Unlike many other individuals working in Hollywood today, Cameron Crrowe, chooses to both write and direct his films. The resulting product then, is exactly as Crowe would have us see it, time and time again. He creates characters with such realistic personalities, that the audience can’t help but to relate to them. Moreover, his stories are so heartfelt, that we can’t help but love Crowe himself, as we watch each love letter to the art of film that he produces.
Initially, I set out to list the best quotes from 1980’s films. Then, I realized that half of them were coming from two places: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, and “Say Anything”-both written and directed by Crowe. So, this became a list of the best quotes from Cameron Crowe films. Unfortunately, when I did a little research, I ended up with a long list of about twenty quotes-what follows is a significantly pared-down version of that.
10. Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom): Elizabethtown, 2005
“There’s a difference between a failure and a fiasco. A failure is merely the absence of success. Any fool can achieve failure. But a fiasco, a fiasco is a disaster of epic proportions. A fiasco is a folk tale told to other’s to make other people feel more alive because it didn’t happen to them.
This is the line, spoken as a voiceover, opens the film, and introduces us to the character of Drew Baylor. In that, it certainly succeeds, but more importantly, it stands alone and enables the audience to look at their own failures and successes with a bit of perspective. In comparison to the concept of “fiasco” that Drew discusses, our own mere “failures” don’t seem like such a big deal.
9. Steve Dunne (Campbell Scott): Singles, 1992
“My dad left home when I was eight. You know what he said to me? Have fun, stay single. I was eight.”
This one makes the list because it is the quintessential line from this great film. Our perception of the world comes, at least in part from our parents. In a world where 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, this line ushers in a new view of relationships-the era of perpetual bachelorhood, which has become an obvious part of our society today. This film, and this quote, express an increasingly prevalent ideal.
8. Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup): Almost Famous, 2000
“I’m telling secrets to the one guy you don’t tell secrets to.”
Almost Famous is Crowe’s love letter to the world of rock and roll. And no love letter would be complete without the point of view of the rock journalist-the one guy you can’t tell secrets to. But the irony in this line is that our protagonist is extremely easy to share with-he’s a great listener, and a seemingly harmless kid. This proves to be the downfall of the mythical band Stillwater, led by Crudup and Jason Lee (who also makes the list for another Crowe film.)
7. Mike Damone (Robert Romanus): Fast Times, 1982
“First of all Rat, you never let on how much you like a girl. “Oh, Debbie. Hi.” Two, you always call the shots. “Kiss me. You won’t regret it.” Now three, act like wherever you are, that’s the place to be. “Isn’t this great?” Four, when ordering food, you find out what she wants, then order for the both of you. It’s a classy move. Now, the lady will have the linguini and white clam sauce, and a Coke with no ice.” And five, now this is the most important, Rat. When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.
The reason this quote rocks is because it provides a glimpse into Crowe’s amazingly accurate portrayal of adolescence. Damone, played by Robert Romanus, is the quintessential know-it-all who believes he has the ways of women all figured out. All of the best funniest scenes in this flick include Romanus’ character, and this monologue is no exception.
6. Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise): Jerry Maguire, 1998
“Have you ever gotten the feeling that you aren’t completely embarrassed yet, but you glimpse tomorrow’s embarrassment?”
This line is great because it turns the jerk character of Jerry, played by Tom Cruise, into a far more relatable personage. Everyone who watches the film simultaneously thinks that Cruise’s character is a daft idiot prick, but can also relate to him, and answer this question with a resounding YES! While we are not all as arrogant as Jerry Maguire, we can relate to his growing humility as the film goes on.
5. Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack): Say Anything, 1984
“She’s gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.”
In high school, I gave a guy a pen once-it was a really nice pen. It had his name engraved and everything. But that’s besides the point. Among my friends and I, this is the most-quoted line from any film. Period. Somehow, it sums up that feeling of teenage angst/ love/ infatuation so perfectly-like everything that Angela ever said on My So Called Life.
4. Claire Colburn (Kirsten Dunst): Elizabethtown, 2005
“Trust me. Everybody is less mysterious than they think they are.”
I feel weird putting a quote from such a recent film on this lest, but like all of Crowe’s films, Elizabethtown is really heartfelt and personal. It comes from Claire, played by Kirsten Dunst-a character who seems to have met a lot of people for being so young, and as such, seems to speak with some authority about human nature. This is a though that I try to keep in the back of my mind when meeting new people.
3. Lester Bangs (Phillip Seymour Hoffman): Almost Famous, 2000
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world… is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.”
As are many of the things that Hoffman’s character says in this film, this is said with such authority that it seems like one of the undeniable truths of the world. The only people who truly know you are those who have been with you when you are at your worst. This is a lesson that everyone can benefit from learning.
2. Brian (Jason Lee): Vanilla Sky, 2002
“Just remember, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour, and I know the sour.”
This may be the second most quoted line in all of film for my friends and I. Because we all know the sour. In Vanilla Sky, we do not relate to Tom Cruise’s character, but Jason Lee’s portrayal of Brian-the guy who never gets the girl, and so on. As Emily Dickinson (another very quotable writer) once wrote: “Success is counted sweetest/ By those who never succeed/ To comprehend a nectar/ Requires sorest need.” Yes, I just compared Cameron Crowe to Emily Dickinson. I was an English major; I’m allowed.
1. Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack): Say Anything, 1984
I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don’t want to do that.
This one makes the top of the list for purely selfish reasons-it is the most defining quote of my life-so much so, that I can remember saying similar things to my parents when I was in high school. There are plenty of people who do well to become a part of the status quo-which is what Lloyd is describing here. But I am not one of those people, and I presume that as a kid, Crowe himself wasn’t either. Some people hold onto this type of idealism forever-and that is why Lloyd is such an appealing character-he is the consummate idealist.
My attraction to Crowe films likely has a lot to do with my personality, and my age. Though I was only two when Say Anything was released, I think it is the most defining film of my generation. We are a generation of underdogs, idealists and optimists, and that point of view is one that Crowe espouses in so many of his films-that of the underdog who feels the need to stand for something, whether it be love, truth, or rock and roll.
