Chip Kaufmann’s Pick:
Die Hard (1988)
I was genuinely saddened by the death of Alan Rickman. He was one of the very few contemporary performers whose name got me into a cinema seat no matter what the movie was.
It all started with his first big role in the 1988 Bruce Willis action thriller Die Hard. I had never heard of Alan Rickman before and I have never forgotten him since. Therefore it seems only fitting to make Die Hard my DVD pick of the month in order to pay him tribute.
Most everyone knows the story of NYC cop John McClane who is visiting his estranged wife in LA when the building that she works in is hijacked by a group of sophisticated robbers who are posing as terrorists.
Alan Rickman plays the group’s leader and is so commanding a presence that, for me, everyone else (Willis included) became a part of the background. There are several choice moments provided by Rickman, more than I can list here but I’ll mention three of my favorites.
1 – The phone conversation between him and the authorities where he is trying to decide which faux terrorist name to use. 2 – His fake cowering before Willis when he is first discovered on the upper floors of the building. 3 – The look on his face at the end as Bruce Willis lets go of his hand.
We have been lucky to have had Alan Rickman on screen for almost 30 years. His Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films have guaranteed him pop immortality while his Sheriff of Nottingham remains one of the most enjoyable examples of overacting to grace the silver screen. However it’s his so called “little” films that I will most remember, Closet Land, Bottle Shock and especially Truly, Madly, Deeply.
But Die Hard is there as well. While the fashions and some of the dialogue have dated, the overall thrill and excitement of the picture have not, and Alan Rickman’s performance will remain timeless. If you haven’t seen it in a while, it’s time to revisit this 1980s classic and see where the franchise and Rickman’s cinematic legacy begins.
Michelle Keenan’s Pick:
Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)
When Alan Rickman died recently, there was no doubt in our minds that we’d pay tribute to him this month in our DVD picks. The only question was what to pick? With such a colorful filmography to choose from, we could spend the rest of 2016 recommending Rickman films.
Chip’s decision to go back to the beginning of his film legacy with Die Hard reminded me that Rickman’s Armani-clad villain left everyone in the theatre saying, “Who was that guy?” He followed Die Hard with more deliciously villainous roles in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Quigley Down Under, and then came Anthony Minghella’s feature film debut Truly, Madly, Deeply.
For me this quiet little film will be forever etched on my cinematic heart forever. If you’re a Rickman fan, and or an anglophile, you’ve likely seen it, and I’m willing to wager you feel the same way. If you haven’t seen it, you may be unfamiliar with some of Rickman’s smaller [British] films. If you’re so inclined, I implore to start with this one. It’s the first time Americans saw Rickman as a good guy and the romantic lead.
Dubbed “the thinking person’s Ghost,” Truly, Madly, Deeply played in art house cinemas to small but enthusiastic audiences. Over the years it’s developed almost a cult following. The story takes place in modern day London. Juliette Stevenson plays Nina, a young woman who’s struggling to move on after the death of her lover, a cellist named Jamie (Alan Rickman). As if willing him back from the grave, Jamie returns. Nina carries on her spectral affair in secret while the people around her try to bring her back to the land of the living.
Music features prominently in the storyline. It’s part of the film’s charm. There is a wonderful rendition by Stevenson and Rickman of “The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Any More,” and classical music fans will love the use of several pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Truly, Madly, Deeply is sweet without every being saccharine. It doesn’t delve in the mysteries of death or God, but it’s filled with spirit. It is emotionally raw and wonderfully honest. It’s smart without putting on airs. Ultimately it’s about love and loss and moving on.
Rest in peace, Alan Rickman.
You will be missed.
