MovieChat Forums > True Romance (1993) Discussion > "That SCENE" (Walken v. Hopper).....over...

"That SCENE" (Walken v. Hopper).....overrated and contrived

posted 7 years ago by replicant4 (219)
33 replies | jump to latest

Sure, I used to love it, too. I think everyone "discovers" the movie, and that scene, in their 20's....maybe even early 30's. And they go gaga over it, and get all effusive and gushy about it. Sure, it's a decent scene...and I'm sure the actors had fun with it. But it is a typical, choreographed "Hollywood scene"....written for the actors to chew up the scenery, and for the audience to get suckered into drooling and fawning. In real life, that's not even remotely how a situation like that would go down. It was just ridiculously polished, choreographed and overacted. Sure, it was fun to watch. But I think I've just...outgrown it.

If you'd like some great acting scenes, there are several in Manchester by the Sea which feel REAL, raw, emotional and extremely well-acted. I could site 5 different scenes in that movie that were so much better acted than the scene in True Romance. Again....the Walken/Hopper scene was fun and cool and all....but the greatest scene in cinema history? Please. It's not even in the top 100. But then again, people tend to get enamored more with drama, style and theatrics then they do authenticity.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 6 years ago

"a typical, choreographed "Hollywood scene" Regardless of what fan boys think, that is QT does.

[–] davodikum (6198) 5 years ago

Well acted does not mean shit if the scene aint memorable, i saw manchester by the sea, thought it was good.. but cannot for the life of me remember a scene that came close to eggplant scene in true romance. Any writer wishes they cld write that scene.

[–] Drooch (5333) 3 years ago

Manchester By The Sea is basically Casey doing his Boston ‘haad-ass’ shtick. He just stares blankly and occasionally punches something or someone. He’s doing nothing yet has everyone going ga-ga for his so-called great acting.

Meanwhile Walken and Hopper actually visibly emote and play off each other like real… actors.

[–] TheArgentinian (7090) 3 years ago

Comparing the acting in that scene to a boring, depressing drama is beyond dumb.

[–] Ripkens25 (2025) 3 years ago

You’re right, there really is no comparing. Truly skillful acting...can be boring. (See almost anything Meryl Streep has done....or Laurence Olivier....Or Orson Wells, etc, etc....)

People confuse silly, unrealistic dialogue...showboaty monologues and over-acting (see most anything Pacino has done) with great acting, and it’s just not. Sure, it’s fun to watch, but.....

[–] moviechatterer (15697) 3 years ago

(see most anything Pacino has done)

Amen to that!
people rave about "Heat" the two greats in the same movie , acting masterclass, blah blah
All I see is Pacino overacting.

This scene in True romance however, I still find very powerful , even though i'm an old cynical bastard

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

(another AMEN! from the congregation here)

Yeah, I got tired of Pacino right about at Heat. Dulled my appreciation of his other stuff on rewatch.

As to the topic ITT, the OP has a lot of sack claiming that he "outgrew it." Gimme a break. The scene in question is magnificent from start to finish. Easily in my top 10 best scenes of all time. Several wise people like yourself ITT have chosen the perfect words to describe this beautiful scene.

[–] Ripkens25 (2025) 3 years ago

It’s a fun scene to watch, the same way the “You can’t handle the truth!” scene between Cruise and Nicholson in A Few Good Men is fun. But it’s kind of a ridiculous scene, designed to give 2 great actors each their own monologue to chew up the scene with and showboat. I’ll give it credit for what it is. But an all time great acting performance/scene? Nah.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 3 years ago

I'm sure very few people have the same list of top ten anything.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9187) 3 years ago

Exactly, well explained!

[–] brux (14724) 3 years ago

You cannot relate, contrast or compare True Romance to Manchester By The Sea. There is no point or meaning to it. As well, the quality of acting is in the eye and ear of the audience member, don't ever expect anyone to respect you judgement of some actor's acting as anything more than a value judgement by yourself.

After a century there are far more than 100 movie that can be the best of "something", so these inane lists are just annoying.

[–] degray9 (1126) 3 years ago

I haven’t seen Manchester by the Sea, but I’ll agree that the Walkman/Hopper scene is overrated. The dialogue really isn’t that clever or interesting, just seemed like Tarantino’s usual excuse to throw in the N-word a bunch of times. I guess it works in the over the top comic-book style the movie is going for, it’s decent entertainment, but I wouldn’t compare it to great hard-boiled dialogue from any noir or crime film from earlier eras. In fact, this whole movie is very cartoonish.

[–] Threadkiller (3080) 3 years ago

I actually agree with some of the OP's takes on the the scene. Particularly about it being a very "Hollywood" scene for the the actors "chew up scenery" but I actually disagree that it's a bad thing. Also a lot of the dialogue was apparently improvised by Walkin & Hopper. Most movies have scenes where the dialogue and conversations are very "theatrical or "Hollywood" in nature. Pretty standard stuff there so not really fair to hold it against this particular scene.