Die Hard

John McTiernan, USA 1988, 132 mins

Die Hard, the original and best, is destined to forever be the benchmark that all action films, Bruce Willis flicks and Christmas movies will be measured against.

Repeated TV screenings have ensured that the much-abridged version has been seen by just about everybody, but that's no reason to not watch it again (even if just for the extra swearing). The pitch is well known: A gang of well-armed European terrorists take over an office Christmas party high up in a LA tower block. Taking the workers hostage, their fool-proof plan works flawlessly, except for the presence of rogue New York Detective John McClane, who's determined not to let them win.

Made in 1989, when Bruce Willis was still starring in the popular T.V. series Moonlighting', the success of Die Hard can be credited to a need to fill in the gap left by James Bond at that time. The writers set out to break the rules of Schwarzenegger's one-man-army films. As before it's one dumb all- American versus many educated foreign bad guys. But this time the hero is also an asshole, whose every second line is a wisecrack and whose marriage is crumbling. Instead of just shooting his way out of tight situations, he is forced to use his ingenuity. In another cunning twist, he can get hurt, and the transition from normal guy at the start to bloody mess in a dirty vest by the climax is often painful to watch.

Director John McTiernan and cinematographer Jan De Bont, whose joint credits include Predator, Last Action Hero, Speed and Twister, move the action along at a cracking pace. The supporting cast do an impressive job. Bonnie Bedelia brings a warmth and intelligence to the part of McClane's estranged wife, while Alan Rickman delivers a knowingly camp performance as arch villain Hans Gruber, oozing charisma and mock sophistication and making the most of a witty script.

As Christmas approaches and deadlines and exams loom large, treat yourself, take a break and switch off your brain. Let the exploding helicopters and copious bloodletting of Die Hard wash over you, and think "it could be worse". Don't believe what anyone else says, this is the ultimate feel-good movie.

Gordon Johnson
EUFS Programme 1998-99