Lines that inspire from four of the top films at the 2019 Oscars

Films that make a real mark are diverse in their content, storytelling, subject matter and presentation – but one thing they have in common is their ability to rouse and resonate.

The films nominated at this year’s Oscars demonstrated that diversity as effectively as those selected in any shortlist in any year before it.

The Marvel franchise production ‘Black Panther’ sat alongside ‘Vice’, the biography of vice president Dick Chaney as well as period black comedy ‘The Favourite’. Also on the list were ‘Green Book’, ‘BlacKkKlansman’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Roma’ and ‘A Star Is Born’.

Each is packed with insightful moments and characters that deliver lines that would be to the credit of any of the world’s career motivational speakers

Here we take a look at some of the most memorable and relatable lines in the shortlist and winner of ‘best picture’ at the 2019 Oscars.

Green Book

The winner of the ‘best picture’ accolade, Green Book tells the story of a remarkable friendship between two vastly different characters – a refined black African American pianist and his rough-and-ready white Italian American bouncer.

Set in 1962, the biographical comedy-drama highlights the race-related hardships endured by pianist Don Shirley. However, some of the film’s most memorable lines are not even related to that important central theme. They come as the two characters trade words about love, values and living in the moment.

Bouncer ‘Tony Lip’ isn’t an obvious mindfulness guru, yet his reflection on the teachings of his dad could be seen as a manifesto for living in the moment: “You know, my father used to say, whatever you do, do it 100%. When you work, work. When you laugh, laugh. When you eat, eat like it’s your last meal.”

When Shirley shares his principles, there is also (maybe less surprisingly) opportunity for enlightenment. In one instance, the pair are in a prison cell thanks to the rash actions of Lip when Shirley says: “You never win with violence. You only win when you maintain your dignity. Dignity always prevails.”

And as memorable film lines go, who could forget the words within the love letter sent by Tony to his wife with the help of Shirley? And who doesn’t hope, one day, to receive something similar?

“Falling in love with you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done,’” it said. “Nothing matters to me but you and every day I am alive I am aware of this. I loved you the day I met you. I love you today and I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Bohemian Rhapsody

Few scenes are more likely to ensure the total silence and captivation of an audience than that when music legend Freddie Mercury tells his band mates about his positive HIV status in the smash hit story of his life ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

Whilst the words he speaks are intensely personal to Mercury and his situation, within what he says are so many messages for us all about priorities and making life count.

Within the speech, Mercury tells his band he has no wish to be defined by the media and will continue to define himself.

He says: “If any of you fuss about it or frown about it or worst of all, if any of you bore me with your sympathy, that’s just seconds wasted. Seconds that could be used making music, which is all I want to do with the time I have left. I don’t have time to be their victim. Their AIDs poster boy, their cautionary tale. No, I decide who I’m going to be. I’m going to be what I was born to be. A performer who gives the people what they want. A touch of the heavens.”

Black Panther

As is so often the case with the much loved Marvel film series, Black Panther is a film with layers. Action and laughs aplenty, the clever dialogue is as subversive and inspired as its plot.

When Black Panther addresses the UN as T’Challa, King of Wakanda, he speaks also to the political leaders of the real world.

“We all know the truth,” he says. “More connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.”

A Star is Born

If ever there were a line that we can all take something vital from it is one of those spoken between the central characters of Lady Gaga’s ‘A Star is Born’.

The musical romantic drama sees country music singer Jackson ‘Jack’ Maine fall in love with singer-songwriter Ally.

He tells her: “Look, talent comes everywhere, but having something to say and a way to say it so that people listen to it, that’s a whole other bag. And unless you get out and you try to do it, you’ll never know. That’s just the truth. And there’s one reason we’re supposed to be here is to say something so people want to hear. So you got to grab it, and you don’t apologise, and you don’t worry about why they’re listening, or how long they’re going to be listening for, you just tell them what you want to say.”