"Die Hard" is one of the most beloved action films of all time. Above and beyond the regular "Is it a Christmas movie?" discourse that surrounds the film, "Die Hard" stands as a watershed moment in the action genre. The casting of Bruce Willis as the everyman action hero — as opposed to the Schwarzeneggers and Stallones of the day, muscle-bound demigods whose victories seemed absolutely certain — brought a new level of humanity and an underdog spirit to American action movies that persists today.
On the opposite side of that coin lies the film's antagonist, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), one of cinema's great villains and a prototype of the dashing, "love to hate them" style of action baddies. Add in the script's bracing wit, John McTiernan's taut direction, and some of the most thrilling stunts in action history, and you have a stone-cold classic.
Inevitably, a franchise grew out of the film,...
On the opposite side of that coin lies the film's antagonist, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), one of cinema's great villains and a prototype of the dashing, "love to hate them" style of action baddies. Add in the script's bracing wit, John McTiernan's taut direction, and some of the most thrilling stunts in action history, and you have a stone-cold classic.
Inevitably, a franchise grew out of the film,...
- 8/26/2022
- by Jessica Scott
- Slash Film
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