Ratatouille (2007) Writers: Brad Bird (screenwriter); Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird (original story); Emily Cook, Kathy Greenberg, Bob Peterson (additional story material) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih6jcKd7VwU Anton Ego: In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto, "Anyone can cook." But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more. DIALOGUE ON DIALOGUE: Anton Ego's (Peter O'Toole) speech is done as a voiceover. We watch him as he ponders what he will write in his column, yet we hear it as if it's already written. Used as an overlay, we watch as all the main characters go through a sort of trial denouement: Linguini and Colette are resolved; Remy and his family make peace; and Remy is at last comfortable with his own identity. It's interesting that in this story not only the hero goes through a change arc, but so does the nemesis. This speech is Ego's confession of his change of heart.

V for Vendetta (2005) Writers: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski (screenplay); David Lloyd (graphic novel art) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKvvOFIHs4k V: Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of every day routine---the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, whereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of a truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot. DIALOGUE ON DIALOGUE: This is one of the major beats of the film in which V comes out of the shadows, makes his public appearance, and throws down the gauntlet before the High Chancellor and his deputies. After this speech, all of the characters' lives are changed forever. It also establishes the timeframe for the story ("...stand beside me one year from tonight...") which clues the audience into when the climax will happen.

The Incredibles (2004) Writer: Brad Bird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRlh_w6uRds SYNDROME: It's finally ready! You know, I went through quite a few supers to get it worthy to fight you, but, man, it wasn't good enough! After you trashed the last one I had to make some major modifications. Sure, it was difficult, but you are worth it. I mean, after all...I am your biggest fan. MR. INCREDIBLE: Buddy? SYNDROME: My name is not Buddy! And it's not Incrediboy, either. That ship has sailed. All I wanted was to help you. I only wanted to help! And what did you say to me? MR. INCREDIBLE (in flashback): Fly home, Buddy. I work alone. SYNDROME: It tore me apart, but I learned an important lesson: you can't count on anyone, especially your heroes. MR. INCREDIBLE: I was wrong to treat you that way. I'm sorry. SYNDROME: See? Now you respect me, because I'm a threat. That's the way it works. Turns out there are a lot of people, whole countries, who want respect, and they will pay through the nose to get it. How do you think I got rich? I invented weapons, and now I have a weapon that only I can defeat, and when I unleash it... [Mr. Incredible attacks Syndrome by throwing a log, but Syndrome dodges and captures Mr. Incredible in his zero-point energy beam.] SYNDROME: You sly dog! You got me monologuing! I can't believe it. DIALOGUE ON DIALOGUE: Monologues in superhero epics have a certain reputation, and Brad Bird seems to take pleasure in skewering character monologues by putting it front and center in this short speech by Syndrome. This is the second reference to villain monologues which calls back to an earlier exchange between Lucius (Frozone) and Bob (Mr. Incredible): LUCIUS: So now I'm in deep trouble. I mean, one more jolt of this death ray and I'm an epitaph. Somehow I manage to find cover and what does Baron von Ruthless do? BOB: He starts monologuing. LUCIUS: He starts monologuing! He starts like, this prepared speech about how feeble I am compared to him, how inevitable my defeat is, how the world will soon be his, yadda yadda yadda. BOB: Yammering. LUCIUS: Yammering! I mean, the guy has me on a platter and he won't shut up!

A Few Good Men (1992) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FnO3igOkOk Col. Jessup: You snotty little bastard. Capt. Ross: Your honor, I'd like to ask for a recess. Kaffee: I'd like an answer to the question, Judge. Judge Randolph: The court will wait for an answer. Kaffee: If Lt. Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel, Lt. Kendrick ordered the code red because that's what you told Lt. Kendrick to do. Capt. Ross: Object! Kaffee: And when it went bad... Judge Randolph: That'll be all counselor-- Kaffee: ...You cut these guys loose! Capt. Ross: Your honor! Kaffee: You signed a phony transfer-- Judge Randolph: I will hold you in contempt Kaffee: --You doctored the log books-- Capt. Ross: Dammit, Kaffee! Judge Randolph: Consider yourself in Contempt! Kaffee: Now, I'm asking you! Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red? Judge Randolph: You don't have to answer that question! Col. Jessup: I'll answer the question! [to Kaffee] Col. Jessup: You want answers? Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to. Col. Jessup: You want answers? Kaffee: I want the truth! Col. Jessup: You can't handle the truth! [pauses] Col. Jessup: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to. Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red? Col. Jessup: I did the job I... Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red? Col. Jessup: You're Goddamn right I did! Dialogue on Dialogue: This monologue is the first thing I think of when people talk about creating a great nemesis. This character's monologue turns our bad guy assumptions on its ear. Col. Jessup is a character that truly believes his actions saved lives(!); the very opposite goal/mindset of a typical nemesis. He's unrepentant and oozes righteous conviction, making the audience temporarily question their own surety of his guilt.

Movie - The American President (1995) Written by Aaron Sorkin Youtube - https://youtu.be/OC2jhQ0KAAU President Andrew Shepherd: For the last couple of months, Senator Rumson has suggested that being president of this country was, to a certain extent, about character, and although I have not been willing to engage in his attacks on me, I've been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation: Being President of this country is entirely about character. For the record: yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU. But the more important question is why aren't you, Bob? Now, this is an organization whose sole purpose is to defend the Bill of Rights, so it naturally begs the question: Why would a senator, his party's most powerful spokesman and a candidate for President, choose to reject upholding the Constitution? If you can answer that question, folks, then you're smarter than I am, because I didn't understand it until a few hours ago. America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free". I've known Bob Rumson for years, and I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devotes so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it! We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character. And wave an old photo of the President's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism and you tell them, she's to blame for their lot in life, and you go on television and you call her a whore. Sydney Ellen Wade has done nothing to you, Bob. She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interests of public school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources. You want a character debate, Bob? You better stick with me, 'cause Sydney Ellen Wade is way out of your league. [pauses] I've loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer, and I lost the other 'cause I was so busy keeping my job I forgot to do my job. Well, that ends right now. Tomorrow morning, the White House is sending a bill to Congress for its consideration. It's White House Resolution 455, an energy bill requiring a 20 percent reduction of the emission of fossil fuels over the next ten years. It is by far the most aggressive stride ever taken in the fight to reverse the effects of global warming. The other piece of legislation is the crime bill. As of today, it no longer exists. I'm throwing it out. I'm throwing it out writing a law that makes sense. You cannot address crime prevention without getting rid of assault weapons and handguns. I consider them a threat to national security, and I will go door to door if I have to, but I'm gonna convince Americans that I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns. We've got serious problems, and we need serious people, and if you want to talk about character, Bob, you'd better come at me with more than a burning flag and a membership card. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This is a time for serious people, Bob, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Andrew Shepherd, and I *am* the President. Comment - If only 'real' Presidential press conferences were like this...Best smackdown by an elected official in film history.

These are some excellent ones. Got one from Twitter we just have to start out with on Monday, but look for these along the way throughout the week. As always, many thanks for helping to continue the proud Daily Dialogue tradition, now 2663 consecutive days strong!

Chasing Amy - "An Experimental Girl" written & directed by Kevin Smith URL: http://youtu.be/_undGtyUxeg INT. RINK LOBBY / EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT Alyssa marches quickly, pulling on her coat. Holden catches up to her. We track with them out into the parking lot... Holden: I don't know how I feel about you now. Alyssa: Why? Because I had some sex? Holden: Some sex? Alyssa: Yes, Holden-that's all it was:some sex! Most of it stupid high school sex, for Christ's sake! Like you never had sex in high school! Holden: There's a world of fucking difference between typical high school sex and getting fucked by two guys at the same time! They fucking used you! Alyssa: (crying hysterically) NO! I used them! You don't think I would've let it happen if I had'nt wanted it to, do you?! I was an experimental girl,for Christ's sake! Maybe you knew early on that your track was from point A to B--but unlike you, I wasn't given a fucking map at birth, so I tried it all! That is until we-that's you and I-got together, and suddenly, I was sated. Can't you take some comfort in that? You turned out to be all I was ever looking for-the missing piece in the big fucking puzzle! (Trying to calm down) Look I'm sorry I let you believe that you were the only guy I'd ever been with. I should've been more honest. But it seemed to make you feel special in a way that me telling you over and over again how incredible you are would never get across. (She touches his face. He pulls back. She stares at him, hurt and pissed.) Alyssa: Do you mean to tell me that while you have zero problem with me sleeping with half the women in New York city you have some sort of half-assed mealy-mouthed objection to pubescent antics that took place almost ten years ago? What the fuck is your problem?!! Holden's eyes are downcast. Alyssa waits for a response. Holden: (quietly) I want us to be something that we can't be. Alyssa: And what's that? Holden: A normal couple. (Holden skulks off. Alyssa stares after him, and then starts kicking and punching a car beside her, finally slumping to the ground. She cries.) -- SCENE -- Dialogue on Dialogue: Go through any of his work: Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, even his last film Tusk, and you'll see that Kevin Smith is a master craftsman of movie monologues... Film is and always will be a visual medium but just like Tarantino, Smith too strayed away from convention. "An Experimental Girl" (shortened here) from Chasing Amy always catches me off guard because of its rawness. The film itself is loaded with great monologues--the "We've All Gotta Have Sex Together" scene probably being the most memorable--but "An Experimental Girl" has no subtext which I feel like a lot of monologues tend to have. It's just a brutally honest argument between Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) and her "boyfriend" Holden (Ben Affleck) about her past, and typical: the man can't deal with it.

Movie - The Great Dictator (1940) Written and Directed by Charles Chaplin Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjOkvxMHapo A Jewish Barber: I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone, and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The airplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men; cries out for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you, enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it is written that the kingdom of God is within man, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power. Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite! Comment - This has been widely spread in the last years, but I think that proves how great and actual it still is. I also think that this is a great way to deliver a powerful message, but still keep a movie entertaining and funny.

The opening scene of "Patton": -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwoXJernqCc Now, I want you to remember. . . . . .that no bastard ever won a war. . . . . .by dying for his country. He won it. . . . . .by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country. Men. . . . . .all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight. . . . . .wanting to stay out of the war. . . . . .is a lot of horse dung. Americans. . . . . .traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids. . . . . .you all admired the champion marble shooter. . . . . .the fastest runner, big-league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner. . . . . .and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. . . . . .because the very thought of losing. . . . . .is hateful to Americans. Now. . . . . .an army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap. The bilious bastards who wrote that stuff about individuality. . . . . .for the Saturday Evening Post... . . .don't know anything more about real battle than they do about fornicating. Now we have the finest food and equipment. . . . . .the best spirit. . . . . .and the best men in the world. You know. . . . . .by God, I actually pity those poor bastards we're going up against. By God, I do. We're not just going to shoot the bastards. . . . . .we're going to cut out their living guts. . . . . .and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun bastards by the bushel. Now. . . . . .some of you boys. . . . . .I know are wondering. . . . . .whether or not you'll chicken out under fire. Don't worry about it. I can assure you. . . . . .that you will all do your duty. The Nazis. . . . . .are the enemy. Wade into them! Spill their blood! Shoot them in the belly! When you put your hand. . . . . .into a bunch of goo. . . . . .that a moment before was your best friend's face. . . . . .you'll know what to do. There's another thing I want you to remember. I don't want to get any messages saying we are "holding our position. " We're not "holding" anything. Let the Hun do that. We're advancing constantly. We're not interested in holding on to anything. . . . . .except the enemy. We're going to hold on to him by the nose and kick him in the ass. We're going to kick the hell out of him all the time. . . . . .and we're going to go through him like crap through a goose! Now. . . . . .there's one thing. . . . . .that you men will be able to say when you get back home. And you may thank God for it. Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside. . . . . .with your grandson on your knee. . . . . .and he asks you: "What did you do in the great World War ll?" You won't have to say: "Well. . . . . .I shovelled shit in Louisiana. " All right, now, you sons of bitches. . . . . .you know how I feel. I will be proud. . . . . .to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime. . . . . .anywhere. That's all.

Some great monologues here. May be one of those weeks where we double up! Thanks all!