30. Radio Buddies
Almost slap bang halfway through the film now, and we get our first head-to-head between John and Hans. A lovely exchange over the radio as John taunts the perfect planning of the terrorists. The look on Rickmans face as he hears Johns Jeopardy buzzer noise is priceless. As the exchange goes on, John is furiously searching bodies, looking for clues, gaining some confidence about the situation. And its clearly getting to Hans. Its a key scene where you feel the balance is shifting in the favour of the good guys for once.
29. Classic Dialogue #6
Listen, you know its coming, but its worth looking at more of the lovely exchange that leads up to it:
Hans Gruber: "You know my name but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's John Wayne? Rambo? Marshal Dillon?"
John McClane: "Was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers, actually. I really like those sequinned shirts."
Hans Gruber: "Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mr. Cowboy?"
John McClane: "Yippee-ki-yay..." I dont need to complete that line do I? Utterly iconic now, its almost a throwaway line here, a little taunt to further rile Hans. Its steeped in the Western tradition, something youd say on a cattle-drive, so if Hans is going to call him one, Johns going to be a cowboy - a foul mouthed one at that. The attention to the catchphrase (as it became) does slightly distract from Hans wonderful sniping at John that addresses Johns credentials as a hero straight on. Hes not a Rambo, hes not John Wayne, hes just a normal guy doing his best against the odds, using a bit of humour to get through. Hes what we hope we could be, if we were in that situation. And thats one of the reasons we believe in him and love him.
28. A Great Buddy Cop Partnership
Again, Die Hard takes a very familiar action film theme - the buddy-cop duo - and subverts it by separating them so they can only talk on the radio. As an audience, we already know that Al is a stand-up guy, but as he listens and offers support all the time with his head streaming blood he earns Johns respect too. Theres already a strong bond building between them and Als I hear you, partner speaks volumes of the trust. Its also a handy breather from the action (something many films dont appreciate that you need the lulls to balance with the loud parts), and shows how you can take plot exposition and turn it into a great way to develop your characters.
27. Classic Dialogue #7
Holly Gennero McClane: "I have a request."
Hans Gruber: "What idiot put you in charge?"
Holly Gennero McClane: "You did. When you murdered my boss. Now everybody's looking to me. Personally, I'd pass on the job. I don't enjoy being this close to you." Its been a boys show up until now, but Die Hard has the smarts to make sure that it gives its main female character just as much bravery and strength of mind as the men. A strong female character who isnt clinging onto a male bicep, or accidentally having her clothes ripped off, is something that Die Hard does brilliantly and makes it special among action films, particularly of the 1980s (and even today, in many cases). And the holding of her nerve as she leaves, not giving up her true identity, is a great touch. Shes got guts, and you can see why John fell in love with her.
26. The Police Are Useless
There's a lovely irony to the police assault on the building. Al knows it's the wrong thing to do, John does too, and the build up - standard montage of cops suiting up, formation running to the target, the guy in charge simply proclaiming "kick ass" - is all undercut with our knowledge that this will not end well. Again, its the build up to the carnage that makes it so powerful. Like a slow motion car-crash, there's an awful inevitability to the failure of the police assault and it quickly descends into disaster as the team are picked off. And their ace in the hole, an armoured car, isn't quite the game changer they think...