My favourite last-lines
12.24.07 (11:37 am) [edit]In this season of lists, this bloglet proudly presents another utterly-useless list. This time its my favourite last lines from whatever I have read/seen so far. Let's begin:
1. "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." - The Catcher in the Rye.
The book had already made a strong case of its underlying philosophical current that this line seemed redundant. But it was a fitting end. A really fitting end and I hate to say that its truly true.
2. "... grinned smugly. It was the grin of a winner. That made two of us. " - Max Payne
Yes - its the old macho computer game. I had never believed a game could have a gripping story until I played Max Payne. He was awesome - not just in his bullet-time movements but in expressing his thought process as well. The last lines were spoken when he finally killed every last member of the crime family (I forget the italian family's surname) who killed Payne's wife and child. The scene made a lot of sense, when I played the game - it still does, which is an irony.
3. "...Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. And I've tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me." - Saving Private Ryan
Yes - its not the sci-fi thrillers which I have watched over and over again. I have watched the Matrix, terminator and V for Vendetta many times for their grippy dialogues but none of them have a last-line that is worth remembering. Saving Private Ryan - a gripping emotional tale for the tear-bearers had such a line. The lines are spoken by Ryan who has grown older now, in front of Capt. Miller's grave (Tom Hanks). When Miller and his men gave their life to save Ryan, he had only the words "Earn this..earn it" to say to Ryan. There is something vaguely undramatic about a war memorial and the dialogue was said in one - it made me think about a lot of things in my life the first time I saw the film. It still does.
4. "If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Hector, tamer of horses. Let them say I lived in the time of Achilles." - Troy
The lines are by Odysseus at Achilles' funeral. It was indeed a gripping dialogue in a film which has some comical fighting, great music (atleast according to Ramak) and good dialogues.
5. "I love you" - Rocky
Just when I was reeling in exultation at Rocky Balboa for having done himself proud by staying in the ring with the World Champion for 15 rounds, comes his love to confess her love. There was no bigger moment in the film than this. The film is a classic - the last line was more so.