"The Shawshank Redemption" - Excellent example of the juxtaposition of visuals to convey theme. You can see the hope in the inmates' eyes. Also outstanding use of action to convey character. Andy Dufresne has almost no dialog. But he controls this scene.
"Once Upon a Time in the West" - One of the greatest Westerns ever made. A morality tale. Violence and redemption. When Industry allows nothing to stand in its way and is willing to take innocent life, and when the law turns a blind eye, only outlaws will bring justice.
"Adaptation." Wonderful script about how intensely impossible screenwriting is.
Great scene. Great writing. By my mentor, Michael Schiffer. Protagonist and Antagonist are both correct. But only one is right. While this scene may be a spoiler, watch the movie anyway. It's well done from beginning to end.
From "High Fidelity" - Great example of how to break the 4th wall effectively. Honestly.
"The Verdict" - Directed by Sidney Lumet. Script by David Mamet. The film for which Paul Newman should have won the Oscar. Excellent writing from beginning to end.
"Magnolia" - P.T. Anderson is a genius. Outstanding use of music to thematically tie multiple plot-lines together.
"Pursuit of Happyness" - Beautiful writing by Steve Conrad. Heartfelt without over-sentimentalizing.
"The Fisher King" - Beautiful scene. And an excellent way to use physical location to convey a character's inner life & point of view. Excellent writing throughout by Richard LaGravenese.
"Good Will Hunting" - Great scene. Screenwriters Matt Damon and Ben Affleck set up conflicts between two worlds, depth of friendship, clear characters (even in the minor roles), foreshadows the main character's emotional arc, texture, drama, comedy all in four minutes an nine seconds. -- That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. --
"Remains of the Day" - The book scene. It all starts because of a book. But nothing in this scene is actually about the book. Fine writing by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro.