"Die Hard" (1988)

No, I'm not going to review the movie. Instead, I think it should've won the Best Picture of 1988. "Rain Man" did, and while it is great for retards to get their due...ahem...FUCK YOU ACADEMY!

Having watched this movie again, it is insanely good. It's groundbreaking movie making. Just the basic logistics of making a movie about terrorism (for money) in 1988 is now relevant then back then. AND they did it with German terrorist. Actually, I called them the United Colors Of Terrorist, since they had an Asian dude and a Black computer wiz, and the dude who looks like Huey Lewis. This movie is great. But...of course Academy voters LOVE story with heart (read: gays or retards). SO we have to award them. I'll actually throw whores in that mix too. Since it speaks deep into their own psyche.

If you consider that the message in "Die Hard" is saving his wife to fix their failed relationship, it trumps any "Birdman" or "Boyhood." It actually entertained while it gave you a wholesome message. Again, fuck the Academy, since it was shrouded in balls out action. Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber is...the quintessential baddie of that era. He's suave, smart and is a total sociopath. AND he gets minions to do his bidding with just a simple walkie talkie. But he isn't above blasting a corporate raider in the face if he doesn't get the right answer. THAT'S BADASS. The movie still holds up. "Rain Man" does too. In the sense of being your brother's keeper message, but it's hardly getting sucked into on a slow Sunday.

So, anyway, I'll tell you why it wasn't even nominated (side bar..the movies that were nominated that year "Working Girl", "Dangerous Liasons", "Mississipi Burning" "Accidental Tourist") I don't get "Accidental Tourist" that movie is dull as paint drying. I do get "Mississipi..." it's a fascinating story. And true. But Best Picture? Also "Working Girl"...I think that was a soft spot vote for Mike Nichols.

But again "Die Hard" changed the industry game. I'll give you a few reasons why it didn't get even a serious consideration.
1) too many gays in Hollywood. Men with guns. Ewww...
2) Bruce Willis (you'd think a guy named Bruce would trump the first reason) he was a bartender turned t.v. actor, turned movie actor. Actors vote on the major ones. Out of work actors. You want to talk about resentment. Back in the 80's you couldn't do that. Be a t.v. actor AND a movie actor. The logic being why pay to go see you when they can see you for free. Public did, so go shit in your hat. Bruce broke the mold for others in t.v. to be taken seriously, in big budgeted movies. Will Smith has a lot to thank Bruce for.
3) action movies are like comedies. If done well, it's often times seen as easy. And the dreaded "how hard is acting by just screaming while gunfire blasts by you?" Or "one liners isn't acting." Eat shit. That's the hardest ones. The glib lines when you cap someone digs DEEP into the psyche of someone attempting to diffuse fear. The absolute brilliance of it was to have a palooka cop spit them out in frustration.

Now some of you may be saying well "Lethal Weapon" (1987) cracked that code. Not really. I watched that movie again. It's dark buddy cop drama. The wising off doesn't occur until much later (and amplified in the sequels). Bruce is a one man army, alone and figuring it all out. He picks off the baddies one by one, but not because he set traps, but because he's just trying to get to his wife. They come after HIM.

But whatever. I'm pretty much given up on the Oscars. BUT, I do have predictions. This year will be all about women (as if the other years weren't). I think two movies that stand out so far have women in the title. "Joy" & "Carol" will grab a ton of attention. It's no "Die Hard" but it's got...girls kissing and something about a mop.