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

Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones and ‘The Fugitive’

Are you looking for a well told, action filled, star studded movie to watch this weekend? I suggest seeking The Fugitive (1993), a movie that tells the story of Dr. Richard Kimble, a man unjustly accused of murdering his wife. Kimble escapes prison in accidental circumstances, after which he sets out to find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal.

(Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive).

Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Richard Kimble, the namesake of the movie who starts the movie being unjustly convicted of murdering his wife. Helen Kimble is played by Sela Ward, who we meet after her death in the form of memories offered to the audience through the memory of her husband. The larger story of the hunt for tracking Dr. Kimble starts after a prisoner transport fails miserably thanks to efforts of other inmates to initiate an escape.

(Harrison Ford, left, and Sela Ward in The Fugitive).

Tommy Lee Jones plays Samuel Gerard, a seasoned United States Marshall tasked with the effort to bring Richard Kimble to justice following Kimble’s escape. Jones won an Academy Award for his portrayal, which served a strong role and counterpoint within the search and larger narrative that were strong within this film.

(Joe Pantoliano, left,  Tommy Lee Jones, center, and Daniel Roebuck in The Fugitive).

Two deputy United States Marshalls on the task force aiming to catch Richard Kimble were Cosmo Renfro, as played by Joe Pantoliano, and Robert Biggs, as played by Daniel Roebuck. Through multiple near captures over the course of the film, what the story underpinning The Fugitive gives us is the thrill of the hunt combined with the drama and mystery of Dr. Richard Kimble’s efforts to offer the proof that will grant him his exoneration.

(Tommy Lee Jones, left, and Julianne Moore in The Fugitive).

Julianne Moore as Dr. Anne Eastman figures into part of the effort aimed at almost capturing Dr. Richard Kimble. Kimble finds his way into a hospital with false credentials as a janitor, wherein he commences a search for information that can offer proof around who might have had motive and opportunity to profit from silencing Kimble. During these efforts, Kimble intercedes on the behalf of a patient under the care of Eastman at a hospital.

(Andreas Katsulas as Fredrick Sykes in The Fugitive).

The initial investigation that Dr. Kimble uncovers as part of his attempted exoneration is the identity of the one-armed man that he, Kimble, has argued is responsible for the death of Helen Kimble. Making this identification leads Richard Kimble to a further drug trial that leads to his friend, schoolmate, and colleague Dr. Charles Nichols. Jeroen Krabbé portrayed Dr. Nichols.

(Jeroen Krabbé as Dr. Charles Nichols in The Fugitive).

Suspense and intrigue are full blown, well-orchestrated qualities of The Fugitive. Writing credits for the movie went to Jeb Stuart, David Twohy, and Roy Huggins. The execution of this chase thriller movie is among the best created, in my humble opinion. It is for this reason that I offer the The Fugitive 4.0-stars on a scale of one-to-five stars.

Matt – Saturday, March 02, 2019