such that it eradicates the memory of all that precedes it. To say that this is a strong opening image for the film doesn't go far enough; it's almost more accurate to say that the film exists largely so that there will be a movie for this image to precede. There's little question in my mind that the one-two punch of this shot, with the indelible Vangelis tune in the background, is what won Chariots the Best Picture Oscar for 1981. Of course the movie itself had to be good -- it had to be well-acted, intelligently written, handsomely produced, and all that, and indeed it was -- but you almost get the sense, watching (and listening to) this shot, that as long as the filmmakers didn't screw up anything else afterward, they were home free. I know, I know -- "not screwing up" a feature-length period drama isn't exactly a trivial task. All the same, I can't think of any other Best Picture winner whose acclaim is so indebted to a single defining moment within its running time. Chariot achieves here one of the purest cinematic expressions of freedom and joy. And I say that as someone who doesn't particularly enjoy running and whose face, in that situation, would more likely bear a grimace of displeasure than a grin of rapture.
Got Netflix? If so, Chariots of Fire is (at time of writing) available for streaming and can be viewed here.
On The Beach - Picture's Up Jeremy Scott Adidas http://www.sneakersaleoutlet.com Jeremy Scott Adidas
Posted by: Jeremy Scott Adidas | 05/15/2013 at 07:08 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up NIKE FRANCE http://franceairmax.net/ NIKE FRANCE
Posted by: NIKE FRANCE | 05/15/2013 at 07:08 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up Cheap Oakley http://www.summerglassespub.com/ Cheap Oakley
Posted by: Cheap Oakley | 05/15/2013 at 07:08 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN OUTLET http://www.ebeautyline.com/ CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN OUTLET
Posted by: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN OUTLET | 05/15/2013 at 07:08 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up MICHAEL KORS OUTLET http://www.michaelkorseoutlet.org/ MICHAEL KORS OUTLET
Posted by: MICHAEL KORS OUTLET | 05/15/2013 at 07:08 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up COACH OUTLET http://coach.me.pn/ COACH OUTLET
Posted by: COACH OUTLET | 05/15/2013 at 07:08 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up MICHAEL KORS OUTLET http://www.michaelkorseoutlet.org/ MICHAEL KORS OUTLET
Posted by: MICHAEL KORS OUTLET | 05/15/2013 at 07:09 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN http://www.louboutineboutique.com/ CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Posted by: CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN | 05/15/2013 at 07:09 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up CHEAP RAY BAN SUNGLASSES http://www.2013sunglassessale.com CHEAP RAY BAN SUNGLASSES
Posted by: CHEAP RAY BAN SUNGLASSES | 05/15/2013 at 07:09 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up CELINE OUTLET http://www.bryceanddoyle.com/celineoutlet.html CELINE OUTLET
Posted by: CELINE OUTLET | 05/15/2013 at 07:09 AM
On The Beach - Picture's Up fake oakley sunglasses http://www.cheapoakleyysunglasses.com/ fake oakley sunglasses
Posted by: fake oakley sunglasses | 05/31/2013 at 11:58 AM