1. Youre way out of your league, Hunter Washington vs. Hackman Crimson Tide (1995)
Perhaps a slightly controversial choice, not as influential as Top Gun or infamous as True Romance, but more exhilarating than each. The scene in question showcases what really made Tony Scott great. Yes he could do spectacle, he could put together a quickly cut scene in his sleep, but as has so often been the case, with the right actors and the right story, hes more than happy to stop showing off for a while and let the scene do the talking. But just because hes not showing off, it doesnt mean his part in proceedings isnt as vital. Crimson Tide is almost entirely set aboard a submarine. The film is about paranoia, not only political, but also personal. The sub in question is the USS Alabama, which has been sent to allay fears that a Russian nuclear missile has been taken over by a group of insurgents who may or may not try to arm said missile at any time. The Alabama is manned by Gene Hackmans aging Captain Frank Ramsay and Denzel Washingtons younger, idealistic family man, Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter. Now Crimson Tide isnt Scotts best film, its script is often a mess (receiving rewrites from Quentin Tarantino amongst other) its politics are heavy handed and its ending a little (surprisingly) anti-climactic, but when Scott gets it to work, it works rather well. Being confined to a submarine, Scott doesnt have the luxury of his oft-used swirling cameras and circling helicopters, he has to generate action, tension and suspense in other ways. Case and point is the scene where were first alerted to the idea that all may not be well upon the good ship Alabama, culminating in an argument between Ramsay and Hunter. After a message is received incomplete, tempers begin to fray as to how the subs course of action should proceed. What works so beautifully is that Scott doesnt rely on tricks; he gives the scene room to breath, letting a simple disagreement progress naturally into so much more. As the sequence progresses, after each character says their piece, Scott keeps threatening to draw a line under it, only to keep the camera focussed on the two central characters, who, like Scott, wont let it lie. The leads are wonderful here, with Hackmans wry, patronising tack providing an excellent counter to Washingtons clearly outraged yet calm Lieutenant. As they dispense of civilities and begin to bark at one another, Scott kicks in a little underlying music, just to remind us of the severity of what is taking place, nothing fancy, it doesnt need to be. As Gene Hackmans captain leaves the scene, he is wearing a baseball cap akin to Scotts own trademark cap, a cap that will be sorely missed.