“Die Hard” (1988) directed by John McTiernan; starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman / Z-View
Die Hard (1988)
Director: John McTiernan
Screenplay: Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza; based on NOTHING LASTS FOREVER by Roderick Thorp
Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De’voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Alexander Godunov, Andreas Wisniewski, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Lorenzo Caccialanza and Al Leong.
Tagline: High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages and declared war. One man has managed to escape. An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He’s alone, tired… and the only chance anyone has got.
The Plot…
New York City detective John McClane has flown to LA on Christmas Eve. McClane is hoping to get back with with his estranged wife, Holly. But first they have to attend Holly’s work Christmas party at the Nakatomi Towers. Holly’s moving up in the Nakatomi corporation and that’s one of the problems in the McClane marriage.
The party is just getting underway when John arrives. He excuses himself to clean up in one of the company restrooms. Everyone else is gathered together for the party’s kick-off. That’s when a group of heavily armed terrorists led by Hans Gruber busts in. They take everyone at the party hostage. Except for John McClane.
McClane realizes what is happening. He’s alone and unarmed. The terrorists have cut off all communications to/from the tower. When they realize McClane is there, one of the armed terrorists is sent to retrieve him. McClane manages to kill the terrorist. He takes the assassins machine gun and radio.
As the terrorists move forward with their plan (and it ain’t getting a ransom for the Nakatomi party-goers), they begin to hunt for John McClane. Killing him with be a bonus. What chance does one tired off-duty cop have against a band of armed mercenaries?
Yippi-Ki-Yay, mother*******.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Die Hard was nominated for four 1989 Academy Awards…
- Nominee for Best Visual Effects – Richard Edlund, Al Di Sarro, Brent Boates, Thaine Morris
- Nominee for Best Sound Effects Editing – Stephen Hunter Flick, Richard Shorr
- Nominee for Best Film Editing – Frank J. Urioste, John F. Link
- Nominee for Best Sound – Don J. Bassman, Kevin F. Cleary, Richard Overton, Al Overton Jr.
Die Hard is loosely based on the Roderick Thorp novel NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. A lot was changed for the film. Don’t read the book expecting Die Hard the movie.
Sly Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson and many other big name movie stars were offered the role of John McClane. Even Frank Sinatra was courted to play the lead. Everyone asked turned it down. Bruce Willis, a television lead at a time when tv was seen as way below feature films, was paid $5 million to star. In many of the first posters and ads for Die Hard, Willis’ name was not played up. The movie went on to be a hit with audiences and shot Bruce Willis into the top tier of movie actors.
Die Hard features Alan Rickman’s first feature film role. He is perfect as Hans Gruber.
Die Hard was added to the National film registry by the Library of Congress in 2017 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Hart Bochner is on point as the smarmy executive that overplays his hand with Hans Gruber.
Die Hard is one of the best action movies ever made. Scratch the word action and the sentence is still true.
Die Hard (1988) rates 5 of 5 stars
