Groundbreaking Action Cinema - Part 1 - DIE HARD

 Die Hard: Urban Heroics on a Grand Scale




A blockbuster-holiday classic that defined the contemporary (American) action-thriller, where a determined everyman is pitted against ruthless (if slightly cartoony) terrorists. Aside from its many descendants (Speed, Cliffhanger, Under Siege, even Paul Blart: Mall Cop), it is also notable for its claustrophobic handling of a high-stakes scenario, wherein the hero, villains, and bystanders occupy the same building, and action can play out as anything from a standard shootout to a complex evasion of fiery chaos.

 Made towards the end of a divisive decade of action (by 1988, most films like it could only be described as good, dumb fun), Die Hard had the distinction of taut direction and editing, as well as an above-average script and memorable characters. Even if a few moments might seem dated or campy to a modern audience (giant teddy-bares, some of the outfits, and some rather cheesy authority figures), the film's masterful pacing and overall structure makes for suspenseful build-up and oh-so-satisfying payoff.

"Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

The cherry atop this sundae of awesomeness was its wise-cracking hero John McClane (who helped propel Bruce Willis career onto the big screen) and his back-and-forth confrontation with evil mastermind Hans Gruber (played deliciously by Alan Rickman...pre-Snape). McClane's character brought the "man of action" archetype to new levels, with his unprecedented sense of vulnerability (between bloody feet and the possibility of dying without saying goodbye to your family, we'd all be choking up too). If John Wayne was a swaggering manifestation of classic masculinity, while Eastwood ushered in an era of stoicism and mystery, and fellow newcomers like Stallone and Schwarzenegger pushed for revamped mythological warriors, then Willis existed as the everyman, thrown into danger and forced to rely on his own wits.

"I'm going to count to three..."

Gruber, on the other hand, was a contemporary step up from the Dick Dastardly supervillains of old, blending real-world menace with mustache-twirling quips of dialogue. From the moment we first see him, there's an instant, commanding sense of presence, as his army of gun-wielding thugs seize control of the building. His low, lightly-condescending voice, complete with a subtle German twang, shoots out ultimatums as nobody else could, providing an entertaining contrast with the crude, fun-loving McClane.


As for the set-pieces...the less said, the better. All I can really say is that they sit among the best of the genre. Even though much more complicated and intricate action sequences have come since the film's premiere, John McTiernan's breathless direction ensures that every shootout and explosion pops at just the proper moment. The thrills are spaced by deliberate dialogue, character development, some laughter, and quiet, and are, consequentially, infinitely more engaging than if the film was shot like any other action romp.

Die Hard took what made 80's action great and perfected it, setting a standard that is rarely reached even day. Yippie Kay Yay indeed...


*Die Hard is available as a standalone disc, as well as part of a [pffff] die-hard collector's set that also includes Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Die Hard With a Vengeance, and Live Free or Die Hard.