Bruce Willis

United States, 1988
Running Length: 2:11
MPAA Classification: R (Extreme violence, profanity, brief nudity)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Alexander Godunov, Reginald Veljohnson
Director: John McTiernan
Producers: Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver
Screenplay: Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza based on the novel by Roderick Thorp
Cinematography: Jan De Bont
Music: Michael Kamen
U.S. Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Die Hard represents the class of modern action pictures and the standard by which they must be judged. Few films falling into the "mindless entertainment" genre have as much going for them as this movie. Not only is it a thrill-a-minute ride, but it has one of the best film villains in recent memory, a hero everyone can relate to, dialogue that crackles with wit, and a lot of very impressive pyrotechnics.

John McClane (Bruce Willis) had intended to spend a nice, quiet Christmas with his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) and children, ironing out his marital problems and trying to resolve the situation that has him working in New York City as a cop while her career keeps her in Los Angeles. Unfortunately for John, a group of terrorists, led by the suave Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), has other ideas. After taking over the high rise Nakatomi Tower and holding the attendees of the Christmas party (including Holly) hostage, they begin the time-consuming and complex procedure of breaking into the building's vault. However, one thing -- perhaps the only thing -- that Hans didn't plan on was John McClane, the self-professed "fly in the ointment," who is on the loose inside, and whose goals are in direct contradiction with those of the terrorists.

With Die Hard, director John McTiernan (Predator) has given us a modern action classic -- a movie that doesn't slow down until the end credits are rolling to the tune of "Let It Snow." McTiernan is a master of pacing, and on those few occasions when the script lets him down, the camerawork of Jan De Bont comes to the rescue. This film is explosive in more ways than one -- a lavish, noisy extravaganza that gets the adrenaline flowing.

Bruce WIllis as John McClane

Bruce Willis is perfect as the wisecracking John McClane, an "everyday" sort of guy who gets caught up in circumstances that force him to play the reluctant hero. This is a person that we can root for, even when some of the things he's doing are humanly impossible. Willis' acting skills are limited (although he did fine work playing a Vietnam Vet in In Country), but it's hard to imagine anyone else in this role.

Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber redefines the action genre villain. The man's charm lies in that volatile mixture of violence and cunning, all sheathed in a gentlemanly civility. Hans is intelligent, and Rickman plays the part with not only a sense of the man he's portraying, but an obvious respect for him as well. It doesn't take many minutes of screen time for us to be aware that Hans is no ordinary terrorist.

The supporting cast gives solid performances, even though there aren't talent-stretching roles to be filled. Bonnie Bedelia (as the wife in danger) and Reginald Veljohnson (as McClane's cop-on-the-outside-contact) are noteworthy. William Atherton is suitably slimy in a small role as a tabloid journalist.

Whether Bruce Willis is climbing up an elevator shaft, throwing himself off an exploding building, or racing barefoot across a flood littered with glass shards, his John McClane holds our attention while we hold our breaths. Die Hard isn't motion picture poetry, but it shows the kind of raucous entertainment that the industry is capable of delivering. For what it is, this is the top model -- flash, bang, and witty one-liners all included. Yippee kiyay!

DIE HARD 4 Jan 2005

USA TODAY, LOS ANGELES - As Bruce Willis dives into new projects, an upcoming movie role (Hostage) and a producing credit on a USA cable series (Touching Evil, premiering in March), the actor still plans to revisit an old one via Die Hard 4.

Bruce Willis says the possibility of doing a fourth Die Hard flick depends on the quality of the script:-

"We're working on it. Fox wants to do it. I want to do it. It depends on the script," says Willis, 48, whose tough, wise-cracking cop, John McClane, became a pop culture favorite.

Willis, sporting a full, salt-and-pepper beard for his role as a hostage negotiator in Hostage, wouldn't say that the project, which would be the first Die Hard movie since 1995, is a done deal.

"After the first Die Hard, I said I wasn't going to do any more Die Hards, and I did two more. So I don't make predictions anymore. If they get the script right and it seems like an interesting story ... "

However, that's a challenge for the franchise in the post-9/11 world, said the actor, who appeared at the semi-annual TV press tour in Los Angeles to promote Touching Evil, which he's executive-producing.

"It's hard today to do. The whole Die Hard trilogy so far has been based on some element of terrorism, and it's difficult in today's world to do stories that fictionally portray terrorism," Willis says.  As for his romance with Brooke Burns, 25, the actor says: "It's going great."

Justin Timberlake to star in Die Hard as Bruce Willis' son  -  April 5, 2005

Justin Timberlake is set to star in the latest 'Die Hard' film as Bruce Willis' son.

The pop heartthrob met Bruce, who plays John McClane in the action series, while making his forthcoming movie 'Alpha Dog'.

The 'Sixth Sense' actor was reportedly so impressed with Timberlake's performance he's been trying to convince him to play John McClane Jnr in the fourth instalment of 'Die Hard'.

The singer has recently branched into acting, starring in the movies 'Edison' and 'Alpha Dog', both due for release later this year, but 'Die Hard' would prove his blockbuster debut.

Movie boss Alec Gillies says they're all extremely excited at the prospect of making the movie.

He said: "The film has got a great cast with Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake and a bunch of people that my daughter recognises but I don't."

Justin is also said to be playing Elton John in a biopic of the singer's life, although he rejected the first script saying that there weren't enough scenes of sex and drug abuse.

He claimed the movie was not a realistic portrayal of the 'Rocket Man' singer's life and wanted it rewritten.

He said: "I told the studio that it would have to be warts-and-all so that's what it's going to be. I can't wait."

Bruce Willis - 1990 - 2000 Film Earnings

By Total Domestic Gross

By Domestic Opening Weekend

By Total Overseas Gross in £M

Bruce Willis Set to Star in "16 Blocks" - Release date March 2006

Mar 15, 2005 - Emmett/Furla Films and Millennium Films and Equity Pictures announced action star Bruce Willis will topline the action thriller "16 Blocks" for director Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon," "Maverick").

"16 Blocks" is based on a screenplay written by Richard Wenk and follows Jack Mosley (Willis), a cop assigned the job of escorting a wise-cracking witness to the courthouse 16 city blocks away. The events of "16 Blocks" focus on what takes place during that walk.

Co-chairmen Randall Emmett and George Furla issued a statement on the signing of Bruce Willis. "We are excited to be working with the strong creative talents of Dick and Bruce. We believe that `16 Blocks' is a high-concept picture with commercial appeal and, with the elements assembled, solid potential."  Production on "16 Blocks" is set to begin in Toronto and New York in late summer.

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