We all know that a movie role doesn't have to require tons of screen time in order to make a big impression. Just look at some past Oscar nominations, like Ruby Dee's nod for her role in American Gangster, which was brief but powerful. Or even some Oscar wins, like Judi Dench's score for playing Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. Well, in this, the Age of the Top-Whatever Lists, The Onion has compiled a list of "19 stellar one-scene wonders" (why not an even 20? I don't know).
I'd forgotten about many of the listed "wonders," though once my memory was refreshed, I got chills from some of them. For example, Charles Fleischer's short performance in Zodiac as one of the men suspected of being the Zodiac killer gave me the shivers as I recalled Jake Gyllenhaal being led down to Fleischer's character's creepy basement. And I never considered how little screen time Vanessa Redgrave actually has in Atonement because obviously her performance has a tremendous impact.
And there are the funny ones, too, like David Bowie's appearance in Zoolander and Janeane Garofalo's turn as the "serving wench Melinda" during the Medieval Times scene in The Cable Guy.
Are there other small (or smallish) roles that still left you reeling, or gasping for breath? To check out The Onion's list, read more.
- Alec Baldwin, Glengarry Glen Ross
- Ray Charles, The Blues Brothers
- Pamela Anderson, Borat
- Dean Stockwell, Blue Velvet
- Janeane Garofalo, The Cable Guy
- David Letterman, Cabin Boy
- Billy Ray Cyrus, Mulholland Dr.
- Ned Beatty, Network
- Chris Rock, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
- Topher Grace, Ocean's Eleven
- David Spade, Reality Bites
- Sammy Davis Jr., Sweet Charity
- Vanessa Redgrave, Atonement
- Charlie Sheen, Ferris Bueller's Day Off
- David Bowie, Zoolander
- John Carroll Lynch, Zodiac
- Charles Fleischer, Zodiac
- Samuel L. Jackson, Kill Bill Volume 2
- William Hurt, A History Of Violence
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2 for Zodiac, hmmm...
1I love the David Bowie scene in Zoolander! The Charlie Sheen cameo in Ferris Bueller was pretty good too...
2David Spade was in Reality Bites?!
3Oh, I love when Bowie showed up in Zoolander, I about jumped out of my chair giggling. He's just the coolest.
4Charlie Sheen in Ferris Bueller's Day Off? His best work ever.
5I never understood why everyone praised John Hurt's performance in "A History of Violence". I didn't think that movie was entirely interesting or spectacular.
6But I do have to agree with the consensus here, Charlie Sheen in Ferris was awesome!
I've seen Realty Bites a million times. Where was David Spade? Charlie Sheen in Ferris Bueller's Day Off was awesome.
7dean stockwell in blue velvet FTW.
when he sings into that utility light i have nightmares for a week.
8I loved reality bites, I can't believe I forgot David Spade was in that movie. He was hilarious! And I quote, "Have a 'tude, weiner dude!"
9They left out George Clooney's scene in the first Spy Kids movie - moms in the theater went nuts. It's the only reason I let my daughter drag me back a second time.
10Pamela Anderson should not be on this list. Good Grief!
11Where is Sean Connery at the end of Robin Hood? I FREAKED when i saw him?
12This list isn't so good. I must agree though with Vanessa in Antonement.
13"Boogie Nights" had not one but two great one-scene performances--Joanna Gleason as Wahlberg's monstrous mother and Alfred Molina as the loony druggie at the end.
14the "walk-off" scene with bowie in zoolander was AMAZING!
15I STILL love Charlie Sheen in Ferris Bueller's Day Off!
16Vanessa Regrave was excellent in Atonement...EXCELLENT! And I loved Topher Grace in Ocean's 11
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