Repo Man (1984)

The Scene: Plate of Shrimp

Why We Love This Scene: Alex Cox’ existential science-fiction-action-crime-comedy Repo Man is one of the oddest films I’ve ever seen. An infamous cult classic starring Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton about the everyday adventures and philosophies of car repo men. Yes I said “philosophies.” There’s more thinking and theories in this movie than a Richard Linklater movie. Plus it has laughs, action and a great underground 80s punk soundtrack. It’s terribly hard to categorize since it’s all over the place tonally but at its heart if you “get this” movie than you’ll enjoy the hell out of it. Repo Jake, starring Dan Haggerty, however, takes the tales of the seedy underbelly of repo men to all new levels though. 

Truth be told, I’ve only seen it in its entirety only once but to this day I always harken back to the scene with Emilio talking to Tracey Walter about life’s little connections and coincidences. Whenever I experience a coincidental moment I always say out loud “Plate of Shrimp.” Rarely does a movie (especially one I’ve only seen once about a decade ago) give me a new definition or expression about a odd life occurrence but this is one I’m fond of because thinking of something, a song, food or a person and then having someone else also say out loud the very same thing is kinda remarkable. The rest of the scene is funny and Walter makes a ton of fine points as well but Plate of Shrimp is one of my new favorite expressions.