by Backstage
The monologue. It's the time where an actor either rises to the occasion or crashes and burns (and usually takes the film with them.) When done right, the effect of the monologue can change our perspectives, be devastatingly terrific, riotous, or inspiring. And when done right, it does them all at one point or another. In no particular order, here are some monologues we really like, ranging from the funny to the tragic--but do not, however, take this as the end-all-be-all of great monologues.
- Brad Pitt as Jeffrey Goines in “Twelve Monkeys”
- Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan R. Jessup in “A Few Good Men”
- Ellen Burstyn as Sara Goldfarb in “Requiem for a Dream”
- Christopher Walken as Captain Koons in “Pulp Fiction”
- Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs”
- Mike Myers as Dr. Evil in “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”
- Charlie Chaplin as Hynkel, dictator of Tomania in “The Great Dictator”
- Hugo Weaving as V in “V for Vendetta”
- Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty in “Bladerunner”
- Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight”
