Die Hard

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Yes indeedy 1988's DIE HARD is in fact a Christmas film, by my non official definition, at least.  You can argue that any movie set during the Season qualifies, but this one has taken on its own iconic status.  As an exemplary, kick ass action flick but also as a more contemporary Yuletide tale.  One you could almost hear your uber cool grandpa telling the kids gathered 'round the tree.  Of how that scrappy John McClane saved the beloved holiday for dozens of corporate minions.

Los Angeles.  Christmas Eve.  McClane (Bruce Willis) is an NYC lawman out to the coast to reconcile with his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) who has become an executive at the Nakatomi Corporation.  But a group of terrorists, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), seize the building and take hostages before John can join the office Christmas party.  If we had gotten such a scene, I imagine it would've been the usual awkward, discomforting montage of the fish out of water variety.  At least director John McTienan was spared that task.

Instead, he wastes little time in plunging headlong into the mayhem.  McClane wanders the building, eventually in communication via walkie talkie with Gruber.  Cat and mouse.  An even match up.  The cop may be smarter, tripping fire alarms to alert the authorities.  Soon, the police and the Feds and the media have swarmed outside the Nakatomi Building.  A real circus.  The violence ramps up by the minute. C4 down elevator shafts.  Exploding helicopters.  Exploding rooftops.  Lots of gunfire.  A sublime slow motion fall to the death.

DIE HARD is lean and does most everything right.  Kudos times ten to McTiernan and editors Frank J. Urioste and John F. Link.  Also to Jan de Bont's (who later directed another action film template, SPEED) cinematography.  We get little backstory on the characters but their in-the moment sketches give us enough.  This is not Merchant Ivory, people.  These are caricatures at best, but exactly tuned for this sort of adventure.  A thrill ride that is not deep but also not too stupid.  Fairly sly.  Generous doses of humor.

This was a star making (perpetuating?) role for Willis, and he sure does own it.  His supporting cast also shines, with Rickman's lip smacking a vital part of this movie's legacy.  I also enjoyed the turns by two character actors well known for their frequent portrayals of assholes - Paul Gleason and William Atherton, as the Deputy Chief of Police and an obnoxious TV reporter, respectively.  After that helicopter is reduced to a fireball, the Chief quips, "I guess we're gonna need more FBI guys."

So maybe you can include DIE HARD as your X-mas tradition alongside perennials IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and A CHRISTMAS STORY? Yipee ki yay.......