The Goose Bump Moments (Acting)

This is not one of those run-of-the-mill "best actor" or "best role" lists. This gets microscopic. This is a list of the greatest acting MOMENTS (sometimes mere seconds!) in film history. These are the Goose Bump Moments (GBM's)! Spoiler alert! Some of these may give away parts of movies that you haven't seen. What are you waiting for? See them! There is no order of importance here or ranking, just the most recent suggestions listed first:


Forest Whitaker – The Color of Money (1986)
Suggested by “gravy boat” via the Friends of Tom board - [I’m going to include the extended scene because the acting by Whitaker and Paul Newman is just so good.] Gravy Boat explains, “Right at the end, I think Whitaker has a [GBM] great acting ‘moment.’ After he has hustled Newman and Newman, who had been thinking he re-found his magic, is sitting there like it's the end of the world, Whitaker stops to ask him a question and I was thinking it might be a question intended to lift up Newman, who is so obviously devastated, or some sort of apology, but it's just a silly question, salt on the wound, and the look of malicious delight on Whitaker's face in the delivery and then when he looks down before he leaves is so good. “



Christopher Walken – The Deer Hunter (1978)
Suggested by “dave from knoxville” via the Friends of Tom board - Dave explains, “I always loved the expressions on Christopher Walken's face during the second Russian Roulette scene in The Deer Hunter; he runs through a chilling array of dead still, jittery nervousness, and scariest of all [the GBM], a sort of detached bemusement like he's about to let loose a chuckle as the scene is unfolding all around him.”



Jane Adams – Little Children (2006)
Suggested by Lisa Carter - Of course, this would make any “creepiest” list, and it’s tempting to say that Jackie Earle Haley’s (as Ronnie) facial expressions and lines are what make this scene. But it’s really Jane Adams (as Sheila) that puts the stamp on it with her heartbreaking response. You’d think she’d scream and run out of the car (or maybe stare at “it” in horror), but instead she turns away and looks defeated. She’s not really crying out of fear. She’s crying because she has been through all of this personal misery, and this is where she ended up. Just when things were starting to maybe look good, and she had an OK date. Nice going, Ronnie.



Mink Stole – Desperate Living (1977)
Suggested by “Martin” via the Friends of Tom board - Martin explains, “For a perfect example of over the top hysteria, something I'm very fond of, check out the entire opening of John Waters' Desperate Living. Mink Stole, as Peggy Gravel, gives one of her best performances (in a long line of fantastic ones, IMO - in fact, her part as Divine's daughter in Female Trouble might be even better than this one). Keep in mind that this is how her character is introduced, and consider the implications of just throwing such a neurotic mess at our feet at the very start of a film.” [This acting performance is unreal, and I urge you to watch the entire clip. The GBM for me is the absolutely insane way she screams at the neighborhood kid. Hilarious.]



Griffin Dunne – An American Werewolf in London (1981)
This is not an easy one to watch…consider yourself warned. Yes, this is a truly great SCENE for a lot of reasons…the atmosphere, the camera work, the uncomfortable humor. But (and this is something that goes back to me being a little kid watching this) what really makes it so memorable is Griffin Dunne’s acting. The GBM is the way that Jack screams (and what he screams: “It’s killing me!”), and it shakes you to your bones. Add to that the all out horror and mess of action that’s going on. If you’re brave, look closer at Jack’s face and expressions (it looks like he’s even fighting back!) Of course this was just some puppet head with a lot of spraying Karo syrup and red food dye, but Dunne went all out. And gave me nightmares.



Robert De Niro – Taxi Driver (1976)
Suggested by “masterofsparks” via the Friends of Tom board - Master explains, “The scene in Taxi Driver where Travis is watching American Bandstand. There's not much to the scene - he points his gun at the screen while the kids dance to Jackson Browne's ‘Late For the Sky’ and then just sits there watching, but there's something indescribable in his eyes that I can't really forget [the GBM]. So lost. So powerful, in fact, that I actually found myself enjoying the music of Jackson Browne!”



Gene Wilder – Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Suggested by Bill Carter - A truly unique (and bat-shit crazy) creation, Gene Wilder’s Wonka teeters between maniacal evilness and whimsical sweetness in nearly every scene. Here, at the movie’s climax, he’s enacting one more of his selfish and harsh tests. It’s excellent that Wilder chooses to repeat certain words for emphasis and the whole scene is fantastic, but the GBM is the way in which he spits out “ETC. ETC.!” when reading the contract. His lips pulled back, it reminds me of a cat hissing. Crazy goodness.



Eric Bogosian – Talk Radio (1988)
The climax of this movie is extremely over-the-top in a very theatrical way. Eric Bogosian’s radio talk show host Barry Champlain takes a big nose dive and has a nervous breakdown on-air. He strives to justify his show as an important vehicle for social commentary and change, but has to deal with the reality that it’s just a call-in freak show and he’s the willing ring leader. The final call of the night offers some kind words and sympathy (I love that the caller has beer and soup waiting), but Barry has come to the end of his rope. When the engineer states that there are 60 seconds left in the show, the GBM is the look that Barry gives to the booth. In those sad, tired eyes, he knows that those remaining seconds are not just the last of the show…



Tom Cruise – Risky Business (1983)
Suggested by Bill Carter - Bill explains, “This scene encapsulates the movie's lesson on the importance of taking risks in life. Joel understands that lesson in this scene and is a totally different person here than the scared, sheltered virgin from the beginning of the film. Why U of I never used this in a promotional video, I'll never know. The GBM is the very end, sunglasses go on, cig is lit, and then Cruise hams it up with an improvised smile. Classic.



Robert Duvall – Sling Blade (1996)
Suggested by Lisa Carter - Time has not been kind to Billy Bob’s performance in this movie. What was once a kind of oddball spectacle, a “you gotta see this” acting display, now has become a source of parody. Upon repeat viewings, it’s the supporting cast that really grabs your attention, especially Dwight Yoakam, Lucas Black and Robert Duvall. Duvall, in fact, only has one discernible line in the movie. The rest of it is insane, unintelligible babbling…which he performs amazingly. In this scene, Billy Bob’s Karl finally comes home to confront his father, but it’s clear (even to Karl, I think) that Duvall is too far gone to understand what is happening, much less comprehend the severity of the abuse he once inflicted on his son. The GBM comes with Duvall’s response…the childlike and maddening way he flaps his tongue and eventually sticks it out. This guy is nuts!



Frank Oz - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
I read an interview once with Jim Henson, and he was asked who the greatest puppeteer was or is. Without hesitating, he said it was Frank Oz. A puppeteer since birth basically and joining Henson's troupe at 19, Oz honed his craft with the Muppets. His puppetry masterpiece, however, might well be Yoda in this movie. There is a whole lot to like in this minute clip of Yoda's introduction...the way he chews, his cute butt, the way he waves the flashlight with glee. But the true GBM is the way he desperately reaches for his cane to fight with R2D2. Unreal. This is the only point in the Star Wars movies that Yoda acts this way, kind of childlike (or senile). He's testing Luke, of course, but I wish he was given some more light moments elsewhere. Lucas should be kicked in the nuts for CGI Yoda.



Jessica Lange - Cape Fear (1991)
I'll play the whole minute and 20 second long scene for context, but there is one particular GBM that makes your heart break. Jessica Lange's Leigh Bowden is scrambling, trying to think of what to say to convince Robert De Niro's psychotic Max Cady not to rape her daughter. Can you imagine being an actor trying to convey those emotions? At about a minute and ten seconds, watch Lange's body language when she says, "I want you to do it just with me...not with her." The way her hand shakes. Incredible.



Michael Parks - Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
There isn't much to like in this movie (IMHO), except for the Michael Parks' performance of Señor Esteban Vihaio. I urge you to watch his entire scene. It's full of nuances and character choices that are amazing. It's even more amazing when you realize this actor played a completely different role in the first movie. In addition to Vihaio's sleepy, lazy eye and his rickety, smoke filled body (as well as his gravel road voice), the GBM here comes in the way that he calls his girl over to get something to drink. Yee-uck!



Patricia Tallman - Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Tom Savini's remake of the horror classic doesn't get much love, but it's surprisingly good. You should check it out. In this scene, Patricia Tallman's Barbara is completely drained of everything...energy, the will to fight, and most importantly hope. She just spent the last two hours killing and trying not to get eaten. She can't take much more. To top it off, when she sees the old woman zombie, she can't help but think of her recently deceased mother, whose grave she was visiting when the movie started. The GBM comes after the head-shot, with her cry of, "Oh, God!" That's what everybody watching the movie is feeling at that moment as well.



Bill Bolender – The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Bill who? I’ll play his entire clip since he only appears in the movie for less than a minute. But, wow! What a minute! Shot perfectly (and I wonder if he was aided by a set of creepy fake teeth), the GBM is Elmo Blatch’s laugh. Horrifying. I especially love his last line, “…and he’s the one they pinned it on.” I love how the laugh takes over the line.



Christian Bale – American Psycho (2000)
Suggested by Bill Carter - Bill explains, “His strut [the GBM] punctuates the absurdity of this scene. Without Bale's over-the-top attitude, this is just gore. With it, the scene is a political statement. I wish Bale would drop his current blockbuster ride and experiment a bit with parts on the edge like this one.”



Wes Studi – The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Suggested by Zach Freeman - Zach explains, “She is right at the edge before she jumps, and he looks at her all confused and then gestures for her to come away from the edge - ridiculously awesome and the music makes it perfect. The face he makes after she falls [the GBM]...he's like, ‘I will never understand these white people.’ Then he just walks off.”



Jack Nicholson – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Suggested by Bracken Neff - There might be a lot more moments from this excellent movie that make the list, but thanks to Bracken for pointing this one out. The GBM comes at the end of the clip with the shout of absolute joy from Nicholson’s R.P. McMurphy. What makes it extra special is the slight move by Nicholson to do the old hand slap over his mouth like an Indian. It’s not made into a big scene or played for a big laugh, but it’s just a really subtle and really good (no doubt improvised) choice made by a great actor.



Jim Carrey – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Suggested by Zach Freeman - Zach explains, “He moves his mouth all over the place AND keeps his mouth open even as he falls into the water. You can see the water flowing up around him as he falls in, and he's still yelling [the GBM]. Totally committed! I watched it in slow-motion several times…the water comes up around him making an Ace Ventura hole in the water, and he is still yelling!”



Sean Penn - At Close Range (1986)
Sean Penn's Brad Whitewood Jr. has every reason to kill his father, Christopher Walken's Big Brad. Big Brad killed all of Little Brad's friends, his brother, and raped and killed his girlfriend. So, of course, he should shoot him, right? Now that he has him cornered? Instead, Little Brad vows to "not be like his old man" and show mercy. In a movie full of over the top (but still awesome) acting moments (most by Walken), it's the GBM at the end of this clip that is the best. Little Brad gives his mercy speech, but when he's finished there are a few seconds where you know he's considering everything that's happened. He almost goes back on his decision and blows Big Brad away. It's an awesome display of restraint.



Jerry Lewis - The Nutty Professor (1963)
I'm not going to ignore the great comedic acting moments, and this is one of the best. In fact the whole scene is fantastic (you should watch it all) and would be near the top if I ever did a "best character introduction scene" list. But one GBM in particular says it all. The way Lewis puts his hands in the praying position, the super-quick way he jumps up, the hilarious and awkward punches that are almost slaps, and of course the size of his mirror. Buddy Love is an awesome creation. They always say that Lewis was doing an impression of Dean Martin in this role, but the way that he speaks and acts, the shear meanness of him, makes me think that this was probably just the way Jerry Lewis was himself in real life.



Stockard Channing & John Travolta - Grease (1978)
Suggested by Bill Carter - I'll include the whole scene here (mainly for Travolta's awesome attitude), but the GBM comes at the very end. Watch for the looks given between Stockard Channing's Rizzo and Travolta's Danny Zuko. No words are spoken, but the looks speak so much about the history of these two characters. Rizzo was burned by Zuko in the past. He no doubt hooked up with her and promptly dropped her, and she has never gotten over him. She then enacts some pretty diabolical revenge. She drags Olivia Newton-John's Sandy into the fray. She knows that reuniting Sandy and Zuko will reduce him to a stammering, all-smiles, geeky, bubbly-in-love mess. Of course, that's the last thing Zuko wants the other T-Birds to see. He's got a rep. after all. Rizzo's smile at the end (as Bill described) says it all: "Mission accomplished. Let's go, girls."



William Sanderson - Blade Runner (1982)
Poor J.F. Sebastian. Stricken with a debilitating aging disorder ("My glands...they roll too fast.") that keeps him from leaving Earth for a better life in the off-world colonies, Sebastian immerses himself in his work as a genetic designer. And he brings his work home with him by building lifelike toy robots, a truly creepy and lonely pastime. But the robots who find him here are definitely not toys. Two things are at work in this scene, and Sebastian is the definition of a "pawn." On the one hand he is getting attention (and flirtation) unlike anything he's ever experienced before, and he giggles and blushes like a kid. On the other hand, this comes at a cost. The GBM you're looking for comes after Daryl Hannah's Pris kisses Sebastian on the neck. In his face you see the humongous guilt he feels after agreeing to lead Rutger Hauer's Roy to his boss and friend, Tyrell. Sebastian knows what this means. He knows what Roy has in store for Tyrell. Sebastian is in over his head, and he's just signed the death warrant of his only human friend.



Christopher Reeve - Superman (1978)
You just know Christopher Reeve, a classically trained theater actor, was probably bored with playing the Man of Steel, even in the first movie. He couldn't do much emoting with the stiff lines he was given. Sure, he got to be funny as nerdy Clark Kent, but like pretty much all superhero roles, there just weren't any meaty acting moments. Except for this GBM. With his true love, Lois Lane, dead from a horrible chain of events started by Lex Luthor, and his Kryptonian blood pumping, Superman's enraged at his own powerlessness and terrified by the unbelievable choice he's about to make. It's all there in these few seconds, from the moment he lays down the body of dead Lois and sadly catches her head to his screaming, teeth-gritting launch into the air. It's great! Anger, guilt, vulnerability (!)...man, I wish they'd given some more moments like these to Christopher Reeve in this role.