1. True Romance (1993)
Though it didn't set the box office alight at all - in fact making less than its budget in box office -
True Romance is regarded by most critics as Tony Scott's best film. Working from a brilliant Quentin Tarantino script, Scott's 1993 romantic crime film proves above all doubt that he could direct with more subtlety than most people remember to give him credit for. Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette light up the screen with their palpable romance, but the film is well and truly stolen by the supporting turns from Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, who share what is easily the single greatest scene in Scott's filmography; the famous "part eggplant" dialogue between the two. A classic Tarantino moment, and as it turns out, a classic Tony Scott moment too, in a film with no lack of heart, intelligence, hilarity, and excitement. Also, it was reportedly Tony Scott's idea that Clarence and Alabama should live in the finale, whereas Tarantino had originally planned for Clarence to die and Alabama to drive away. A wise choice, indeed.Tony Scott was not the most acclaimed of directors, but his films were not par for that course; Scott chose to direct potent, visceral action films, and that he did with aplomb and a singular focus. This is the reason he managed to collaborate with so many talented performers and producers, and why he will be remembered for his unpretentious, yet incredibly skillful technical compositions. His brother Ridley might take the lion's share of the critical acclaim, but it is Tony who is more in touch with the average cinemagoer, and our collective need to be thrilled and exhilarated.