Intense scenes.
 

I personally find realistic scenes in movies far more troubling to watch than virtually any Horror film I have seen yet anger or hatred is rarely GENUINELY done well on the screen. Here are a couple of scenes that really put knots in my stomach and utilise the full power of the moving image.

Nil by Mouth. Actor Gary Oldman's only directorial film loosely based upon his childhood. Powerful stuff. Please be advised it is mature content.






The Firm. One of the most controversial and intelligent football hooligan films. Originally made for TV and largely improved:

http://www.aolcdn.com/mf_movies/13888_p_m

If you have ever seen this movie, then you know all you need to about intense movie scenes.

I went looking for some scenes from Martyrs but you know what... I really don't want to post them. It's that kind of a movie, the kind you really don't want to share because it's just so messed up. Good choices though Jackhammer.

Yeah seen it. The directors previous movie 'I Stand Alone' is harsh too. Scrapbook even more so.

This one = crazy intense!

YouTube - Cate Blanchett Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal, Intense Scene

The chainsaw scene in Scarface...I can barely watch it.

Top drawer film that. Gary Oldman's probably my favourite actor alive today as well.

This here's what springs to mind for me when it comes to intense scenes. It's all in the script, the acting and the non-diegetic soundtrack - a melting pot of what makes for a truly great and intense piece of cinema;

There is an excellent interview with Jack Nicholson directly about The Shining in this month's Empire mag wher he had nothing but praise for Kubrick's working methods.

I might have to keep an eye out for that when I'm out tomorrow then. I've heard he had a very driven, often confrontational style of working (or at least I think it was him), which clearly yields results - him being one of my favourite directors and all.

He liked to do lots of takes. We are talking up to 70 sometimes but then Nicholson is like that too. For once empire is a decent read this month.