MY HIT LIST # 47 DIE HARD


Die Hard is a perfect movie. Not the greatest movie or the most important or the most stylish, it’s just perfect in execution.

Die Hard wrote the template which has been followed by numerous imitations.
Die Hard in a plane Passenger 57, Die Hard on  bus Speed, Die hard on a ship Under Siege, Die hard on a mountain Cliff Hanger the list is endless.

What makes Die Hard so perfect is the casting of Bruce Willis as John McClaine and Alan Rickman as Has Gruber. At the time of casting Willis was the TV star who had dipped his toe into movies with the rom com Blind date and Rickman was the British stage actor little known in Hollywood. John McTeirnan as director was also a masterful appointment. Add to that Jeb Stewart’s screenplay which is full of superb dialogue that captures the action with a comedic snap and you have the perfect formula.

The action is brutal and sustained the quips seamless and the minor characters are full of great little moments; from Agents Johnson and Johnson to Dwayne T Robinson, from Chauffer Argyle through to sleazy Ellis, all contribute to the films rhythm.

Willis is undoubtedly the star of the show and he has the audience rooting for him from the off.

Great set pieces, sparkling dialogue performances that are just the right side of OTT all add up to a film that does exactly what it says on the tin.

Die Hard is pure entertainment no frills no pretence just the Movies how they can be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qxBXm7ZUTM
trailer 1988

McClaine "Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."
Takagi: “You want money? What kind of terrorists are you?”
Gruber:  “Who said we were terrorists?”

Ellis:  “Hey babe, I negotiate million dollar deals for breakfast. I think I can handle this Eurotrash.”
Marco: [chasing McClane to the end of a conference room table] You are dog now! No more table! Where are you going, pal? Next time you have a chance to kill someone, don't hesitate.
McClane: [McClane shoots Marco through the table] Thanks for the advice.

Thanks for the advice

Ellis

Come out to the coast

The quarterback is toast

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