In the beginning was the image...

The sound. The setting. The character.

A moving montage that reels you in, ready to transport you to the director's vision, another reality.

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This weekend, out of nowhere, I started to think about my favourite movie openings and what it is about them that makes them stand out (for me, personally). 

Manhattan (1979) dir. Woody Allen

"New York was his town. And it always would be."
The city of New York will always work in your favour. And alongside Gerswhin? Oooof.
Even Allen's neurosis jus feels right- it captures that 'New Yorker' vibe; but it knows when to stop- to savour that last visual orgasm.

Raging Bull (1980) dir. Martin Scorcese

Simple yet powerful. Scorcese's got style.
I'm da boss. I'm da boss.

Trainspotting (1996) dir. Danny Boyle

How does that saying go- Live fast, die young?

Or Choose life?

2001: A Space Oddyssey (1968) dir. Stanley Kubrick

Kukrick in general always made excellent classical music choices. This is just one of the most memorable ones.

Blue Danube and zero gravity, amirite?

Pulp Fiction (1994) dir. Quentin Tarantino

(because you have to hear Miserlou after that...)
Bad. Ass.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) dir. Blake Edwards

Henry Mancini's nostalgic 'Moon River' + 5th Ave + Audrey Hepburn in a LBD

There's a nice anecdote about this scene: the day of the shoot, production was worried about having to stave off passersby and hold up the expected 5th Avenue commotion; to their surprise, 5th Ave was as calm as they wished it would be.

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Iiiiiit's.... Funny Friday!

Is it just me, or did this week just kind of whizz by? We're already half way through March!
Goodness, I'm starting to feel old...
On with the show.

There's so much to be said about Woody Allen, and I'm personally a fan, but I will save that for a more 'in-depth' post later.

In the meantime, I leave you with one of my favourite scenes from Play it again, Sam.
I find it divinely endearing as it is funny. I'm sure that first date won't ever feel awkward after this!

If you haven't seen this in its entirety, I encourage you to do so. It's on instant stream on Netflix, so no excuses! 
PS- Has everyone seen the Dark Shadows trailer?! It looks like good campy fun. I haven't been this excited for a vampire movie since... well, since this! Squee!