Before Cliffhanger (aka Die Hard On A Mountain) even properly starts, were treated to an extended reasons why everyone hates me sequence for Stallones mountain rescue ranger: that time when he failed to save his best mates girlfriend from falling off an entire mountain. If you dont have the patience to watch eleven minutes, skip to about seven minutes in. A slice of fried brilliance, and beautifully shot, this opening sequence is genuinely the best part of the film: a film which has its own tragic accident around the moment that Michael Rooker, right at the end of this scene, ruins everything by looking up to gaze at Stallone with an expression that says, I am in shock and speechless right now, but in the months to come I will blame you for everything that has just happened because director Renny Harlin is a man of infinite subtlety. Other things that fall off an entire mountain in this film: John Lithgows accent, almost all of the dialogue and, by the end, the audiences will to live. As ever though, Stallone is much better than you think hes going to be largely because you think hes going to be the worst thing youve ever seen, and then he surprises you by being merely mediocre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvp5BVn7J9M By the way, Frank, the pilot next to Rookers character (played by the late, great Ralph Waite) has the greatest maniacal grin on his face throughout the scene, which somehow made it into the finished film. Check it out 10:25, its a beauty. Were not sure what Ralph was thinking here, but were glad he was. And yes, we like the phrase falling off an entire mountain quite a lot. Were not sure why.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
