What’s Aged the Best?
The title, Jan de Bont’s cinematography, McTiernan’s spatial clarity, McClane’s character-rooted one-liners, and the widescreen renaissance
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:47:18Read transcript
- The title “Die Hard” is praised as compact, memorable, and descriptive. — Bill Simmons
- The incompetent 1980s LAPD, a surprisingly diverse villain crew, and distinctive minor henchmen are appreciated as period texture.
- John McTiernan, Jan de Bont, Michael Kamen, the cast, and the production team provide unusually coherent and sophisticated action filmmaking.
- McClane’s one-liners work because Willis underplays them and they arise organically from his personality. — Bill Simmons
- Modern widescreen televisions restored the intended compositions and created a home-viewing renaissance after cropped television broadcasts. — Bill Simmons