This Sunday marks the 86th Academy Awards, the year’s grandest celebration of achievements in acting, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and so on.
In the spirit of the Oscars, today we’re looking back on some iconic films – and some box office busts – and the memorable lines that ought to resonate with just about everyone in recruiting.
“You gotta give me one thing. I’m a scary judge of talent.”
– Al Pacino’s Walter Burke, The Recruit (2003)
“I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed; or buy anything sold or processed; or process anything sold, bought or processed; or repair anything sold, bought or processed, you know, as a career.”
– John Cusack’s Lloyd Dobler, Say Anything (1989)
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
– Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone, The Godfather (1972)
“What we’ve got here is … failure to communicate.”
– Strother Martin’s Captain, Cool Hand Luke (1967)
“Dress code pretty lax around here?”
– Chris Cooper’s Phil Woodward, The Company Men (2010)
“Round up the usual suspects.”
– Claude Rains’ Captain Louis Renault, Casablanca (1942)
“I’m looking for the least possible amount of responsibility.”
– Kevin Spacey’s Lester Burnham, American Beauty (1999)
“Houston, we have a problem.”
– Tom Hanks’ Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 (1995)
“No sir, I have no experience, but I’m a big fan of money. I like it, I use it, I have a little. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator. I’d like to put more in that jar. That’s where you come in.”
– Adam Sandler’s Robbie Hart, The Wedding Singer (1998)
“You had me at hello.”
– Renée Zellweger’s Dorothy Boyd, Jerry Maguire (1996)
And, most inspiring of all – the candidate, on getting the job:
“This part of my life, this little part, is called ‘happyness.’”
– Will Smith’s Chris Gardner, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
See more fun, recruiting-related movie quotes here.
Published by Conselium Executive Search, the global leader in compliance search.
