Runaway Train (Andrei Konchalovsky, 1985) -The "little bitty spot" speech

[@DavidIwinski]

An utterly incredible speech by an extraordinary actor.

[@puplover7991]

Brilliant monologue about the lifelong benefits of impulse control and discipline...and how it eludes them both. Just brilliant.

[@thamnosma]

Truly,.

[@καλοςφιλος-ο9θ]

Dont forget Eric Roberts

[@opengnosis8555]

That... And luck.. Of a welcoming environment, that accepts and benefits you and it, mutually.

[@Sameoldfitup]

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

[@vinzelrato]

true...

[@lovelife8128]

Plato

[@liamtz]

That scene stuck with me 30 years. Seeing it again tells me why.

[@liamtz]

Firstly, Voight's delivery is astounding- truly gripping. The movie almost stopped in its tracks when he expressed his pain. Moreover, the script succinctly glimpses into the mind of a sociopath. 'I wish I could...' Chilling stuff.

[@Paraffinmeister]

An extremely under rated movie and something of a masterpiece. John Voight's character "Manny" is, despite being an utterly brutal and savage individual, one of the smartest people around. The only thing holding him back is his utter addiction to his life of crime. Summed up so perfectly in this speech, specifically the 4 words "I wish I could.".

[@radar0412]

Yeah. Kinda a Quentin Tarantino character. I could see Samuel L Jackson playing this role as well.

[@samwallaceart288]

Plot wise, the movie wasn't my cup of tea, but this scene (and the other scenes about prison mentality) really struck a cord with me. A contributing writer on the movie was ex-convict Eddie Bunker (who later consulted for the movie _Heat)_ and in scenes like this the characters are fucking real.

[@Terraceview]

Manny is nothing more savage than the "civilisation" he is referring to.

[@351974gordon24]

Jon Voight and Eric Roberts both gave superb acting performances. Underrated movie that still resonates today.

[@mikebockey4125]

a very few movies make an impact on me. i’m almost 53 years old. i love good movies. there’s about ten that have made said impact. this is one of those.

[@Pepik]

First blood final scene. You dont turn it off.

[@Darthbelal]

A very, very underrated film, if someone wishes to know what a good film and good acting are, look no further........

[@thamnosma]

Basically an unknown film as well. Love how Konchalovsky gives a bit of that Soviet Siberia (Siberiade) feel to the exteriors. Wonderful blend of Russian and American cinema.

[@vaskylark]

I remember when this came out and it was a pretty big film with critical acclaim.

[@eyeofbrown1387]

@@vaskylarkThis was undoubtedly the best film that came out of the Cannon Group.

[@NSHM122]

Yes! The three main actors were perfection in their roles. I was at the edge of my seat in the theater. One of my favorite top 10.

[@michlo3393]

That second "I wish I could", you can really see the humanity coming out of a character who otherwise seemed superhuman. Voight and Roberts gave SUPERB performances in this underrated film. Roberts gives his own monologue later in the film with as much heart and gravitas that resonates just as well. What a film this was.

[@V-max97]

“I wish I could” raw emotion and a cry for help right there

[@ronaldshank7589]

A cry for help.....but I'm wondering-Was Manny telling Buck:"I'm too far gone. It's too late for me"? I mean, you can hear his very heart's cry, when he actually took a moment out of his own life, and tried to get this youngster to realize the error of his ways, and to learn to do things honestly. Something inside of Manny, even though he was angry with Buck, cared about him, like a True Father cares about his Son. When Buck hears what Manny says, at the end of that particular conversation, the look of utter shock and sadness is something that you can see all over Buck's face. Maybe that scolding that Manny hit Buck with did some good, though. You can see how Buck begins to change..... Unlike Manny, who died. However, even in his death, there was a bit of a victory, because Buck finally learned to care about people, other than himself. He began to care about Manny in a different way, about 3/4ths of the way through the movie, and he learned to care about the young Lady, too..... So... that's what I call a good start.

[@V-max97]

@@ronaldshank7589 this movie deserved more fame than it got. The stunts alone were Oscar worthy

[@fontainemanon536]

I Love that eerie look in his eyes when he says "I wish I could..." Once I talked to a fellow I knew who start messing with H (I've been using for twenty years, more half my goddamn life) and I said a similar sentence to him : "I wish I could go back to this 14 years old stupid and angry kid I was and say to him "Don't start messing with that shit...Cause you can't beat it." The young guy never touched it again , and it was the better reward I ever got, At last I felt human again....

[@retnamyoga]

Jon Voight's execution of his lines and demeanor here were brilliant!!!

[@tmrezzek5728]

I love that brief shot of Manny running his hand over the gauges--it's like he never had an electric train as a kid, and NOW he's sitting in one of the most powerful trains on Earth and can't believe how lucky he is.

[@user-qs7qz2cf4l]

Tons of pages reading in just two minutes talk. Fourty years have passed and it still fascinates me. Unsurpassed movie , masterclass direction, talented acting, great music !

[@Joseph_Greco]

This is one of the great scenes in cinema history by a great actor. It has stuck in my head for thirty years since I first saw it. Profound writing and message.

[@ricardoybarra5056]

That scene caught my attention in 1987.Deep..

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I did this Monologue in my acting classes. masterpiece by a great actor

[@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928]

Hey Tom, what is the next documentary you plan on doing?

[@edwardcannon9199]

What doc you doing next also love your vids

[@radar0412]

How did it go over when you said you were going to "catch me them fine bitches?"

[@busydad4858]

Wow, this is awesome! Criminally under appreciated film

[@andrewjenkinson8948]

Without any action or movement, just two actors talking, this is one of the most harrowing scenes ever committed to film, perfectly complimented by the bleakness of the environment around them. Magnificent filmmaking.

[@frankroper3274]

Jon Voight...to me this was his best role. He did more than act...he lived it!

[@s0nnyburnett]

Love how red his face got and how his eyes really did look like they were filled with rage.

[@s4ndwichMakeR]

And it makes the role and scene much more believable because (pure speculation of course) it feels like Manny got so enraged because Buck’s naivity reminds him of his own views when he was younger and began to circumvent the challenges to live a successful live by becoming a criminal and thus spending most of his adult life in prison, ending up in an Alaskan supermax.

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

They were.

[@bombalu5]

Back when they made real movies.. Real feelings.. Real acting... Now all we have is every weekend another team of comic book hero's saves the world from complete destruction... Wanna save the world? Live by Manny's advice

[@plasticweapon]

this is one of the worst movies i've ever seen. the acting and writing are so bad they don't even pass muster. voight talks like he's retarded. this movie wasn't released, it escaped. throw in some dollar store philosophy, and they even have the balls to quote shakespeare at the end! at least the comic book movies you alluded to are actual movies, i don't know what this was supposed to be.

[@rmgilyard]

Hello… Unstoppable or Speed?! That movie had real feelings and real acting too.

[@JOHNHEALY-mg2xy]

1000000000 right on! Love this movie

[@goran.rukljac]

This is the best scene about life ever. This is so fucking deep, its spiritual, Eckhart Tolle and Joseph Campbell level of spirituality.

[@Firebrand55]

No one...but no one could possibly watch this scene without being affected by it. It stands repeated watching. In one of the biggest misjudgements in cinema history, Jon Vought didn't get Best Actor Oscar for Runaway Train, his greatest performance. But Eric Roberts played his part as well; together, a beautifully crafted piece of drama that will live on thru cinema history. The ending of this outstanding film defies description.

[@AlexandrosDeligiorgis]

A masterpiece by any standard. What a film!

[@EkremDajakaj]

I never forget this speech till now 2021. First time im watch this 1995 and now I'm understanding how big words he speaks.

[@UnkleAce]

Classic. Some people should take this to heart. Might change your life

[@TwoMilesAwayWildlife]

I’m 55 and rewatch this whenever I want to quit my job. 11 years now and this is the longest I’ve held on to any job without quitting. Tonight is one of those nights I have to focus on the goal - 3 more years but it is hard!

[@okigi-wo5zm]

What's your job?

[@bobgrissom9832]

EPIC PERFORMANCE, by Voight,i saw this at 22years of age,he actually frightened me .You're right about the acting, at the very least the TRAIN, should have won an OSCAR!

[@Stroheim333]

Runaway Train must be the best and most intelligent action movie ever done.

[@whitedust696]

i think this clip shows some amazing acting by Jon Voight

[@kanealson5200]

Awesome writing. Awesome acting.

[@justinbergmans36]

I saw this film, when I was young. I didn’t appreciate it at the time. But, two things always stayed with me. Voights performance and the end shot. Utterly haunting. I look at it now and wish John p Ryan got some love. His performance was so good as the nemesis.

[@HangingTree]

Brutal! One of the greatest movies ever made. I've only seen one or two more that can bring you to your knees like this. A masterpiece!

[@EshBBX]

Forever underrated, one of the best movies ever.

[@twhite113]

In my world, I would have this clip running in all jails and prisons 24/7, endless loop.

[@GTAWildestPolicechases]

365 days of the year and also through the night full blast so no one can sleep.

[@mongol33t]

Yeah cause you'd like an insane world huh?

[@kurtsimmons9735]

Those prisoners would murder you

[@giantleprechaun2350]

It probably wouldn’t change too many of them unfortunately

[@cityofchamps66]

No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity, but I know none and therefore am no beast, one of the very best lines used at the end of any movie ever

[@quinquiry]

Masterpiece !

[@duskopopov77]

Great movie,The acting job by voight was one of best I've ever seen in a movie...Outstanding!

[@marinobravo1]

A truly amazing motivational lesson here…

[@MrLunatic417]

This movie is a classic I been watching this movie sense I was a youngster. My pops introduced it to me.

[@maninthewilderness5795]

Question....HOW many of us could do what he advised? Control of one's emotion and having humility and discipline is what makes you successful.

[@okigi-wo5zm]

By working for someone else?

[@ianmangham4570]

I've been telling myself about that spot since 85 lmao, I'm 55 it's a fkn TRIP getting old 🤣🙏🇬🇧 what a fkn movie

[@PopeSixtusVI]

Behold: The secret to the universe. I can't word it any better than that.

[@alexbelle3941]

Some of the most powerful scenes in the cinema are found in out of the way nearly forgotten films like this, I’ve seen this movie about 3-4 times it’s very good if you haven’t watched it I highly recommend it.

[@krisvires]

"More's the pity, Youngster... more's the pity..."

[@donrussell1606]

Profound words of wisdom

[@NickMeisher]

I have this bookmarked for 11 years. and still awesome

[@LondonMus]

Manny's words & character remind me of my father so much. He'd sit there with his bottle of whiskey like always, and he would teach me about life just like this.

[@ricardoybarra5056]

I saw this movie in 1987 when I was incarcerated in Joliet PRISON Illinois I was 18.That speech got my attention. Now I'm a dishwasher.

[@flembertblemfort9571]

Well I'M president of Chase Manhattan Corporations.

[@giantleprechaun2350]

You’ve been a dishwasher for that long?

[@jfielder48]

Great scene, a compassionate scene, showing us all that perhaps criminals are sometimes pulled in directions they don't really want to go in.

[@fajphoto]

Whenever I'm hating my job and down on my life I come here. Amazing scene

[@johnnyringo6681]

BEST scene in cinematic history!!!!!

[@StevieG454]

That's some serious talk, great movie!

[@Teddy_Bass]

I live by this speech

[@russellpaloor8225]

jazzthieve why you got to be so ugly. What do you get out of saying that to someone? Please give me an honest answer and don't just insult me. Or better yet insult the hell out of me, but at least answer my question honestly.

[@mongol33t]

idiot xD

[@Teddy_Bass]

@@russellpaloor8225 okay. What I mean is that In wont be dreaming. I will keep my head down. Clean that spot(metaphor) and get that shiny clean. Because a job is gold

[@SandmansHate]

Regret. He is a lifer, and will never be able to be free. He is trying to teach this youngster, that getting out to go do some dumb shit isn't worth it. Regret, and rage is all he feels now, and honestly, can you blame him?

[@TEXASLOYAL]

This movie never gets old, neither does this scene

[@troyott2334]

This is speech is one of the best in cinematic history, powerful beyond belief. Jon Voight has no acting equal here.

[@Firebrand55]

2 years since a comment?.........I gotta correct that. This is one of the most memorable short scenes in cinema. Assisted ably by a magnetic Eric Roberts, Voight is spellbinding.in his anger at young lofty, unattainable pursuits.'That little bitty spot' could be an anthem for all the dreamers out there who want it all now. Voight lost out that year to William Hurt, for Best Actor; a travesty. Watch the film and you'll see what I mean..

[@Cheezwizzz]

Jon Voight, nuff said!!!!

[@Giffertronics]

Thanks for putting this up - perfect edit. I was talking to someone about the film and this scene stuck with us. Thanks to you, we were able to throw it onto the big screen and enjoy it instantly. Much appreciated Powerful film with superb acting throughout the entire cast, great soundtrack and beautiful cinematography

[@kurtsimmons9735]

"I wish I could" was an expression of regret, him wishing he had made different decisions

[@Sameoldfitup]

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams.

[@mohdsyafiqsivakumaran2255]

❤

[@akirabotswaga383]

William Hurt was great, but Jon Voight's performance was so powerful that dazzled me. He should have won the Oscar.

[@primate4]

Voight was so convincing and scary in this character.

[@jamessmith84240]

Fantastic movie. I think it was 1O years since I watched it last but I saw it as a kid in the 1990s too. They don't make them like this any more!

[@beckr11]

Truly stunning. They don't make movies like this anymore. Voight and Roberts both got Oscar noms. Look at Voight's face when he's rubbing the spot!!

[@hengulbarua5256]

This movie is a masterpiece! Jon Voight was brilliant...:)

[@blowsoncath]

a real masterpiece!

[@azaspi]

True words about life, job and human proud

[@pagedown4195]

Voight near an oscar for that film. If you ask me...

[@TheKonrad1984]

yeah i have seen this movie more then 50 times :)

[@thamnosma]

A great great film by a big screen Russian director (as in use of the big screen). But Voigt is simply mesmerizing.

[@jasonkelley8187]

Awesome Movie, Incredible Scenery & Action

[@Firebrand55]

A great film with an extraordinary performance by Voight. This monologue, short as it is, is compelling and says a lot more than just words...." I wish I could".....what more plaintiff words could you find for the doomed Manny? Eric Roberts was just right; the two together, perfect.....the ending, sublime. Voight lost out to William Hurt that year for the Best Actor Oscar..........don't ask!

[@YoSoyZuri]

I think the final scene is simply GENIUS!! I think it's impossible to see it and not feel real moved by it!! It should be watched from when they discover the train is going to a dead end - the powerful scene when he disconnects the wagon .... check the girl's face ..... IT SAYS IT ALL!!!!!

[@ronaldshank7589]

YoSoyZuri He even loses the fingers on his left hand! BUT! He doesn't let that stop him from freeing the lead engine from the rest of the train, so that the young woman and man live! That is a powerful scene in itself!

[@TURDPRODUKTION]

best scene of this fuckin film!

[@matthews1todd]

Great movie, great acting, great camera work. The accent would sound more familiar if you knew any hard felons. The cross between gutter mouth and Shakespeare is genius on film!

[@tonymostromable]

THat's Ed Bunker for you.

[@binkysmama]

One of the greatest scenes in moviedom- from a great movie!

[@simon1593]

This scene should be used as a fourth of teaching throughout any schools for any want to be a criminal. Genuine reality check for most who thinks it’s clever and worth it. Outstanding scene and mentality

[@achastos]

My favorite scene in almost the entire cinema history

[@Lodimirg]

That's the Golden Lesson for all young idiots dreaming of easy life.

[@okigi-wo5zm]

Working for someone else?

[@YoSoyZuri]

I love that scene is such a lesson from Manny.... what a great scene!!!! I love everything about this film!!! John Voight is the ultimate heroe .... such an actor! Erick Roberts proved his talent in this movie!

[@shawnartis2731]

One of the best films Eric and John have ever done! Most folks don't even know about this film.Super cool.

[@PiCheZvara]

You know, I get that the Oscars are political and they like to award artsy stuff, liberal stuff, stuff that's viewed as socially progressive and so on. I get their POV and I learned to respect their POV. William Hurt is also a great actor and he delivered a damn good performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman. But on no planet, in no universe is it better than Jon Voight's work in Runaway train. I don't care if Voight is a dick, if he insulted anyone and I don't care that he plays a lowlife in a genre action movie that wasn't made with awards in mind. But when someone knocks it out of the park, he knocks it out of the motherfucking park. And you give that person his, or her rightly earned points. I mean if he had some good competition, like when Joaquin Phoenix for example lost to Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but that was not the case here. Voight should've won the Oscar that year, plain and simple.

[@TheBackslash66]

thank you!!!

[@Jaumeparqe]

Jon Voight: actor extraordinario.

[@JoeBuck207]

I had this scene played out in my life a young man who told me he was going to be a famous rapper, it was the exact scene in real life.

[@Stinkerstien]

Maybe one of the best scenes in Film history. The first would be the final scene.

[@tonymostromable]

Agree

[@adamkentisaac]

This is BY FAR the best performance of Jon Voight's career. I've always considered him one of the most underrated actors of his generation, and sadly a lot of people have given him a lot of shit over the past few years just because of his political stance. As far as I'm concerned Voight is a cinematic icon who has worked his ASS off for decades in the business, always giving it his all, and whatever you think about his politics, he is a true actor's actor who paid his dues and never did anything halfway, and I'd be thrilled to have a drink with him any day of the week despite not being a Trump guy myself. Sometimes art just transcends all the other bullshit in life.

[@HenryChinaski614]

This is a truth for many. Incredible.

[@RonInbar]

This movie is so powerful it's scary.

[@j.h.2944]

I wish Hollywood made adventure movies this well today

[@achastos]

I don,t think it,s a social statement but psychological.If you are willing to compromize your pride, ego, dreams and feelings then you evolve.But if you have the will to be yourself, unchanged under all circumstances you are walking your heroic way to a dead end

[@joshuamccurry4297]

You said this 10 years ago but it's the best analysis I've seen anywhere.

[@ripley450]

some art right here

[@kennethsharp6196]

23 people can't be president of Chase Manhattan.

[@AlexBugeja]

More's the pity.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

They'd rather be in friggin jail

[@sitdowndogbreath]

It's up to 28 now fucknuts

[@flembertblemfort9571]

I wish they could .... I wish they could.

[@aaronbrochu8653]

Telling someone to do something you can't do yourself. 👍

[@sidneyatkins6678]

Jon Voight he was robbed for the Academy Awards

[@taylorahern3755]

Oscar Gold, right there!

[@KevinBrown-zs3pv]

I think this scene was in the Consolidated Skateboards video "Kings of Promotion" in the 90's. I never knew what it was from, but even seeing the brief clip completely out of context has stuck with me ever since.

[@1f5sda]

I saw part of this film on A&E when I was a kid and I found it entertaining.

[@kanealson5200]

+1f5sda1991 ...must have been arty as well. Rimshot please.

[@1f5sda]

It was indeed artsy! :-)

[@kanealson5200]

I used to watch the artsy and entertaining network all the time.

[@1f5sda]

Kane Alson Cool! :-)

[@dtbecerra1]

Jon Voight was a bad ass