Film Language Tag: beat, general
A beat is notable “punctuation mark” significant to the unfolding of the story, though a beat can have visual and sonic aspects to it. A beat is largely an element of film language that you feel in relationship to emotions, actions, and events unfolding. Not all beats will feel equally intense.
"Rose Tint My World", The Rocky Horror Picture Show
After being frozen by Dr. Frank N. Turner (Tim Curry), Columbia (Nell Campbell), Rocky (Peter Hinwood), Brad (Barry Bostwick), and Janet (Susan Sarandon) reflect on their experiences by singing "Rose Tint My World."
A Blues for Nina, Love Jones
Darius (Larenz Tate) performs a spoken-word poem, which he retitles after meeting Nina (Nia Long)
Adult Magazines Come to Life, My Own Private Idaho
Scott (Keanu Reeves) and Mike (River Phoenix) appear on the covers of gay adult magazines, where they begin speaking to each other, and other magazine covers in an adult video shop
Arriving at the Young Estate, Crazy Rich Asians
Peik Lin (Akwafina) drives her old college roommate Rachel (Constance Wu) to the Young estate, where her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) is waiting to welcome her and introduce her to his family. When Nick comes out to greet them, he surprises Peik Lin by inviting her to join the party.
Billie Performs at Carnegie Hall, Lady Sings the Blues
In an attempt to earn her Cabaret Card back after her drug conviction, Billie (Diana Ross) performs at Carnegie Hall.
Billie Witnesses a Lynching , Lady Sings the Blues
While on a tour of the South, Billie (Diana Ross) witnesses the lynching of a Black man.
Billie's First Performance , Lady Sings the Blues
Billie (Diana Ross) performs for the first time at a Harlem club. After receiving a tip from Louis McKay (Billy Dee Williams), she sings "Them There Eyes."
Boyeur Gets Acquainted with Mavis Norton, Island in the Sun
David Boyeur (Harry Belafonte) meets Mavis Norton (Joan Fontaine) at a large party attended by much of the island’s political elite.
Boyeur Scolds Mavis, Island in the Sun
David Boyeur (Harry Belafonte) gets angry at Mavis Norton (Joan Fontaine) for putting on a blackface mask.
Brawl Breaks Out in Sal's, Do the Right Thing
(TW: use of the n-word) Sal (Danny Aiello) smashes Radio Raheem’s (Bill Nunn) boombox, starting a fight between his family and the residents of the neighborhood that spills out onto the street
Buggin' Out Confronts a Celtics Fan, Do the Right Thing
Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito) confronts a white man who bumps him and scuffs up his sneakers
Buggin' Out Tries to Start a Boycott, Do the Right Thing
Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito) tries to recruit people to join him in boycotting Sal’s but is unsuccessful and is made fun of
Caesar's Army, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Caesar negotiates with the humans to keep their territories separate.
Catherine's Interrogation, Basic Instinct
Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) is questioned by detectives about the murder of her boyfriend, Johnny Boz.
Chiyo's Training, Memoirs of a Geisha
After being demoted to the geisha house's maid, Chiyo (Ziyi Zhang) restarts her training as a geisha with prominent geisha Mameha (Michelle Yeoh) as her teacher.
Claire and Zack Say Goodbye, Making Love
A few years in the future, ex-husband and wife Zack (Michael Ontkean) and Claire (Kate Jackson) catch up with each other after the death of their mutual friend.
Cochise and Preach Are Arrested, Cooley High
Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) and Preach (Glynn Turman) are arrested for grand theft auto, but are bailed out by Mr. Mason (Garrett Morris)
Daisy Blackmails Tank, Uptight
Clarence “Daisy” (Roscoe Lee Browne) attempts to blackmail Tank (Julian Mayfield) into helping to find Johnny (Max Julien)
David Visits John in the Hospital , Longtime Companion
David (Bruce Davison) visits his friend, John (Dermot Mulroney), who is in the hospital for having pneumonia, which is later understood to be AIDS.
Days and Nights on the Mountain, Brokeback Mountain
Ennnis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) herd sheep together at Brokeback Mountain.
Denis Archer and Margot Seaton Discuss Their Future, Island in the Sun
Denis Archer (John Justin) and Margot Seaton (Dorothy Dandridge) discuss their relationship and plans for the future.
Denis Archer and Margot Seaton Get To Know Each Other, Island in the Sun
Denis Archer (John Justin) and Margot Seaton (Dorothy Dandridge) get to know each other, and Archer professes his love for her.
Elgar and Fanny Kiss, The Landlord
After attending a party in the building, Elgar (Beau Bridges) returns to Fanny's (Diana Sands) apartment while her boyfriend is in prison. The two share a moment and kiss.
Ending Sequence, Cry, the Beloved Country
James Jarvis (Charles Carson) runs into Reverend Kumalo (Canada Lee) after Kumalo's son was convicted of killing Jarvis's.
Fantasy Reunion Sequence, Longtime Companion
Fuzzy (Stephen Caffrey), Willy (Campbell Scott), and Lisa (Mary-Louise Parker) walk along the beach and discuss their lives before AIDS. A dream sequence occurs where they reunite with their old friends who died from AIDS.
Feeling the Heat, Love Jones
Darius (Larenz Tate) and Nina (Nia Long) return to her place after deciding to give their relationship another try.
Hill X, The Exiles
Homer (Homer Nish) arrives at Hill X, a hangout spot overlooking downtown Los Angeles.
Howard's Characters Comes Out on TV, Longtime Companion
Friends gather together at couple David (Bruce Davison) and Sean's (Mark Lamos) beach house to watch their friend Howard's (Patrick Cassidy) character come out on TV.
I Want You to Hit Me, Fight Club
Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) encourages The Narrator (Edward Norton) to stay over at his place. Once that's settled he asks him to hit him. The Narrator then gives us a backstory for Durden. It flashes back to the present and The Narrator hits Durden, starting the first fight of the movie and the beginning of fight club.
Janet Sings "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-Me", The Rocky Horror Picture Show
After witnessing Brad (Barry Bostwick) being intimate with Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), Janet (Susan Sarandon) seduces Rocky (Peter Hinwood) by singing "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me."
Jo Peeks at Micah's Laptop While He Showers, Medicine for Melancholy
After Micah (Wyatt Cenac) brings her a drink, Jo (Tracey Heggins) pushes him to shower before climbing into bed. While he showers in the next room, she opens his laptop and peruses his social media history before going back to bed herself.
Layman's Language, Chan Is Missing
Jo (Wood Moy) and Steve (Marc Hayashi) meet a lawyer (Judi Nihei) who is representing Chan and is also looking for him.
Lead Man Holler, Island in the Sun
David Boyeur (Harry Belafonte) sings with the local workers and rowers, much to the amazement of Mavis Norton (Joan Fontaine).
Lena Receives the Check, A Raisin in the Sun
Matriarch Lena (Claudia McNeil) finally receives their family's life insurance check for $10,000. Her son, Walter (Sidney Poitier), returns home to see the check, wanting to use the money to open a liquor store.
Leon Talks to the Police, Dog Day Afternoon
Leon (Chris Sarandon) explains his relationship with Sonny and how he came to realize his identity to Detective Eugene (Charles Durning) and other police officers
Losing Hope, Minari
Monica (Han Yeri) helps wash her husband's (Steven Yeun) hair as he promises he'll provide for their family
Louis Leaves Billie, Lady Sings the Blues
After Billie (Diana Ross) breaks her promise to stay off of drugs, Louis McKay (Billy Dee Williams) leaves her.
Madame Liang Sings "Chop Suey", Flower Drum Song
At a party, after earning an award from her citizenship class Professor (Ching Wah Lee), Madame Liang (Juanita Hall) sings "Chop Suey."
Maria's Flashback, The Impossible
Going into surgery, Maria (Naomi Watts) has a flashback to the moments after the tsunami.
Micah and Jo Wake Up Together, Medicine for Melancholy
After an apparent one-night stand, Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo (Tracey Heggins) quietly observe each other while getting ready to leave their host (John Thurgood)'s now largely empty loft apartment. The party host invites them to stay for breakfast on their way out but they leave anyway.
Mike Confesses His Love to Scott, My Own Private Idaho
Mike (River Phoenix) admits that he loves Scott (Keanu Reeves) only to have Scott reject him and say that he only sleeps with men for money
Mr. Mason Tries to Motivate Preach, Cooley High
Mr. Mason (Garrett Morris) tries to motivate Preach (Glynn Turman) to apply himself, and also reveals that he’s the the one who got Preach and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) out of jail.
Nick Meets up with Catherine at the Club, Basic Instinct
Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) goes to the club to meet up with murder suspect Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone). There he witnesses Catherine kissing her friend, Roxy (Leilani Sarelle).
No Thank You Heaven, Minari
David (Alan Kim) talks to his grandma (Youn Yuh-jung) about his fear of dying due to his heart condition
Office Fight, Fight Club
The Narrator (Edward Norton) blackmails his boss (Zach Grenier). He then punches himself in the face and stages an entire fight against himself in front of the boss. He says it reminds him of his first fight with Tyler Durden. Once he's sufficiently bloodied, the police arrive and assume the boss was responsible.
Opening Credits, The Landlord
The film opens with shots of the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, while trust-fund kid Elgar (Beau Bridges) details his plans to renovate a building in the area
Opening Scene, Lady Sings the Blues
After being arrested on a drug charge, Jazz singer Billie Holiday (Diana Ross) is thrown in jail.
Opening Sequence, Bessie
Bessie (Queen Latifah) performs in a vaudeville show and reflects on her childhood
Opening Sequence, Making Love
Claire (Kate Jackson) and Bart (Harry Hamlin) deliver monologues about Zack (Michael Ontkean), who was Claire's husband and Bart's lover.
Point For Tom Lee, Tea and Sympathy
Tom (John Kerr) plays a tennis match while his father (Edward Andrews) and Laura Reynolds (Deborah Kerr) watch.
Preach and Brenda Discuss Poetry, Cooley High
Preach (Glynn Turman) and Brenda (Cynthia Davis) discuss love poetry at a party, but are interrupted when a fight breaks out
Preach Meets Brenda, Cooley High
Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) and Preach (Glynn Turman) go to Martha’s, where Preach meets Brenda (Cynthia Davis) and is immediately interested in her.
Rachel and Nick Reconnect, Crazy Rich Asians
Nick (Henry Golding) and Rachel (Constance Wu) spot each other from across the venue where Amarinta (Sonoya Mizuno) is marrying Nick's best friend, Colin. Nick's mother (Michelle Yeoh) and grandmother (Lisa Lu) observe Nick and Rachel's interaction.
Radio Raheem Goes to Sal's, Do the Right Thing
Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) shows off his “Love” and “Hate” rings to Mookie (Spike Lee) before going to Sal’s to order some pizza
Reverend Kumalo Finds His Son in Prison, Cry, the Beloved Country
After scouring Johannesburg, Reverend Kumalo (Canada Lee) finds his son (Lionel Ngakane) in prison for killing a white man during a house robbery.
Ringing in the New Year, Fruitvale Station
As Oscar (Michael B. Jordan) and Sophina (Melonie Diaz) ride the BART into San Francisco, the train gets delayed, forcing them to stay on the train when midnight strikes. The passengers respond by putting on music and throwing an impromptu party.
School Board Meeting, Lone Star
A meeting is taking place as parents of the community have differing views on how Pilar (Elizabeth Peña) is teaching history.
Scott Leaves Italy and Breaks Mike’s Heart, My Own Private Idaho
Scott (Keanu Reeves) tells Mike (River Phoenix) that he’s going back to the United States and that he’s bringing Carmela (Chiara Caselli) because he’s fallen in love with her
Scott Pretends Not to Know Bob, My Own Private Idaho
Scott (Keanu Reeves) pretends not to know Bob (William Richert) after he’s received his father’s inheritance
Sex or Love?, The Living End
Darcy (Darcy Marta) misses her roommate Jon (Craig Gilmore) as he and Luke (Mike Dytri) share a motel room
Sex with a Man, Go Fish
Daria (Anastasia Sharp) is interrogated in a dream by a group of women who argue she isn't a lesbian.
Sterling Meets the Local Police Force, The Silence of the Lambs
Sterling (Jodie Foster) is brought to meet with a local police force in order to gain more insight into serial killer activity
Steve's First Dance, Cruising
While at a gay nightclub, a man asks Steve (Al Pacino) to dance.
Tank Begs for a Job, Uptight
Tank (Julian Mayfield) visits B.G. (Raymond St. Jacques) and Jeannie (Janet MacLachlan) and asks to be hired as a bodyguard
Tank Goes to Johnny's Wake, Uptight
Tank (Julian Mayfield) drunkenly walks into Johnny’s (Max Julien) wake, arousing suspicion from those there that he was the informant.
The First Rule of Fight Club, Fight Club
Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) lays out the rules for Fight Club decided on by him and The Narrator (Edward Norton). This includes the well-known line, "You do not talk about Fight Club." The first fight begins, which includes someone from The Narrator's office. We flash forward to the following days where The Narrator explains that Fight Club only exists when you're in it—that in the outside world, it is not acknowledged. We see him and various other injured people go about their daily lives without talking about it.
The Li's Arrival in San Francisco, Flower Drum Song
Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) and her Father, Dr. Han Li (Kam Tong), arrive in San Franciso after illegally entering the country by boat.
The Mole Metaphor, The Landlord
At a party in his building, landlord Elgar (Beau Bridges) hears from several partygoers how being Black in America has changed over time.
The Murder of Paul Allen, American Psycho
Patrick (Christian Bale) hosts Paul Allen (Jared Leto) at his home and plays 'Hip To Be Square' by Huey Lewis and the News while preparing for murder.
The Weddings, Flower Drum Song
About to marry Sammy Fong (Jack Soo), Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) objects, resulting in her marriage to Wang Ta (James Shigeta) and Fong's marriage to Linda Low (Nancy Kwan).
Walter Rejects Lindner's Offer, A Raisin in the Sun
Lindner (John Fiedler) stops by the Youngers' home in South Side Chicago to close the housing deal. Walter (Sidney Poitier) has a change of heart and rejects Lindner's offer, deciding his family will move into Clybourne Park after all.
Willy Visits Sean in the Hospital, Longtime Companion
Willy (Campbell Scott) visits his friend Sean (Mark Lamos) in the hospital. After Sean kisses Willy on the neck, Willy worries about becoming infected.
Zack and Bart Kiss for the First Time, Making Love
After going on a dinner date, Zack (Michael Ontkean), who is married to a woman, and Bart (Harry Hamlin) kiss for the first time.
Zack Comes Out to His Wife, Making Love
After having his first sexual experience with a man, Zack (Michael Ontkean) comes out to his wife, Claire (Kate Jackson), as gay.
