Live Free or Die Hard - movie review

In 1988, at the age of 33, Bruce Willis stared in an action film called Die Hard. It was the film that firmly pulled him out of "Moonlighting" and onto the big screen. What was great about the film was Willis' unassuming performance as John McClane and the solid action direction of John McTiernan (Predator, Hunt for Red October, Thomas Crowne Affair). This is the material where Willis excels. From my POV some his best roles are those of the "ordinary" guy who has no place in the master plan but somehow gets mixed-in with a personal stake in the result (Pulp Fiction, Twelve Monkeys, Fifth Element). With this view in mind, the first 2 films in this series excelled but the third deviated. Thankfully, this fourth installment returns to form and the audience is rewarded for it.



So in 2007, at the age of 52, Willis is back fighting the good fight for freedom in Die Hard 4. This time around the formula returns: McClane is hauled into a cyber-terrorism plot that takes a personal turn when his daughter is taken as negotiation collateral. Joining Willis is geek-cutey Justin Long who is a clever next-generation foil to Willis' action verteran. The relationship offers plenty of fodder to explore the changes in the world since McClane's last adventure 12 years ago. It is a smart edge to the narrative that takes ample advantage of Long's Mac computer status.

This time Len Wiseman has been brought on board to direct the action. Depending on who you are this choice might appear to be a clear gamble as he only had two previous films behind him - the Underworld films. Perhaps it was felt a long-term director was not required for the established franchise. Maybe no one wanted to touch a film with a quarter-century-aged Willis trying to save the day. Possibly it was felt that the series needed a new perspective. Whatever the rationale, Wiseman offers an excellent product that is likely the best action movie of the summer.

What Wiseman has done is craft the movie as an action-packed, shoot-em-up, crash'n'burn bonanza. And althought the film has a millenium gloss it uses a "retro" approach to the action that is decidedly real. You see, I like action films that actually blow things up or crash real cars or destroy rooms with bullets and this film does ALL of that. I mean, a car crashes into a helicopter! It's awesome. It is the way I remember action films from the 1980/1990s when this series began and so it is an appropriate and entertaining aestethic.

The second question would be that of Willis himself. Thankfully, Bruce has gotten better with age and embodies enough masculinity for both genders to still find him "the man" onscreen. With his shaved head and rye grin, Willis has infused his latest McClane turn with a humour that winks at the incredulous proceedings and brings the audience further into the film. By understanding that some may question his age and capability in the film, Willis parries any attacks by acknowledging the view directly and making it part of the story. The result is a comedic compliment to the action bursts that augments the film further.

To be sure, a Die Hard film is never meant to be more than a summer popcorn film. It is meant to be entertaining, fast-paced and enjoyable. When all these marks are hit with success then an audience cannot ask for me. And yet, Live Free or Die Hard does deliver more. It makes a reasonable commentary on the weakness of computer consolidation. It offers a sleek bad guy in Timolthy Olyphant that rivals the original Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) in ego-maniacal intent. It showcases the stunning Maggie Q kicking Bruce's ass. Of all the things to get better with age I never thought the Die Hard series would be one of them ... but, thankfully, I was wrong. So go see it.