This scene was the turning point of this case. The smug Mr. Tipton was the prosecution's #1 "witness", and Vinny DESTROYED his testimony! It soon got to an even playing field, up to the "...no, the defense is wrong!.. torpedo scene which ultimately SUNK the prosecution's case!
Humor aside, I've always loved the anger in his face and voice with that last "ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THOSE 5 MINUTES?" It was the point he went from "out-of-his-league lawyer just trying to do his best" to "I will burn the entire state of Alabama to the ground to protect my cousin, don't test me".
And the hint of satisfaction/contempt when the witness says -- UNDER OATH -- that he may have been mistaken is nothing less than brilliant acting. Just brilliant.
@@davidwalter2002 Don't forget, the DA was quite a slickster, so he had the grit guy all coached-up beforehand: two Northern kids think they'll come down here, murder our buddy and avoid the chair?
In high school I literally signed up for a Law class for 1 reason. So during the mock trials we did I could dismiss my witnesses with the epic phrase "I got no more use for this guy."
I defended myself in court against two lying cops. Idiots thought I was bluffing when I said I'd recorded the whole thing (I'd swapped out the memory card before they got a chance to take the camera ... they 'accidentally' erased completely unrelated material, while I still had the other card under my watch strap. One of them took no notes on the day and made his report over month later than his colleague. I pointed out that he had an entire paragraph _verbatim_ from the other guy, and also they both had my co-defendant's date of birth wrong , adding a year to his age (despite it being recorded clearly and correctly in the booking procedure). My last question was to ask him to explain the striking 'similarities' and the shared error to the judge. He sat there with his mouth open, and I said "I have no more use for this witness". The judge would have lost her temper if I referred to the cop as a 'guy', but I was definitely thinking of this scene when I said it.
Sometimes the actor will break character in the heat of the moment, but the director likes the end result better than the planned scene. Those are usually the best parts of a movie or tv show. Golden.
As close to perfect as you can get for a movie. Perfectly cast, and the script was brilliant....the wardrobe, the production art, location, direction, even the people who had small roles executed brilliantly. Easily one if the best movies ever made. Just my opinion.
I agree with you. One of the best comedy movies made. The stuttering lawyer gets me everytime. In today's PC society this is probably not acceptable, but oh well.
@@JayJay-me8zk a classic comedy that will always make me laugh by the way I served in the Air Force is that a little Air Force Insignia I'm looking at I'm not wearing my glasses right now I went back for another 8 years when the Saudis decided to fly into the World Trade Center that my brother and my brother-in-law were both working in at that point I was working in the financial district downtown Nassau Street if you're familiar my job was to defend the troops on the ground stayed in my kill box until I was called to do my job I did what I had to do I love my country and I defended my country I can't stand people that stay here and bad-mouth it on a daily basis when I hear people bad-mouthing America I tell them to leave
His line of questioning here is so brilliant. He gains the witness’ trust by relating to him with a mutual enjoyment of grits, displays a supposed mastery of the topic by asking “regular, creamy or al dente” to intimidate the witness and then curveballs him by asking if they were instant grits, knowing well already that “no self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.” Its a perfect trap that no one in the courtroom even sees coming.
Mr Tipton has no idea what El Dante means as he's not Italian and doesn't cook pasta. PEOPLE, THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS A COMEDY ! AMAZING HOW MANY ARE ANALYZING IT LIKE IT'S A REAL STORY. WOW !
"Regular, creamy, or al dente" also has a practical reason: if he cooked his grits "al dente," then his cooking time might have been less than 20 minutes, and if they were creamy, it might have been more. By locking in to saying he cooked his grits "regular," he can't say that he didn't take so long to cook them because he likes them a little crunchy or something like that.
@@StarUnreachable that is a good point for if it did end up into that line of questioning. Although it’s kinda implied also that the witness clearly doesn’t even know what the hell “al dente” even is. Also I just realized that this could’ve been a cheeky implied joke about the culture differences here 🤣 Vinny being of Italian roots and the witness being a pure Southerner.
@@caboose.20 It was perjury to say he may have been mistaken when he knew it was 5 minutes, just so that the jury wouldn't think he was eating instant grits.
No. You missed the point of the scene. The point was he did not use instant grits, and it really took him 20 minutes to cook his breakfast, not 5 minutes. He was mistaken about the 5 minutes. That's not perjury.
Real life lawyers and judges have said Vincent Gambini is godawful at what is taught in law school-but masterful at what is not. In that one cross examination he destroyed the witnesses credibility.
Was so expertly done! Tipton - who made the public defender look like a jackass - was toast at that point! Vinny handled it with a cool and suave manner, it made you forget he was wearing that maroon tuxedo from someone's prom. I thought it gave him kind of a cool old style looking southern swagger with it! Regardless, Vinny is the MAN!!
Double plot twist: Mr. Tipton doesn’t know how to actually cook grits. Being a self respecting southerner he’s always been ashamed of himself for this. Well on this morning he went to the SOS to buy some grits so he could try and make them for his breakfast once again for the billionth time. As always, he failed to cook his grits and subsequently ruined his breakfast. Mr. Tipton now enraged at a life of failures went back to the SOS where he shot the clerk in a fit of jealous frustration. You see the clerk was also a blue ribbon winner at the county fair 3 years running for his famous grits. Mr. Tipton then panicked realizing what he had done, he ran back to his house where he called the law and described witnessing a shooting just moments earlier where he described the two “youts”.
@blue222blue Virginia isn't the deep south it's more of the Mid Atlantic area, still part of the south but realistically more in common with Yankees then say someone in Georgia or Mississippi.
Omg, before my professor showed us this clip in class, I had never seen the movie. Watched it today and only noticed then that he was wearing something ridiculous 😂
To those who may not know, grits are boiled cornmeal (4 parts water or milk to 1 part meal). It takes a lot for the hard meal to get soft, so yes, Vinny's right.
Yeah, Vinny did his research and asked the locals about this beforehand. Just one more reason why this movie is realistic. Vin knew something was wrong with the guy's testimony before he even got started on his questions. :)
I don't know 2 shytes about grits, but cornmeal & flour & beer & eggs makes a a batter for fried catfish that is worth trying. I don't get compliments much on cooking, mainly because I can't cook...but, it seems my deep-fried catfish is a hit to some.
@@Nomadistar My step-dad was known for the fish fry around his neck of the woods, & I'm positive he used the same or darn near the same recipe for his batter.
I love the look on Marisa Tomei's face when he asked the grits question, you could see the pride she felt when he showed what a good lawyer he could actually be.
“How do you like your grits? Regular, creamy or al dente?” The way he stares at the witness after asking that question, he looked like a spider waiting for its prey to fall in its web. He wasn’t the clown lawyer everyone thought he was, he was showing his skills right there.
@@ianharac5153 I was gonna say the same thing.... a master at argument, a dummy at court procedure. I represented myself in my 2 day custody trial vs. my ex's lawyer. this was my inspiration. I won sole custody. 1st time ever in this county a layman beat a lawyer in a custody trial. Thanks Vinny !
You're right though, its completely a trap. I love how they write this, he gets him to establish the cooking breakfast timeline, then narrows down any arguments he could use to escape after he brings down the hammer. If he just skipped right to the 20 minutes bit, then buddy could say "Oh I only cook mine for 5 minutes, I like them al dente" or "They were instant grits." just like he did to the stuttering boob "They're reading glasses." Vinnie cuts off every avenue of escape, then shoves it up this smug jerks ass.
1:10 when Tipton started his grandstanding about being a "self-respecting southerner" and taking pride in his grits, that's the trap Gambini set up for him to torpedo his testimony!
Black, white doesn't matter. It's a matter of self respect for Southerners to not use instant grits. All the small touches that make this movie just so humane and wholesome
@@kaleb.7930 I read there was talk about having a sequel to "My Cousin Vinny." In it, Vinny was now practicing law in England. Apparently, Joe Pesci was interested in doing it but Marisa Tomei was not.
Andrew ! Totally. There’s a reason so many lawyers site this as their favorite legal movie, and is often shown in law school. Classic movie from top to bottom.
@@ChrisStavros it is a cross examination. These witnesses are witnesses for the prosecution. Unless of course you think the defense lawyer called witnesses who believed they saw his defendants commit a murder.
Notice how he put the witness off his guard talking about how he liked his grits and then sprung the trap of getting him to admit that he needed 20 minutes to cook his breakfast.
larky368 There is a TH-cam channel where a real life trial attorney critiques trial scenes in movies and he did this movie. He gave it high marks and said this movie was very realistic and Pesci’s tactic as a lawyer was brilliant. He specifically highlighted this scene as great.
I dont know about yall but the final "are you sure" gets me emotional. Like you proud vain creature. These are kids whose lives you are toying with. You better be SURE!
“I got no more use for this guy” doesn’t just mean he’s finished or the guy was mistaken, it means an idiot’s careless testimony, given the way it was partly for the sake of attention, could have killed two guys who are basically kids.
To get attention?...I don't think that's what they were going for. Think it was just a guy who was incorrectly certain. (It really WAS them who he saw walking in after all)
Vinnie dismissed multiple witnesses this way. It's just his blue collar ineloquent way of doing it, given his lack of court room procedure training. None of the witnesses were there maliciously, they genuinely thought those boys did it. If anything, what this movies shows is how inaccurate "eye witness" testimony really is.
@@KS-xk2so in reality what are the odds that two other people would wear not only the same clothing but look identical with what appears the same vehicle go to the same small town store within a short period of time?
@@toomanyaccounts The point is the possibility, given the circumstances, as well as the fact that the "eye-witness" testimony were those that weren't even *at the store*, but lived near the store, but still a considerable distance away as to not be able to make out facial features and generalized clothing. You could make out, a couple white dudes (*probably white dudes*, but I can't be certain), maybe brown hair, jeans, jacket color, and a car of a certain description. That's about it.
His cluelessness in the film was what made it. He totally accentuated Joe Pesci's performance. Pesci is overbearing, and Gwynne gets to play straight man.
How Pesci didn’t win best actor for this role is beyond me. His dramatic ability is on display, but also a comic timing that I never knew he had until this movie.
Well, Denzel Washington played the titular character in Malcom X that year so… wait a minute Denzel didn’t win either! Instead it was Al Pacino getting his apology Oscar for not winning in The Godfather. What a racket!
*R.H. Kingpin* That's the joke. Vinny never saw a grit until a few days before. So he inserts his own experience and applies it to grits. He knows pasta, so he uses pasta terminology which most likely doesn't apply to grits. This just makes him more of an outsider. Love the line. Don't think it was a trick question though.
Yeah...the thought that Southerners in rural Alabama at that time (26 years ago) would use an Italian term to describe the level of doneness in regards to their precious grits doesn't strike me as probable. Maybe now, with the internet and hipsters and foodies using and eating grits in fancy dishes, but I doubt anyone used that term back then in that town, imaginary or not.
*R. H. Kingpin* Still desperate to be right that you have to take down others to puff yourself up, eh? Yeah...I wrote that and then realized my mistake and corrected it. It would not have been cool if I did that after you responded to it, but that's not what happened. I caught the mistake almost right away and corrected it. Since you like repeating things, how about I repeat this: R. H. Kingpin3 days ago Al dente is a common term used to describe something cooked in a manner to keep it firm or firmer. *It is used* for pasta, *grits* and lentils *frequently.* Just wanna dredge up the fact that you never address this lie of yours and now you just want to deflect from it by bringing up part of a post that I deleted that no one has responded to yet. Keep it up, buttercup. It's funny how your bruised ego shines through in your posts. Just admit you fucked up already. Such a petty thing to maintain, this bruised ego of yours.
I'm always amazed how versatile Joe Pesci is. It's so funny this is the same guy who played Leo Getz & the physcopaths Tommy Devito and Nicky Santoro. He's an amazing talent.
Don't forget that he showed his comedy skills in the Home Alone films, where he was literally doing slapstick clowning with Daniel Stern and young Macaulay Culkin. Just an excellent all-around actor. He flashed a bit of his intimidation skills as this cross examination proceeds. Just a true talent. Sorry that he seems to have retired, but he's earned it!
@TheSmithersy Ever had polenta, the differences are slight. Traditionally grits uses hominy (corn treated with lime) and polenta doesn't. But nontraditionally they are the same, boiled course cornmeal.
There is a proper response to that. "I use a pressure cooker" Although even then with boil time and pressure release you're still looking at 10 minutes.
The funniest thing about this scene is the suit that Pesci is wearing. I lost it the first time I saw him enter the courtroom wearing that suit...One of the longest and hardest laughs I have ever had during my time on this earth. Absolutely hilarious!!!!
I don't know who came up with the idea for that suit but it was a MASTERFUL idea! Pesci KNEW he was going to get reamed by the judge but he took it like a man! A classic scene!!!
I just get into the whole Hollywood star making idea in terms of how there's so many double standards. Soap operas often are accused of using "pretty people" with minimal talent, but then you see the one kind of homely person and you wonder how they "made it" in Hollywood. Here, a short, New York Italian with a VERY pronounced Brooklyn accent can be a star. Most of the time, people with heavy accents are trained to suppress their accents, although some actors I've heard still pronounce certain words a certain way, despite losing the accent. Not only that, but he gets roles beyond the stereotypical Italian mob guy and casting directors take advantage of his being short to put him in broad comedies where his "tough guy" image is used for comedic effect.
@@sgt.thundercok4704 No, Fred Gwynne, the actor playing straight man to Joe Pesci's antics as the judge, and I think the original comment is right; he doesn't get enough credit.
Just watched this movie for the first time last weekend. It is already one of my favorite comedies. It had me busting a gut with laughter. This movie was so ahead of its time, getting the finer details of actual trial process as close to reality as possible. It's an all-time classic in my book
I grew up in south Florida, and was once in a Wisconsin restaurant (similar to Denny’s) when I was 14 back in 1974. I asked if they had grits; they asked me what that was lol
What I love the most are Marisa Tomei's little expressions that reveal she is completely in character and in this film , other people just tone out, but she is there! that smile and grin is just!!!!!
I don't care how many times I see this (and I own the movie, too!), this and Marisa Tomei with her "defense is wrong" shtick still make me laugh out loud! BUT...in all fairness, Marisa's speech is made twice as funny by Fred Gwynne's facial expressions when Pesci says, "I would LOVE to hear why!!" and the camera turns to Gwynne, and he puts his chin in his hand and says, "So would I!" with a confused expression.
ahhhh! lmfao that was one of my favorite scenes in that movie!! " Were these MAGIC GRITS?! ..did you buy them from the same guy that sold jack his bean staulk beans?! " omg ..too funny!!
Damn this movie is one of the best. After a few viewings one realizes it’s a rom com. An awesome rom com that’s got a detective mystery parallel storyline with the highest of stakes.
It's almost tiring how much My Cousin Vinny is an absolute staple of any criminal law training course...except that it never actually gets old to watch.
This scene shows how a lawyer impeaches a witness. Maury Chaykin who played the witness did a phenomenal job of "falling apart" and projecting humility to the audience.....a lot tougher role to perform than Joe Pesci's role of attacking. Director Jonathon Lynn did a magnificent job on this scene. The consistent theme of this film was about humiliating Alabama and short-sighted southern culture for a careless judicial mishap. The best part was the court's humility and admission of error....a lovable authentic finish that drew respect.
@@joncarranzakuh-ran-zah8566 Also Grit = courage, determination There was even a newspaper/magazine galled Grit back when I was a kid, that advertised for kids to deliver for an after school job, making pennies per issue (maybe 5 cents, it wasn't an expensive paper). I remember ads for it in the few comic books I saw as a kid, mixed in with Sea Monkeys and the like; figured it was the 70's version of today's work from home telemarketing scams...
Perhaps the laws of physics ceases to exist on your stove. The way he delivers it with such intelligence and intimidation. Took the guy straight back to his school days. Such a forgotten gem of a film.
No, that's not how it works. This is just an example of the reliability of eyewitness testimony. If we charged every witness who misremembered something, they'd simply refuse to answer questions, which is a right they have.
I like how the witness gets nervous when he's very close to being revealed as a grit-cooking wizard who can manipulate time itself.
REVEAL YOUR MAGIC SIR!!!
This scene was the turning point of this case. The smug Mr. Tipton was the prosecution's #1 "witness", and Vinny DESTROYED his testimony!
It soon got to an even playing field, up to the "...no, the defense is wrong!.. torpedo scene which ultimately SUNK the prosecution's case!
OMGAH I need a new DnD GRIT COOKING WIZARD CLASS!!! I CAST GRITS TIME MANIPULATION!
HAHAHAHA!
What now?
Humor aside, I've always loved the anger in his face and voice with that last "ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THOSE 5 MINUTES?" It was the point he went from "out-of-his-league lawyer just trying to do his best" to "I will burn the entire state of Alabama to the ground to protect my cousin, don't test me".
And the hint of satisfaction/contempt when the witness says -- UNDER OATH -- that he may have been mistaken is nothing less than brilliant acting. Just brilliant.
Goodfellas/Casino Pesci came out there.
@@davidwalter2002 Don't forget, the DA was quite a slickster, so he had the grit guy all coached-up beforehand: two Northern kids think they'll come down here, murder our buddy and avoid the chair?
“..don’t shake your head I’m not done yet wait till you hear the whole thing so you can understand..” 😂
😂😂😂😂
And it was just a slight head shake😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
The hearing impaired thank you.
*shits pants on the witness stand*
In high school I literally signed up for a Law class for 1 reason. So during the mock trials we did I could dismiss my witnesses with the epic phrase "I got no more use for this guy."
Won't work without that accent
*Your high school must've loved it when you called The defendants "The two yoots."*
I defended myself in court against two lying cops. Idiots thought I was bluffing when I said I'd recorded the whole thing (I'd swapped out the memory card before they got a chance to take the camera ... they 'accidentally' erased completely unrelated material, while I still had the other card under my watch strap. One of them took no notes on the day and made his report over month later than his colleague. I pointed out that he had an entire paragraph _verbatim_ from the other guy, and also they both had my co-defendant's date of birth wrong , adding a year to his age (despite it being recorded clearly and correctly in the booking procedure). My last question was to ask him to explain the striking 'similarities' and the shared error to the judge. He sat there with his mouth open, and I said "I have no more use for this witness". The judge would have lost her temper if I referred to the cop as a 'guy', but I was definitely thinking of this scene when I said it.
jimbobeire How did the outcome go?
@@sisamusudroka3000 I'm not an idiot. Of course I did the accent!
"I got no more use for this guy...!"
This was SUCH a well-written movie!
Best line in the scene. 😅
You are so right about that! This is one of the most underrated movies of all times. Even REAL attorneys find it entertaining!
Even for my 10 year old boy it’s hilarious because he laugh and he even said “yea he is useless Now!”
@@texasrockshillcountry6574 I wish the term underrated would just disappear. Literally everything is now considered underrated.
@@jamesbizs
"wait til you hear the whole thing so you can understand this"
I fucking love this movie
The change in the tone of his voice is amazing.
Best part
😂😂
don’t shake your head at me lol
The hearing impaired thank you
The laughter when Vinny compares grits to magic beans is genuine. Even Joe Pesci cracked up a bit. It's a sincerely funny joke!
Sometimes the actor will break character in the heat of the moment, but the director likes the end result better than the planned scene. Those are usually the best parts of a movie or tv show. Golden.
That’s hilarious I never noticed Vinny laughing until you pointed it out. 😂
What?? He laughed as part of the character. The crowd laughed because they are told to. That's all. What the F are you talking about??
@@longtallshorty5791 Figure it out.
Funny how?
"The entire grit eating world" That sit cracks me up every time.
That's all the parts that matter, really.
Me too.
Call it polenta and he would have felt right back at home
I wish he said the "Grit eating community"
"Perhaps the laws of physics, cease to exist on your stove" 😂
There are no laws of physics or any laws of any kind for that matter in the backwoods deep South
Lol😂😂😂I take pride of my grits!!🤣😋
😂😂😂
Amazing scene!
Roberto Croizay Totalky agreed
Any other blood-sucking lawyer: "No further questions, your honor."
The best lawyers: "I got no more use for this guy!"
It would be 'yute'...😜 I got no more yute for this guy...😂
Braden Great movie.
I love this
😂
@Dark Demonik yutes 🤪😂🤣
As close to perfect as you can get for a movie. Perfectly cast, and the script was brilliant....the wardrobe, the production art, location, direction, even the people who had small roles executed brilliantly. Easily one if the best movies ever made. Just my opinion.
Примерно раз в год, когда совсем плохое настроение, пересматриваю этот фильм. И он совершенно не стареет.
I agree with you. One of the best comedy movies made. The stuttering lawyer gets me everytime. In today's PC society this is probably not acceptable, but oh well.
Also home alone. Laughed until my belly hurt
@@JayJay-me8zk
a classic comedy that will always make me laugh by the way I served in the Air Force is that a little Air Force Insignia I'm looking at I'm not wearing my glasses right now I went back for another 8 years when the Saudis decided to fly into the World Trade Center that my brother and my brother-in-law were both working in at that point I was working in the financial district downtown Nassau Street if you're familiar my job was to defend the troops on the ground stayed in my kill box until I was called to do my job I did what I had to do I love my country and I defended my country I can't stand people that stay here and bad-mouth it on a daily basis when I hear people bad-mouthing America I tell them to leave
@@Mr.Robert1 Air Force didn't teach you any punctuation or Grammar did they?
His line of questioning here is so brilliant. He gains the witness’ trust by relating to him with a mutual enjoyment of grits, displays a supposed mastery of the topic by asking “regular, creamy or al dente” to intimidate the witness and then curveballs him by asking if they were instant grits, knowing well already that “no self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.” Its a perfect trap that no one in the courtroom even sees coming.
Mr Tipton has no idea what El Dante means as he's not Italian and doesn't cook pasta. PEOPLE, THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS A COMEDY ! AMAZING HOW MANY ARE ANALYZING IT LIKE IT'S A REAL STORY.
WOW !
"Regular, creamy, or al dente" also has a practical reason: if he cooked his grits "al dente," then his cooking time might have been less than 20 minutes, and if they were creamy, it might have been more. By locking in to saying he cooked his grits "regular," he can't say that he didn't take so long to cook them because he likes them a little crunchy or something like that.
@@StarUnreachable that is a good point for if it did end up into that line of questioning. Although it’s kinda implied also that the witness clearly doesn’t even know what the hell “al dente” even is.
Also I just realized that this could’ve been a cheeky implied joke about the culture differences here 🤣 Vinny being of Italian roots and the witness being a pure Southerner.
What I got the biggest kick out of was that Vinny became a fan of grits! The perfect breakfast side!
Great scene, great movie !
But sometimes I use instant grits, Just lazy I guess .
1:30 - the moment he decided to perjure himself rather than admit that he bought, prepared, and ate Instant Grits.
Well he is a self-respecting southerner.
It's not perjury if Mr. Tipton truly believed it was 5 minutes.
@@caboose.20 ok Mr. Costanza
@@caboose.20 It was perjury to say he may have been mistaken when he knew it was 5 minutes, just so that the jury wouldn't think he was eating instant grits.
No. You missed the point of the scene. The point was he did not use instant grits, and it really took him 20 minutes to cook his breakfast, not 5 minutes. He was mistaken about the 5 minutes. That's not perjury.
How could it take you 5 minutes to cook your grits... when it takes the entire grit eating world... twenty minutes?
The silence is deafening.
Grit-eating-world is surely the greatest hyphonid of all time.
@@candybanks8717 "hyphenid" or "hyphonid" is the greatest word I may never actually use, but am glad to know...that I have learned this week. Lol.
Real life lawyers and judges have said Vincent Gambini is godawful at what is taught in law school-but masterful at what is not. In that one cross examination he destroyed the witnesses credibility.
@@dkupke Probably why it took him six tries to pass the bar even though he did so well when the trial actually started.
legal engle does this one, and talk about the real law.
I love the subtle change of expression on Pesci's face when the witness admits it was regular grits instead of instant. That look of "I got you now".
Was so expertly done! Tipton - who made the public defender look like a jackass - was toast at that point! Vinny handled it with a cool and suave manner, it made you forget he was wearing that maroon tuxedo from someone's prom. I thought it gave him kind of a cool old style looking southern swagger with it!
Regardless, Vinny is the MAN!!
It's even better when you remember he had never had grits before until he came to this town
@@otakuguy275 LOL, I had NEVER had grits in my life either. Until Basic Training at Fort Benning. Grits were on the menu every morning.
In a plot twist: It was later discovered that they were in fact magic grits
Plot twist: the two yutes DID shoot the clerk, but Tipton didn't want to admit that he used instant grits.
@Shirl Zitting instant grits aren't really that instant lol
Double plot twist: Mr. Tipton doesn’t know how to actually cook grits. Being a self respecting southerner he’s always been ashamed of himself for this. Well on this morning he went to the SOS to buy some grits so he could try and make them for his breakfast once again for the billionth time. As always, he failed to cook his grits and subsequently ruined his breakfast. Mr. Tipton now enraged at a life of failures went back to the SOS where he shot the clerk in a fit of jealous frustration. You see the clerk was also a blue ribbon winner at the county fair 3 years running for his famous grits. Mr. Tipton then panicked realizing what he had done, he ran back to his house where he called the law and described witnessing a shooting just moments earlier where he described the two “youts”.
Lmao that is so true😂😂😂😂😂✝️👍
actually, he didn't cook any grits he was at the waffle house and bought breakfast to go. after He shot the clerk.
"No self respecting southerner uses instant grits". When they're on sale at Walmart they sure do....
Should be "No self respecting southerner admits to using instant grits."
@blue222blue I mean, who uses instant grits?
@blue222blue Ahh. That is something a northerner would do.
@blue222blue Virginia isn't the deep south it's more of the Mid Atlantic area, still part of the south but realistically more in common with Yankees then say someone in Georgia or Mississippi.
@@joemckim1183 Than*
By watching how good he does what he does, one totally forgets Vinny is wearing a deluxe lift boy costume in the court session
Omg, before my professor showed us this clip in class, I had never seen the movie. Watched it today and only noticed then that he was wearing something ridiculous 😂
To those who may not know, grits are boiled cornmeal (4 parts water or milk to 1 part meal). It takes a lot for the hard meal to get soft, so yes, Vinny's right.
To be more specific, boiled white cornmeal.
@@scooter5940 hence why restaurants premake or even presoak the grits for the next day of service
Yeah, Vinny did his research and asked the locals about this beforehand. Just one more reason why this movie is realistic. Vin knew something was wrong with the guy's testimony before he even got started on his questions. :)
I don't know 2 shytes about grits, but cornmeal & flour & beer & eggs makes a a batter for fried catfish that is worth trying. I don't get compliments much on cooking, mainly because I can't cook...but, it seems my deep-fried catfish is a hit to some.
@@Nomadistar My step-dad was known for the fish fry around his neck of the woods, & I'm positive he used the same or darn near the same recipe for his batter.
I love the look on Marisa Tomei's face when he asked the grits question, you could see the pride she felt when he showed what a good lawyer he could actually be.
“How do you like your grits? Regular, creamy or al dente?”
The way he stares at the witness after asking that question, he looked like a spider waiting for its prey to fall in its web. He wasn’t the clown lawyer everyone thought he was, he was showing his skills right there.
And you see Marisa Tomei smiling and nodding. She knows he's smart and can argue; he just needed to learn proper court procedure, and he did.
@@ianharac5153 I was gonna say the same thing.... a master at
argument, a dummy at court procedure. I represented myself
in my 2 day custody trial vs. my ex's lawyer. this was my
inspiration. I won sole custody. 1st time ever in this county a
layman beat a lawyer in a custody trial. Thanks Vinny !
You're right though, its completely a trap. I love how they write this, he gets him to establish the cooking breakfast timeline, then narrows down any arguments he could use to escape after he brings down the hammer. If he just skipped right to the 20 minutes bit, then buddy could say "Oh I only cook mine for 5 minutes, I like them al dente" or "They were instant grits." just like he did to the stuttering boob "They're reading glasses." Vinnie cuts off every avenue of escape, then shoves it up this smug jerks ass.
'al dente' grints has me laughing my ass off
1:10 when Tipton started his grandstanding about being a "self-respecting southerner" and taking pride in his grits, that's the trap Gambini set up for him to torpedo his testimony!
The face that woman gave him when he made it known he don’t do no instant grits
Black, white doesn't matter. It's a matter of self respect for Southerners to not use instant grits.
All the small touches that make this movie just so humane and wholesome
mama knows...
i love that knowing smile
She was smiling because if he didn’t say that she would have whooped his behind with a rolling pin !! Haha
no self respecting southerner should. I would say also your grits should come from your state. I live in NC so I use House Autry.
Attention Universal Pictures: DO NOT REMAKE THIS. EVER.
Too late, they already started casting. Its Chris Evans as Vinney and Cobie Smulders as the judge.
@@josephconnelly5195 Well the remake is gonna be shit, that i can tell already.
@@kaleb.7930 Don't worry, I was just teasing. I was just trying to think of the worst cast to remake the movie with😀
@@josephconnelly5195 I know you were. i'd hate to see a remake of this awesome comedy.
@@kaleb.7930 I read there was talk about having a sequel to "My Cousin Vinny." In it, Vinny was now practicing law in England. Apparently, Joe Pesci was interested in doing it but Marisa Tomei was not.
This is actually a really good cross examination. Like with out the over the top comedy routine. Vinny does an incredible job casting doubt.
Andrew ! Totally. There’s a reason so many lawyers site this as their favorite legal movie, and is often shown in law school. Classic movie from top to bottom.
Casting doubt? No. Flinging it so fast that the laws of physics are violated.
It's not a cross examination, Vinny called this witness to the stand as he does the others at the end sequence of the movie.
@@ChrisStavros it is a cross examination. These witnesses are witnesses for the prosecution. Unless of course you think the defense lawyer called witnesses who believed they saw his defendants commit a murder.
Notice how he put the witness off his guard talking about how he liked his grits and then sprung the trap of getting him to admit that he needed 20 minutes to cook his breakfast.
larky368 There is a TH-cam channel where a real life trial attorney critiques trial scenes in movies and he did this movie. He gave it high marks and said this movie was very realistic and Pesci’s tactic as a lawyer was brilliant. He specifically highlighted this scene as great.
@@afterburner2869 Legal Eagle?
Kool McKool Yes, that’s the guy!
@@afterburner2869 I just watched that video today. And that's how I got into watching this movie.
Kool McKool This movie is one of my all time favorite comedies. I can watch it over and over.
"...the entire grit eating world..." Great line.
I dont know about yall but the final "are you sure" gets me emotional. Like you proud vain creature. These are kids whose lives you are toying with. You better be SURE!
“I got no more use for this guy” doesn’t just mean he’s finished or the guy was mistaken, it means an idiot’s careless testimony, given the way it was partly for the sake of attention, could have killed two guys who are basically kids.
Vinny got heart
To get attention?...I don't think that's what they were going for. Think it was just a guy who was incorrectly certain. (It really WAS them who he saw walking in after all)
Vinnie dismissed multiple witnesses this way. It's just his blue collar ineloquent way of doing it, given his lack of court room procedure training. None of the witnesses were there maliciously, they genuinely thought those boys did it. If anything, what this movies shows is how inaccurate "eye witness" testimony really is.
@@KS-xk2so in reality what are the odds that two other people would wear not only the same clothing but look identical with what appears the same vehicle go to the same small town store within a short period of time?
@@toomanyaccounts The point is the possibility, given the circumstances, as well as the fact that the "eye-witness" testimony were those that weren't even *at the store*, but lived near the store, but still a considerable distance away as to not be able to make out facial features and generalized clothing. You could make out, a couple white dudes (*probably white dudes*, but I can't be certain), maybe brown hair, jeans, jacket color, and a car of a certain description. That's about it.
Fred Gwynne (RIP) played the judge great.
His cluelessness in the film was what made it. He totally accentuated Joe Pesci's performance. Pesci is overbearing, and Gwynne gets to play straight man.
Oh shit... He was on the musters yeah?
+Leper Messiah
@@Unklechopchop
Yep! Fred Gwynne played Herman.
@Michael Gamble
+Michael Gamble
Fred Gwynne? It's been a long time since I've seen that film...
@Michael Gamble
+Michael Gamble
I'll have to find the movie again.
I miss my friend, Wayne Sitton. When he came over, we could almost always find this movie playing on TV. Such good times. RIP Wayne.
"Don't shake your head. I'm not done yet."
That was an improv.
Very much a Judge Judy moment!😎
How Pesci didn’t win best actor for this role is beyond me. His dramatic ability is on display, but also a comic timing that I never knew he had until this movie.
Well, Denzel Washington played the titular character in Malcom X that year so… wait a minute Denzel didn’t win either! Instead it was Al Pacino getting his apology Oscar for not winning in The Godfather. What a racket!
The reason he didn't win an Oscar for this movie is because the previous year he already won for his other famous role in Goodfellas.
"regular, creamy or al dente" lmao. I loved how he inserted that as a trick question.
Yōjinbō 用心棒 I think it was “regular creamy” or “al dente.” 2 choices.
*R.H. Kingpin*
That's the joke. Vinny never saw a grit until a few days before. So he inserts his own experience and applies it to grits. He knows pasta, so he uses pasta terminology which most likely doesn't apply to grits. This just makes him more of an outsider.
Love the line. Don't think it was a trick question though.
Yeah...the thought that Southerners in rural Alabama at that time (26 years ago) would use an Italian term to describe the level of doneness in regards to their precious grits doesn't strike me as probable. Maybe now, with the internet and hipsters and foodies using and eating grits in fancy dishes, but I doubt anyone used that term back then in that town, imaginary or not.
*KaptKan1*
Yeah...I was thinking just that!
*R. H. Kingpin*
Still desperate to be right that you have to take down others to puff yourself up, eh? Yeah...I wrote that and then realized my mistake and corrected it. It would not have been cool if I did that after you responded to it, but that's not what happened. I caught the mistake almost right away and corrected it.
Since you like repeating things, how about I repeat this:
R. H. Kingpin3 days ago
Al dente is a common term used to describe something cooked in a manner to keep it firm or firmer.
*It is used* for pasta, *grits* and lentils *frequently.*
Just wanna dredge up the fact that you never address this lie of yours and now you just want to deflect from it by bringing up part of a post that I deleted that no one has responded to yet. Keep it up, buttercup. It's funny how your bruised ego shines through in your posts. Just admit you fucked up already. Such a petty thing to maintain, this bruised ego of yours.
the look he gives the judge when he says defendants is so hilarious
Well, it is after the "Two yoots" fiasco, lol
This really is one of the best movies of all time
I'm always amazed how versatile Joe Pesci is. It's so funny this is the same guy who played Leo Getz & the physcopaths Tommy Devito and Nicky Santoro. He's an amazing talent.
Don't forget that he showed his comedy skills in the Home Alone films, where he was literally doing slapstick clowning with Daniel Stern and young Macaulay Culkin. Just an excellent all-around actor. He flashed a bit of his intimidation skills as this cross examination proceeds. Just a true talent. Sorry that he seems to have retired, but he's earned it!
What can we say, he’s a funny guy
@@Ben-hn4nw Funny how? I mean, funny like he is a clown? He amuses you? He makes you laugh?”
One of the greatest comedies ever. Period. 💀👌🏻
The entire grit eating world
@TheSmithersy
Ever had polenta, the differences are slight. Traditionally grits uses hominy (corn treated with lime) and polenta doesn't. But nontraditionally they are the same, boiled course cornmeal.
@@moleratical1232
Canada eats polenta.
Grits are similar cormeal porridge.
Some ppl like oatmeal🤷🏽♂️
@TheSmithersy It's very similar in texture to Cream of Wheat...
1:33 his exasperated face with the “IM A FAST COOK I GUESS!!!” kills me
There is a proper response to that. "I use a pressure cooker" Although even then with boil time and pressure release you're still looking at 10 minutes.
@@ravenshrike No self-respecting Southerner would use a pressure cooker!
The funniest thing about this scene is the suit that Pesci is wearing. I lost it the first time I saw him enter the courtroom wearing that suit...One of the longest and hardest laughs I have ever had during my time on this earth. Absolutely hilarious!!!!
"It was either my other outfit, which I know you hate, or this ridiculous thing!"
I don't know who came up with the idea for that suit but it was a MASTERFUL idea! Pesci KNEW he was going to get reamed by the judge but he took it like a man! A classic scene!!!
So I wore this..ridiculous thing...for you
@@CGJUGO80 "Are you on drugs?"
-Yes, your honor, I am - all of them.
I laughed so hard I shit myself
Ive lost count of the number of times Ive watched this movie and it always entertains me
"I got no more use for this guy." Joe Pesci is magic. Here. But then you put him in a gangster film and he goes all creepy crazy psycho evil.
Joe Pesci was awesome in Goodfellas.
I just get into the whole Hollywood star making idea in terms of how there's so many double standards. Soap operas often are accused of using "pretty people" with minimal talent, but then you see the one kind of homely person and you wonder how they "made it" in Hollywood. Here, a short, New York Italian with a VERY pronounced Brooklyn accent can be a star. Most of the time, people with heavy accents are trained to suppress their accents, although some actors I've heard still pronounce certain words a certain way, despite losing the accent. Not only that, but he gets roles beyond the stereotypical Italian mob guy and casting directors take advantage of his being short to put him in broad comedies where his "tough guy" image is used for comedic effect.
"Dis guy"
Basically the same character, without the psycho.
Have you seen him in "The Irishman" yet? If not, I strongly suggest you do so.
“Perhaps the law of physics cease to exist on your stove” Lol
The Grits Defense: "That's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out"
Beats the Chewbacca Defense coming and going.
effin' A
I sure do like pumpkins...
Court TV 8: The Ocho
LOL!!! Bold move, Cotton!! 🤣
people dont realize how incredibly talented Gwynne was
I think people do
Gwynne Stefani? She wasn't in this.
@@sgt.thundercok4704 LILLIAN!!!!!!
@@billyboblillybob344 You're always on the run now!
@@sgt.thundercok4704 No, Fred Gwynne, the actor playing straight man to Joe Pesci's antics as the judge, and I think the original comment is right; he doesn't get enough credit.
"The two yutes"...."What was that?? Did you say yutes????"
That part always cracked me up!!!
Just watched this movie for the first time last weekend. It is already one of my favorite comedies. It had me busting a gut with laughter. This movie was so ahead of its time, getting the finer details of actual trial process as close to reality as possible.
It's an all-time classic in my book
Anytime I catch it on TV, end up watching the whole film again and again!!
I own it and I should probably buy a few more copies, in case a DVD can wear out.
Completely agree. Its half 1 in the morning here, I am yawning non stop and falling asleep but I have a huge urge to just get my DVD out and watch it.
Ditto. Cant help but love this movie when you see Pesci going on full rant for the law
I got it in $5 bin at wal mart, they cut out a lot of scenes on tv...a lot more GOODfellas type language is cut, dont miss that tho.
They cut scenes out. Found in $5 bin at Wally world...like watching Goodfellas with the language.
I always loved the look on Herman Munster's face in this movie, whenever that Defense got a "win".
Pesci's face after he says "two defendants" at the start is priceless
Well, he couldn't say "two youts". 😁
I grew up in south Florida, and was once in a Wisconsin restaurant (similar to Denny’s) when I was 14 back in 1974. I asked if they had grits; they asked me what that was lol
I really like Fred Gwens facial expression at the end. It's like he just realized that the defense has a lawyer.
This movie was pure art - from beginning to end. Absolutely loved it and still do (2021).
I love this movie. Such a classic. Whoever wrote the script is genius.
The face of the judge at the end is priceless. That's when he realized that Vinny might be way smarter than he thought.
He turned mafioso on Tipton with the last question..."are you sure about the 5 minutes?"😂😂😂
Am I funny to u. Do I amuse u
No joke-this is literally one of the greatest scenes of all movies. Perfectly written, filmed and performed.
What I love the most are Marisa Tomei's little expressions that reveal she is completely in character and in this film , other people just tone out, but she is there! that smile and grin is just!!!!!
That's the reason she won an Oscar for this movie.
I don't care how many times I see this (and I own the movie, too!), this and Marisa Tomei with her "defense is wrong" shtick still make me laugh out loud! BUT...in all fairness, Marisa's speech is made twice as funny by Fred Gwynne's facial expressions when Pesci says, "I would LOVE to hear why!!" and the camera turns to Gwynne, and he puts his chin in his hand and says, "So would I!" with a confused expression.
ahhhh! lmfao that was one of my favorite scenes in that movie!! " Were these MAGIC GRITS?! ..did you buy them from the same guy that sold jack his bean staulk beans?! " omg ..too funny!!
One of the all time classics! This movie won't get old!
I Love this movie, instant classic!!!
I love the look Pesci gives him at 1:05. He's set the trap and just waiting for the defendant to step on the trap spring.
My favorite part!
Also the look at 1:16 when he admits to cooking real grits, pesci is like "I got you now mother fucker"
The two yutes!
What is a yoot??
Stephanie Gittinger. Excuse me your honor, the two yoouutthhss. Lol!!!
Stephanie Gittinger. This is the best movie ever.
Hey, they could be Utah utes
two whaaat?
Joe Pesci was always assertive in all of his roles. And that’s why he’s a genius.
Objection, question is a compound question! Maury Chaykin knocks it out of the park with his adopted Southern accent! RIP Maury!! Love the man!!
This movie has so many great moments like this. Unreal writing. One of the few movies I'll watch whenever it is on.
That laws of physics line gets me every single time!!
me too!!! My sister and I still quote this one and I think we last saw this movie in the 90's! Heck, I searched for this clip for that line!
"The entire grit-eating world..." One of my favorite lines from the movie
LOL mine as well
Damn this movie is one of the best. After a few viewings one realizes it’s a rom com. An awesome rom com that’s got a detective mystery parallel storyline with the highest of stakes.
Just the look on the black lady’s face like “this man grits.”
My favorite is when he says, we're in alafuckingbama we're from New yourk.
Classic movie. One of my favorites.
It's almost tiring how much My Cousin Vinny is an absolute staple of any criminal law training course...except that it never actually gets old to watch.
I take pride in my grits....
seconds later...
I am a fast cook i guess
seconds later...
I may have been mistaken
Sensational performance from a marvelous movie!!!!!
I got NO More Use for this guy
James G dis guy
I got no more youts for this guy.
Exactly... lmao
One of the great comedies of all time. I have a hard time thinking of anything more funny
The judge is a brilliant actor.
This scene shows how a lawyer impeaches a witness. Maury Chaykin who played the witness did a phenomenal job of "falling apart" and projecting humility to the audience.....a lot tougher role to perform than Joe Pesci's role of attacking. Director Jonathon Lynn did a magnificent job on this scene. The consistent theme of this film was about humiliating Alabama and short-sighted southern culture for a careless judicial mishap. The best part was the court's humility and admission of error....a lovable authentic finish that drew respect.
When he stops to say “Don’t shake your head. I’m not done yet. Wait ‘til you heard the whole thing. So you can understand this now.” 😂
This movie is so fucking good. Ive seen everything Pesci has been in, and Vinny is my favorite role
"No self respectin' suthahnah uses instant grits!" I still use this line all the time.
The singular word "grit" is funny.
While attending L.S.U. 94-97 there was a little place that posted that you could sample ONE GRIT
the entire GRIT-eating world...
Grits - food.
Grit - rough dirt/refuce
@@joncarranzakuh-ran-zah8566 Also Grit = courage, determination
There was even a newspaper/magazine galled Grit back when I was a kid, that advertised for kids to deliver for an after school job, making pennies per issue (maybe 5 cents, it wasn't an expensive paper). I remember ads for it in the few comic books I saw as a kid, mixed in with Sea Monkeys and the like; figured it was the 70's version of today's work from home telemarketing scams...
"ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT FIVE MINUTES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"
The look on the judges face at the end says it all. He knows at that moment.
Beautiful. This is one of my favorite movies
Best thing about this scene. Is the attorneys outfit!!!😂😂😂😂
Perhaps the laws of physics ceases to exist on your stove. The way he delivers it with such intelligence and intimidation. Took the guy straight back to his school days. Such a forgotten gem of a film.
Im a FAST COOK I GUESS
I'm sorry, I was all the way over here, couldn't hear ya. Did you say you're a fast cook, that's it?
Were these magic grits?
Too funny
I take pride of my grits!!!!😂😂😂😂😋
😂😂
This film far exceeded my expectations, a gem that just works.
I miss the days when Hollywood made movies like this.
These witnesses should be arrested and convicted of perjury.
No, that would not work. Perjury is willful. These witnesses are merely stupid.
Even in real life courts and prosecutors rarely charge witnesses who give false testimony with perjury in the USA.
No, that's not how it works. This is just an example of the reliability of eyewitness testimony. If we charged every witness who misremembered something, they'd simply refuse to answer questions, which is a right they have.
@@guywholikesgoodmusic actually if you are a material witness you can be subpoenaed which means you would be required to testify
@@OnceShy_TwiceBitten You can be forced to testify, yes, but you can't be forced to talk at the testimony.
1:10
Vinny: "Regular grits or instant grits?"
Mr. Grits Man: "Instant."
Vinny: "Well...crap..."
Herman Munster, The Karate Kid, and GoodFellas all in the same movie...EPIC!!!
I love this scene
This movie was sooo perfectly cast. Pesci was AMAZING!
One of my favorite scenes in the movie!
Dey were!!! Best line in the whole movie by Miss Veto..had a crush on her since I saw this as a kid!
“The laws of Physics seize to exist on your stove” 😂😂😂😂