Review of Die Hard (1988) by Adam F — 19 Dec 2013

If you happen to find yourself at a Christmas party and you have to choose a holiday film but don't want to see anything that has anything to do with Santa, exchanging gifts or any of that sentimental stuff, why not give "Die Hard" a try; it's an action movie set at Christmas time and not only is it going to mix things up a bit, but it's an excellent and exciting thrill ride. Bruce Willis plays John McClane, a police detective who finds himself far from his precinct in New York when he is invited to join his estranged wife's Holiday party in Los Angeles. McClane arrives to the Nakatomy Plaza where the party is set. It's a 35 story building with state-of-the art security. While changing his clothes, the party is interrupted by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and a group of heavily armed men. They seize control of the tower at gunpoint, kill the security downstairs, cut off communications and round up the hostages. They're crashing the party to get money; specifically a vault in the building that contains $640 million in bearer bonds. While they figure out a way to get their prize, they're more than willing to kill anyone to ensure everything goes according to plan. Outnumbered and facing dire odds, it's up to McClane to take down the bad guys while concealing his identity (his wife is among the hostages), try to alert the authorities of what exactly is going on and most difficult of all, stay alive.

You've seen this plot re-cycled and reimagined countless times and it's not like this is the first instance of a single man set against overwhelming odds but in this case it feels fresh. The biggest draw here is the protagonist and the lead bad guy. Willis convincingly plays an ordinary New York cop. While we may not be able to relate to his expertise with weapons and such, his marriage situation, his vulnerability when it comes to dodging obstacles sent in direction and the way he relies mostly on his wits instead of his muscles make him a compelling hero. He's got some witty dialogue and some terrific moments of humor and ingenuity. This isn't one of those movies where the hero's aim is always dead-on and the bad guys can't hit the broad side of a barn. There are numerous times when McClane gets pretty severely injured or runs out of ammunition and as the clock ticks, the stakes keep going up. He gets hurt, he gets dirty and he even loses his cool at times but he pulls it all together when it counts. On top of all that, you really wonder if he'll get the girl in the end. There's a lot going on here. What's a great hero without an equally compelling villain though? Here, Alan Rickman is not only memorable, but also likeable in a way. Sure he's a murderer and a thief, but you have to admire his intelligence. He comes in on Christmas Eye, very organized with competent men and a tight plan. He's got a simple goal and a backup plan for when his first attempt doesn't work. He's not evil, he's just really focused on his goal and won't let anyone, certainly not a person caught at the wrong place at the wrong time stand in his way. He's even got some moments where he proves himself a master tactician and able to think on the fly. Check out the scene where he and McClane first meet. Now keep in mind, the two have been communicating mostly through dead bodies and walkie talkies until now so neither of them knows who's who. Once Gruber puts two and two together, he schemes together a brilliant plan and you realize how in over his head our hero is. It's this mix of a battle of wits and gunplay that keeps it all from growing tiresome.

Another real joy are the little side characters. We've got the limo driver who has some good moments of comedic relief, we've got some of the hostages (including a sleazy employee who's not nearly as smart as he thinks he is, played by Hart Bochner) and the police who come to assist McClane. A particular standout is Sgt. Al Powell, played by Reginal VelJohnson. At first he's a little incompetent, but he's a likeable guy, gets seriously once he realizes what's going on and even has a nice arc. This character is really memorable and fun to watch; you'll wish they would bring him back in one of the sequels. I also got a real kick out of the bumbling FBI agents, who end up being both funny and unwillingly threatening when they come in with their chests puffed up, ready to "handle" the situation. I don't want to say too much about them because even their names are funny. There's a lot going on here and even the parts where there are no villains on screen will have you thoroughly engaged.

Backing up our characters, we've got some terrific stunts and special effects, all packed within a great location. A skyscraper is simultaneously a very vast area with plenty of space to hide and a lot of opportunities for traps and ambushes and a cage where our hero cannot escape. With the front doors being watched and shut down, McClane may be able to hide, but he can't run to get help and communicating with the outside proves itself to be quite problematic. He can see help just out of arm's reach thanks to the huge glass windows but there's not much help coming from outdoors. It also really helps that the Nakatomi Plaza has a unique façade and, thanks to the last couple of stories that are still under construction it's got a couple of nice twists in it too. With this cool setting, our characters proceed to smash it all to bits. At the end of the film we've got bombs going off, offices reduced to rubble, walls that look like Swiss cheese and a lot of areas where no one is supposed to go that are now covered in sweat and blood. There are some terrific sequences of intense suspense as McClane has to dodge a helicopter and finds himself dangling off the side of a building and another wher he is trapped inside a ventilation shaft, praying that no one forces him to give away his position. The special effects and pyrotechnics here are top notch too. It all comes down to an exciting climax between our two leads but the script never leaves it brain at the door so every element is working together in harmony.

There might not be very much good will towards men in "Die Hard", but regardless of the time of year you watch it, it's terrific. The special effects are top notch, the characters memorable, the actors charismatic and there are some great memorable lines to quote once the film is over. What's not to like? (Theatrical version on the big screen, December 11, 2013).