The Surprising Reason Die Hard Isn’t My Top John McTiernan Film

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#4 in my Ranking of John McTiernan films.

For years, I’ve pondered over my preference for this movie compared to most people’s opinions, so as I sat down to watch it again, I was eager to understand what made it stand out for me. And I did discover the reason – a roughly 30-minute section in the middle of the film. While everything else is excellent and enjoyable, that part of the movie is quite challenging to get through.

The primary factor contributing to the movie’s success lies in Bruce Willis portraying John McClane exceptionally well. He embodies an ordinary man (yet a cop) who endures hardships but manages to keep a witty spirit about his predicament. He skillfully navigates between treating the situation with gravity and preserving his composure amidst the chaos that ensues. His charisma makes him an appealing protagonist, leading us through the narrative. On the other side, we have Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, who excels at playing a formidable antagonist. He’s cunning, calculating, and masterminds a plan. However, he only shows vulnerability when someone labels him a common thief, underscoring his exceptional skill in that area.

When the film focuses on these two adversaries clashing, it becomes incredibly engaging, almost explosive in its excitement. John McClane arrives at the Nakatomi Tower hoping to reunite with his wife during her company’s Christmas party, but Hans Gruber and a group of twelve henchmen arrive instead, aiming to burglarize the company safe, leaving chaos in their wake. The back-and-forth between McClane and Gruber is thrilling, until it is abruptly halted for about half an hour. It’s when Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson enters the scene that I start to lose interest in the movie.

As a film enthusiast, let me rephrase it from my perspective: I find the character Robinson to be obstinately thick-headed and unintelligent. It’s not hard to imagine real-life police administrators who share similar traits, but such characteristics often fall flat when it comes to creating engaging drama.

Robinson consistently disregards Sergeant Powell’s guidance, a situation that grows tiresome over time. His approach to policing seems haphazard and reckless, lacking any semblance of established protocol. And poor John McClane is left powerless to influence his actions. In a twist, McClane does eventually save the day with strategic use of C4 and a computer screen, but watching him yell futilely at a window because everyone else appears dimwitted is truly exasperating.

Then there’s Ellis.

In a different wording, what I’m trying to convey is: If Robinson hadn’t been part of the film, and Ellis had remained as he was, he wouldn’t have bothered me so much. However, once Robinson finishes his antics and disrupts the main conflict, Ellis steps in, acting more like an ’80s businessman with a smarmy attitude, causing another thirty minutes of screen time dominated by secondary characters who act foolishly.

Despite the well-executed action of the failed police incursion and the effective tension surrounding Ellis’ unsuccessful negotiation, these scenes tend to overshadow John McClane.

After completing that task, if the FBI arrives, the storyline resumes as planned. Notably, the FBI agents (Johnson and Johnson, unrelated) possess a strategy but falter, unlike Robinson who seemed to act without any clear plan. Moreover, the FBI’s strategy ultimately contributes to setting up the high-stakes action finale in the movie, providing thrilling moments that directly involve McClane.

Gruber’s cunningness is what makes him such an exceptional villain, as he not only understands the rules but also manipulates them to outwit the FBI. In contrast, the police operation seems more like a futile attempt by Robinson, with little progress or purpose.

This way, we maintain the original meaning while making it easier for readers to understand and follow the comparison between Gruber’s intelligent scheming and the seemingly fruitless police incursion.

To put it simply, the thirty-minute stretch in the middle of the movie is where my issues lie. Apart from that portion, I adore this film. Willis and Rickman deliver impressive performances, while the supporting cast excels as well. The action sequences are thrilling, and the tension throughout the movie is palpable. McClane’s character effectively straddles the line between indestructible and vulnerable, contrasting well with Gruber’s intelligent and cunning antagonist. I genuinely appreciate this film; it’s just that I wish I could appreciate it as much as others seem to.

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2025-02-02 00:00