Directed by Martha Coolidge and screenplay by Neal Israel, Pat Proft, and Peter Torokvei from a story by Israel and Proft, Real Genius is the story of a high school student who is accepted to a top university where he works with a college senior in creating a laser unaware of the intentions of its professor. The film doesn’t just explore the world of tech universities but also the fallacies of intelligence where a young genius rebels against his intelligence in order to have fun. Starring Val Kilmer, Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink, Jon Gries, Robert Prescott, Ed Lauter, and William Atherton. Real Genius is a witty and engaging film from Martha Coolidge.
The film plays into a fifteen year old kid who is given the chance to attend a prestigious technical college to work on a laser with a gifted senior as they’re both unaware of what their professor wants to do with the laser. It’s a film that isn’t just an exploration of kids rebelling against their own intelligence and have fun but it’s also a film where a group of kids deal with college life as well as the world they’re about to embark. It plays into the story as a professor named Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton) is asked by the military to build a laser they need for a weapons project that can kill someone from outer space. In return, Hathaway would get some commendation and more publicity as he is also the host of a TV program. Yet, he spends his time grading papers and overseeing the construction of his house which he used the money for the project while letting his students do all the work.
The film’s screenplay plays into a lot of scenarios that does manage to gel once all of the storylines come together as the 15-year old freshman Mitch Taylor (Gabriel Jarret) arrives to the school as a young genius who is smarter than people his age and above. Still, he is treated with some contempt by some of the students including Kent (Robert Prescott) who constantly sucks up to Hathaway and tries to run the laser project whenever Hathaway nor another top student in Chris Knight (Val Kilmer) isn’t around. Mitch is excited at first about having Knight as his roommate but is shocked that the kid who was considered a genius many years before has become a slacker that just parties constantly. After some moments including enduring a humiliating prank by Kent, Mitch wants to leave until Knight tells him that he shouldn’t and learn to have fun while getting back at Kent.
The film also shows some of the flaws of intelligence as it relates to a mysterious student named Lazlo Holyfield (Jon Gries) who keeps coming in and out of Mitch’s closet in doing a secret project as he got paranoid over ideas that he believes the government wants. Eventually, Holyfield’s paranoia would come true once Knight and Mitch realize exactly what Hathaway wants the laser in its third act as they get the help of friend Ick (Mark Kamiyama) and the hyperkinetic student Jordan (Michelle Meyrink). It’s third act isn’t just handled with some suspense but also a sense of morality that isn’t heavy handed as it’s conclusion is a joyful one.
Martha Coolidge’s direction is very simple as she doesn’t aim for something that is very stylistic with the exception of a few scenes that relates to the military project. Much of the film is shot on location at Caltech in California to give the film not just a realistic look into the world of college life but also in how students conduct themselves socially and academically. The latter of which features elements of humor in a scene where Mitch walks into a classroom as he realizes that he’s the only one there and all of chairs are filled by tape recorder recording what the professor is saying on an audio tape. It’s among these offbeat moments in the film that plays into the humor as well as how Knight is introduced as he is seen wearing pajamas, wearing a headband with spring ears, and fluffy bunny shoes.
The film is balanced with some drama since Coolidge is aware that the film does revolve this young kid who is hoping to go into a world where he can meet people who are smart and mature as he is. Instead, he faces some dose of reality where he is forced to grow up as well as loosen up since he has a whole life ahead of him to learn and be smart but also have some fun at the same time. Much of Coolidge’s compositions are straightforward with its close-ups and medium shots while capturing something is very lively. The film’s climax which does involve this big laser project is a very big moment as it’s outcome not only establishes a lot into what Hathaway was trying to do but also into how he managed to screw over a bunch of kids who thought they were doing something good for the world only to get a dose of revenge. Overall, Coolidge creates a very funny and insightful film about a bunch of genius kids who try to find joy without the need to study and do something good for the world.
Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it captures not just the sunny look of the daytime locations but also uses some unique interior lights for some scenes at night including a few party scenes and moments in the classrooms. Editor Richard Chew does nice work with the editing as it‘s quite simple in its approach to comedy while creating a few stylish montages to play into the world of learning. Production designer Josan F. Russo, with set decorator Phil Abramson and art director Jack G. Taylor Jr., does fantastic work with some of the look of the parties and classrooms as well as the home of Hathaway.
Costume designer Marla Denise Schlom does wonderful work with the clothes as it‘s mostly casual as well as playing into the development of some of its characters Mitch starts off wearing a suit and look nerdy and eventually dress more casually. Visual effects supervisors Richard L. Bennett and David Stipes do terrific work with the minimal visual effects as it relates to the laser project from space that Hathaway is involved in. Sound designer George Budd and sound editor Julia Evershade do superb work with the sound to create the way the laser sounds upon its firing as well as the atmosphere in some of the party scenes. The film’s music by Thomas Newman does brilliant work with the film‘s score as it features bits of electronic music as well as a few orchestral pieces while music supervisors Becky Mancuso-Winding and Michael Papale create a great soundtrack that mixes synth-pop, new wave, and hard rock from acts like Tears for Fears, Y&T, Don Henley, Bryan Adams, Tonio K, The Call, The System, The Comsat Angels, and several other obscure acts.
The casting by Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins is amazing as it includes appearances from skateboarding legend Stacy Peralta as a space shuttle pilot in the film’s opening scene, Miss January of 1984 Playmate Penny Baker as a party girl in the pool party, Dean Devlin and Yuji Okumoto as a couple of nerdy students who are reluctant to join the pool party, Severn Darden as the school’s eccentric dean, and Deborah Foreman as the daughter of a government official who asks Knight a very interesting question. Other noteworthy small roles include Patti D’Arbanville as a corporate executive who has a reputation for bedding very smart young men, Louis Giambalvo as an air force major who often asks Hathaway about the project’s progress, and Ed Lauter as a government official who supports the laser project.
Robert Prescott is terrific as the slimy nerd Kent who is a constant ass-kisser to Hathaway as he tries to do whatever it takes to ruin whatever ideas Mitch and Knight have. Mark Kamiyama is excellent as Ick as an Asian student who is a friend of Knight that is just as silly as well as being someone who is very fun. Michelle Meyrink is fantastic as Jordan as a hyperkinetic student who talks very fast as she befriends Mitch and helps him deal with the craziness of college. Jon Gries is amazing as the mysterious Lazlo as a student from the 1970s who was considered a genius until he acts very odd by going in and out of Mitch’s closet due to his own paranoia.
William Atherton is superb as Jerry Hathaway as a revered college professor and TV host who is quite smug at times while being someone who abuses his power as he wants to get credit for contributing something that is immoral. Gabriel Jarret is brilliant as Mitch Taylor as a 15-year old kid who goes to college as he tries to deal with his new surroundings while learning that he just needs to have fun. Finally, there’s Val Kilmer in a remarkable performance as Chris Knight as a college senior who was once revered as a genius who decides to become a slacker while aiding Mitch in this laser project as Kilmer brings a lot of energy and wit to his role.
Real Genius is a phenomenal film from Martha Coolidge that features an incredible breakthrough performance from Val Kilmer. Along with a great supporting cast and a fun soundtrack, it is a film that isn’t just a funny college film but also a film that questions the idea of intelligence and how those who are smart are trying to live normal lives and have fun. In the end, Real Genius is a sensational film from Martha Coolidge.
© thevoid99 2015
Based on the novel by Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp, Die Hard is the story of a NYPD officer who travels to Los Angeles to meet his estranged wife at an office party where a group of terrorists has taken over the building forcing the officer to take on these men by himself. Directed by John McTiernan and screenplay Steven E. de Souza and Jeb Stuart, the film is an action film set in a high-rise building in Los Angeles where a regular NYPD officer has to take on a group of highly elite criminals inside the building as the role of John McClane is played by Bruce Willis. Also starring Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Alexander Godunov, William Atherton, Paul Gleason, Hart Bochner, and Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. Die Hard is an ass-kicking and thrilling film from John McTiernan.
Set during the Christmas holidays, the film revolves around a simple and no-nonsense New York City police officer in John McClane who arrives to Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at the Nakatomi building in the city where an office party is crashed by a group of elite terrorists led by Hans Gruber. For McClane who was able to hide from the festivities, he realizes what needs to be done to save his wife and many other people in the building. Especially as McClane would kill a few bad guys to get the attention of the LAPD and later the FBI as he would have to do everything while not wearing shoes. It’s a film that has a simple premise that is quite typical of action-based suspense-thrillers but what makes it so much more than that aren’t just the characters but also the situation itself and what goes on in and outside of the building.
The film’s screenplay definitely strays away from some of the conventions that is expected in action films largely due to the characters that are created. John McClane is a simple police officer who is good at his job despite being a bit reckless as he knows what to do when trouble emerges. Plus, he’s someone that is very quick-witted and sort of imagines himself as a cowboy because he stands for what is right in the world. In Hans Gruber, McClane finds the perfect opponent as Gruber is a man that is the epitome of highly-elite Euro-trash that can deliver great speeches and knows how to be intimidating. Even as he can do all sorts of negotiation and such to get what he wants when he is really a thief that just wants to steal a shitload of money with his organization. Once he and his group have to deal with McClaine, they realize that they’re messing with someone who is a very unlikely opponent that they’re underestimating. At one point, Gruber would encounter McClane where he pretends to be an office worker who had escaped from the melee.
The script also plays into action outside of the building where McClaine kills a terrorist and uses a walkie-talkie to talk to the LAPD officer Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) who would be his only contact outside of the building after a dead terrorist’s body was dropped on Powell’s car. The script would also have moments of humor as it relates to the LAPD deputy chief Dwayne T. Robinson (Paul Gleason) who tends to say stupid things as he has no clue what he’s doing to handle the situation. Plus, there’s two FBI agents both named Johnson (Robert Davi and Grand L. Johnson) who would take over only to really make more of a mess of things which only motivates McClane to do what is right. Another subplot that is added to the film involves a news reporter in Richard Thornburg (William Atherton) who wants to get the scoop as he would also jeopardize the life of Holly who has been using her maiden name so that Gruber wouldn’t know who she really is. All of which does play into McClane not only saving his wife and her co-workers but also uncover exactly into what Gruber and his goons are trying to do.
John McTiernan’s direction is definitely engaging not just for the intimacy and air of suspense that he puts in his approach to action sequences but balance it with drama and humor. The film does start off as a comical and enjoyable film where McClane meets his chauffer Argyle (De’voreaux White) as McClane would attend this office Christmas party where his wife his at as it establishes what is going on and why McClane is there. Then comes Gruber and his gang where it has this edge into what is going to happen where McTiernan’s use of wide and medium shots come into play to showcase the action. Especially where McTiernan creates some unique camera angles in some eerie set pieces including a scene where McClane hides in a vent where there’s some very funny remarks that McClane makes. The usage of high and low angles help play into the suspense as well as the scenes where the terrorists battle it out with the LAPD where it shows how efficient and professional these guys are. When they face McClane, they really underestimate how good McClane is when he’s armed with machine guns and explosives.
The action sequences are definitely extravagant which does involve lots of explosions and gunfire as it adds to the sense of chaos that emerges where McClane has to not just face these terrorists but also authorities who have no clue what they’re doing with the exception of Sgt. Powell who is also a no-nonsense cop. McClane’s conversations with Powell not just add elements to the drama but also play into the fact that these are two men who play by a set of old-school rules while dealing with men who play by a new set of rules. All of which leads to an explosive climax that involves McClane and Gruber as it plays into McClane’s own sense of fantasy of being a cowboy doing what is right for a world that is becoming very complicated and messy where people have their own agendas rather than do something good for the world. Overall, McTiernan creates a truly riveting and exhilarating film about a simple NYPD taking on a group of highly-elite bad guys.
Cinematographer Jan de Bont does excellent work with the film‘s nighttime cinematography for its exteriors while using some unique lighting schemes and mood to play into the interior settings as well as the air of suspense. Editors John F. Link and Frank J. Urioste do brilliant work with the editing with its usage of rhythmic cuts to play into the action while slowing things down for the suspense and dramatic moments. Production designer Jackson de Govia, with set decorator Philip Leonard and John R. Jensen, does amazing work with the look of the Nakatomi building interiors including its main office hall where the party is at as well as the other parts of the building. Costume designer Marilyn Vance does nice work with the costumes from the suit that Gruber wears to the more casual look of McClane. Sound editor Richard Shorr does fantastic work with the sound to play into the layers of gunfire and explosion that occurs in the building. The film’s music by Michael Kamen is superb for its bombastic orchestral score and flourishing string arrangements to play into the sense of excitement while its soundtrack features some classical pieces as well as holiday songs including a future classic by Run-DMC.
The casting by Jackie Burch is incredible as it features notable small roles from Lorenzo Caccialanza, Al Leong, Andreas Wisniewski, and Dennis Hayden as some of Hans’ henchmen, Taylor Fry and Noah Land as John and Holly’s children, De’voreaux White as McClane’s young and witty limo driver Argyle, Clarence Gilyard as Gruber’s hacker Theo, Hart Bochner as the sleazy and idiotic Nakatomi executive Ellis, and James Shigeta as Holly’s boss Takagi whom Gruber would target into trying to give him the code for the vault. William Atherton is terrific as the arrogant news reporter Richard Thornburg who is willing to do anything to get a story as he would blackmail his way to get information about John McClane in order to exploit his family. Paul Gleason is superb as deputy chief Dwayne T. Robinson who tends to say idiotic things in his attempt to get control only to screw things up. Robert Davi and Grant L. Bush are fantastic as the FBI agents Johnson as these two men who arrive only to screw things up for McClane and unknowingly give Gruber what he wants.
Reginald VelJohnson is excellent as Sgt. Al Powell as a straight-laced cop who would have an encounter with the terrorists as he would aid McClane through walkie-talkies about what he’s facing. Alexander Godunov is brilliant as Hans’ lead henchman Karl who wants McClane dead after McClane killed his younger brother as he is a very menacing man. Bonnie Bedelia is amazing as McClane’s estranged wife Holly who takes charge for her co-workers as she is able to talk to Gruber while worrying if her husband can still get things through. Alan Rickman is magnificent as Hans Gruber as it’s a performance for the ages where Rickman really showcases some charm and wit to his character but is also a very cunning antagonist that exemplifies the idea of Euro-trash as it’s a real breakthrough for Rickman. Finally, there’s Bruce Willis in an incredible performance as John McClane as it’s a performance that has Willis be the everyman as someone that is just trying to do his job as a cop. Especially as he isn’t the most agile guy as he has to do everything while being barefooted as it’s really an iconic performance for Willis.
Die Hard is an absolutely sensational film from John McTiernan that features great performances from Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. The film is without question one of the pillars of what action films should be as well as giving audiences something more by creating characters audiences can root for as well as a villain that manages to be so fun to watch. It’s the kind of film that manages to do more for its genre while also being a fun film to watch during the Christmas holidays. In the end, Die Hard is a phenomenal film from John McTiernan.
John McTiernan Films: (Nomads) - (Predator) - (The Hunt for Red October) - (Medicine Man) - (Last Action Hero) - (Die Hard with a Vengeance) - (The 13th Warrior) - (The Thomas Crown Affair (1999 film)) - (Rollerball (2002 film)) - (Basic)
Die Hard Films: (Die Hard 2) - (Live Free or Die Hard) - (A Good Day to Die Hard)
© thevoid99 2015
