Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Gary Busey in the Richard Donner movie ‘Lethal Weapon’

It’s not every day that an action and thriller movie is set against the backdrop of a holiday. It has become more common to see moves themed as romances or romantic comedies set against Christmas. The Richard Donner directed Lethal Weapon (1987) managed to mix the action thriller against a Christmas in the households of the characters that inhabit the movie’s universe. Today, we look into the happenings of Los Angeles policemen, one celebrating a birthday while the other recently lost his wife.

(From left, Blackie Dammett as Drug Dealer #3 and Mel Gibson as Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

Mel Gibson portrays Sergeant Martin Riggs of the narcotics division of the police, who we meet in a borderline suicidal anxiety in his home. The audience sees Riggs in the depth of his feelings while looking at a framed picture of his wife with what presumably is his service firearm. Captain Ed Murphy and Dr. Stephanie Woods as a mental health practitioner argue over whether Riggs is in a proper condition to serve. Riggs is given a new partner in the face of this. Steve Kahan and Mary Ellen Trainor portrayed Captain Murphy and Dr. Woods, respectively.

(From left, Traci Wolfe as Rianne Murtaugh and Danny Glover as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

Sergeant Roger Murtaugh, as portrayed by Danny Glover, is introduced amongst his family on his birthday. Murtaugh’s kids surprise him as he soaks in the family bathtub with a birthday cake, which simultaneously embarrasses the father while showing him to be the consummate family man. By the next day, Murtaugh and Riggs are partners with experience in the Vietnam War and special forces of the military.

(From left, Mitchell Ryan as General Peter McAllister and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

The past military lives of Murtaugh and Riggs come to relevance without discreet attempts by either man to specifically seek it out. This and other coincidences conspire when the daughter of Michael Hunsaker, a friend Murtaugh knew from the men’s time serving in Vietnam, dies in Los Angeles. Hunsaker had called Murtaugh just before Hunsaker’s daughter had suffered a death that seemingly had something to do with her life in an unsavory world. The possibility of there being more to this isn’t revealed until after Murtaugh and Riggs dig into their own professional relationship. Tom Atkins portrayed Michael Hunsaker.

(From left, Danny Glover as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh and Mel Gibson as Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

The plot thickens with the introduction of Mitchell Ryan as General Peter McAllister and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua. A criminal enterprise brings a genuine edge to the law enforcement perspective of the story that pairs with stylized comedic turns involving Riggs, Murtaugh, their relationship and the history both bring to their initial pairing as partners.

(From left, director Richard Donner and actor Mel Gibson on the set of the Richard Donner movie, Lethal Weapon).

The pace of Lethal Weapon works to a positive effect in setting a comprehensible story that feels entertaining. I found myself engaged and giggling at some of the silly humor while rooting for things to end well for both sergeants. The full impact of Lethal Weapon as directed by Richard Donner leads me to grant the movie 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia in the John McTiernan movie ‘Die Hard’

It’s not every day that an action and thriller movie is set against the backdrop of a holiday. It has become more common to see moves themed as romances or romantic comedies set against Christmas. The John McTiernan directed Die Hard (1988) managed to mix the action thriller against a Christmas gathering. Today, we look into the happenings at the fictional Nakatomi Plaza.

(Bruce Willis as John McClane, a New York City police detective in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

Die Hard is set in Los Angeles, where police officer John McClane hopes to reconcile with his wife during a holiday party hosted by the employer of his estranged wife, Holly Gennero-McClane. Bruce Willis portrayed John McClane opposite Bonnie Bedelia‘s portrayal of Holly Gennero-McClane. The employer is Nakatomi Corporation, which is due to be robbed during the very event where John hopes to reconcile with Holly.

(From left, Dennis Hayden as Eddie, Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, the leader of the terrorists and Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennero-McClane, a Nakatomi executive and John’s estranged wife in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

The movie quickly turns from a from a romantic comedy staged against a Christmas backdrop when the robbers with a violent streak, led by Hans Gruber, present the Nakatomi Plaza with a terrorist plot to rob the Nakatomi Corporation at their plaza, triggering the action thriller that we come to see. Alan Rickman portrayed Hans Gruber. Dennis Hayden portrayed one of Gruber’s henchmen, Eddie.

(From left, Alexander Godunov as Karl, Gruber’s second-in-command and Clarence Gilyard Jr. as Theo, Gruber’s tech specialist in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

Clarence Gilyard Jr. and Alexander Godunov serve as a pair of Gruber’s henchmen, portrayed from early in the story of Die Hard in setting the thievery and underlying action in motion. The Los Angeles Police Department joins the response to the plot in motion, supported first by sergeant Al Powell and later by deputy chief Dwayne T. Robinson. Paul Gleason portrayed Robinson as Reginald VelJohnson portrayed Powell.

(From left, Reginald VelJohnson as Al Powell, an LAPD sergeant and Paul Gleason as Dwayne T. Robinson, the LAPD Deputy Chief in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

John McClane had arrived at Nakatomi Plaza in a limousine driven by a man named Argyle. Argyle, portrayed by De’voreaux White, agreed to wait for John as he went to reconcile with his wife Holly. He waits on scene as the events of the movie progress, offering humor through miscommunication with McClane accompanied by other opportunities to support the story.

(De’voreaux White as Argyle, John’s limousine driver in John McTiernan‘s Die Hard).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) plays a part in seeking to respond to the terrorist robbery plot of the movie, offering a jurisdictional power play with the Los Angeles Police Department that was the first formally requested responding agency on scene. FBI actions geared at ending the plot actually advance the plot, with the actions of Argyle, Al Powell and John McClane each championing a decisive under current that is championed throughout Die Hard. Grand L. Bush portrayed FBI Special Agent Little Johnson as Robert Davi portrayed FBI Special Agent Big Johnson in the movie.

(From left, actor Grand L. Bush, Director John McTiernan and actor Robert Davi on the set of the John McTiernan movie Die Hard).

The central appeal for the movie Die Hard is first and foremost the action, intrigue and thriller qualities of the story. The compelling undercurrent of humor juxtaposed against incompetence as roadblocks to the central robbery succeeding or failing, both externally to stopping the robbery and internally to the stealing, add substantially to what works well. I grant Die Hard as directed by John McTiernan 4-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, December 1, 2021