03 July 2004Cinema
"Everything I Say, by Definition, is a Promise"
This quote is by far and away my favorite on-screen Brando moment. You won't see it on the news featurettes about his life where you'll hear him intone repeatedly that he could have been a contender, or scream for Stella or excoriate someone for coming to him on the day of his daughter's wedding, asking for justice without the courtesy to call him "Godfather". You will hear it if you rent "The Freshman."
After a long period during the 80s where Brando made no films, he came back strong with an Oscar nomination in "A Dry White Season" and then did "The Freshman", a comedy with Matthew Broderick and Bruno Kirby. In this film, he does a brilliant parody of his own Godfather persona. Like Brando himself, the role is pure genius and if you haven't already seen it, you should go out and rent it. You should go out and rent any Brando movie that you haven't seen for that matter.
Posted by andrew at July 3, 2004 11:29 AM
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'"Everything I Say, by Definition, is a Promise"'.
You saved me. I am making a big formal speech at Hearst Auditorium tomorrow in San Francisco, and I desperately needed the Brando quote from The Freshman, which I also adore.
Thanks, Dude.
bp