Nonstop Yesterday

What Else I’ve Been Watching - December 2018

I haven't seen Die Hard (1988) in forever but a Christmas day viewing demonstrates that it totally deserves its reputation as a classic. It's got a great premise, a fun group of baddies, chaotic, bloody action scenes, and striking Jan De Bont cinematography.

The script is chock full of quotable dialogue, especially between Bruce Willis as McClane and Alan Rickman as Han Gruber. Both stars are doing some of their most iconic work here and they're really well matched as two different types of guys. McClane is certainly no coward, but his monologues reveal an everyman's sense of incredulity, fear, and doubt which juxtaposes well with Gruber's unflappable confidence. I think Rickman's performance is so memorable in part because he never lets us see him break. He has no doubt that he will win the day until he's falling out a window to his death.    

I also have to give some love to Reginald VelJohnson, who really lends the movie a ton of heart. I even teared up a little bit when he and Willis finally meet in person and embrace at the end. Their shared joy and relief in that moment really underscores the humanity at the center of the movie.