Die Hard ( * * * * * )
Best American action movie.
The Acting: Alan Rickman rules the world as a vicious, but exceptional, thief. Willis erases the scarlet letters TV off his chest as everyman John McClane, a regular guy in an insanely dangerous situation. When he's tying a firehose around his waist in preparation for a suicidal leap off a forty-story tall building, he does what anyone in that situation would realistically do: he asks himself, "What the fuck are you doing, John?!" And anyone who doesn't sympathize with him as he plucks bloody chunks of glass from his bare feet is a heartless monster. Speaking of which, Alexander Gudonov plays the indestructible euro-terrorist, and Bonnie Bedelia the estranged, world-wary wife who still loves Willis. William Atherton, not satisfied to play the biggest jerk in the world in Ghostbusters, here plays the biggest jerk ever. And then there's Reggie V. Poor Reggie V.
The Story: Terrorists seize Nakatomi Plaza--and it's up to the L.A.P.D., the F.B.I., the TV media and an asshole named Ellis to impede the efforts of the one man in a position to do anything about it. This script was unrealistic on so many levels, yet super-realistic on so many others. It was action movie realism at its finest, thanks to the script by Steven E. De Sousa and Jeb Stuart. This movie was copied by every scriptwriter in Hollywood, including, eventually, those two original scriptwriters themselves. Die Hard has entered the lexicon as part of any high concept pitch now: "Die Hard on a Boat," "Die Hard in Space," etc. In fact, it's been so copied, I plan on writing a movie using only dialogue from Die Hard, but scrambled up to form a new plot, called Air Hedd.
The Direction: John McTiernan's Predator is another action highlight of the period. And I love those flaring lights of his from the old panavision lenses. He described this as a horror movie where the protagonist is the monster, and the bad guys are the ones trying to accomplish something. And as McClane picks them off, and the genius of their plan comes more and more into light, you find it's fun to root for both sides.
Overall: What a great holiday movie. Merry Christmas, everybody.
Tredekka Rules:
The Acting: Alan Rickman rules the world as a vicious, but exceptional, thief. Willis erases the scarlet letters TV off his chest as everyman John McClane, a regular guy in an insanely dangerous situation. When he's tying a firehose around his waist in preparation for a suicidal leap off a forty-story tall building, he does what anyone in that situation would realistically do: he asks himself, "What the fuck are you doing, John?!" And anyone who doesn't sympathize with him as he plucks bloody chunks of glass from his bare feet is a heartless monster. Speaking of which, Alexander Gudonov plays the indestructible euro-terrorist, and Bonnie Bedelia the estranged, world-wary wife who still loves Willis. William Atherton, not satisfied to play the biggest jerk in the world in Ghostbusters, here plays the biggest jerk ever. And then there's Reggie V. Poor Reggie V.
The Story: Terrorists seize Nakatomi Plaza--and it's up to the L.A.P.D., the F.B.I., the TV media and an asshole named Ellis to impede the efforts of the one man in a position to do anything about it. This script was unrealistic on so many levels, yet super-realistic on so many others. It was action movie realism at its finest, thanks to the script by Steven E. De Sousa and Jeb Stuart. This movie was copied by every scriptwriter in Hollywood, including, eventually, those two original scriptwriters themselves. Die Hard has entered the lexicon as part of any high concept pitch now: "Die Hard on a Boat," "Die Hard in Space," etc. In fact, it's been so copied, I plan on writing a movie using only dialogue from Die Hard, but scrambled up to form a new plot, called Air Hedd.
The Direction: John McTiernan's Predator is another action highlight of the period. And I love those flaring lights of his from the old panavision lenses. He described this as a horror movie where the protagonist is the monster, and the bad guys are the ones trying to accomplish something. And as McClane picks them off, and the genius of their plan comes more and more into light, you find it's fun to root for both sides.
Overall: What a great holiday movie. Merry Christmas, everybody.
Tredekka Rules:
- Rule 1: No Movie Can Get More Than 5 Stars, Not Even Deadfall. Or Die Hard.
- Rule 4: Sweet Actor Bonus--Alan Rickman, +1 star--Al Leong, +3 stars.
- Rule 6: Over The Top Acting Award--Rickman deserves +2 stars for playing the most suavely evil villain ever, Hans Gruber.
- Rule 24: Exploding Buildings Are Good, +1 star. Especially if they get glass all over people. Then again, who gives a shit about glass?
Tredekka Score: ( * * * * * )
posted by Tredekka at 2:16 PM
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