MovieChat Forums > Harrison Ford Discussion > Can't stand this guy

Can't stand this guy

posted 5 years ago by brux (14840)
33 replies | jump to latest

A comic book actor who happened to get lucky being in the right comic book movies. Leaden acting and delivery, and apparently a clueless and dangerous pilot. I wish actors would just act and have some kind of limit to the number of roles they can do in order to give other people a chance. The celebrity culture we have evolved in America has not been a good thing or helpful for the country. People who grow up with it have no idea what life was like before we started giving weight to every idiotic comment someone pays an actor to spout off about in the media.

[–] BourbonKing (5788) 4 years ago

I agree that he's not particularly good in a lot of those dramatic movies he's headlined over the years.

I think his first foray into drama was "Hanover Street" which I saw on VHS back in the 80s. He left no impression with me. Then he had his big debut in "Witness" which garnered critical praise, but again for me he seemed really stale. Michael Douglas, William Hurt or Jeff Bridges could have delivered a more nuanced performance. Harrison was just straightforward and dull.

I've seen his other melodramas such as "Frantic", "Mosquito Coast", and "Regarding Henry" and they all deliver the same economic performance. Even Kevin Costner for all his contrived directing methods can emote a lot without saying much.

Harrison's true calling is as an Indiana, Han Solo, Dr Kimble, and Jack Ryan. Those characters are carried by more than just a handful of Dues ex machinas and as an action/drama star Harrison's physical charisma lends over perfectly.

[–] brux (14840) 4 years ago

I remember Witness, it was a good movie, but Ford played his regular lethargic wisecracking self.

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

I thought he was great in Mosquito Coast, which was a very against-type part for Ford. Unfortunately, it was a rare flop at the box-office for Ford during that era, and the reviews were more middling than celebratory, although I haven't seen many reviews that criticised his performance.

I personally think Ford has been very good in most of the dramatic performances in which I've seen him. The only parts from that era where I found him to be entirely miscast and rather lost, was Regarding Henry and Sabrina, and I'm not sure any actors could have done those particular duds much justice.

I think where he's floundered is in shying away from challenging parts akin to Allie Fox in The Mosquito Coast (perhaps the poor reception stung him). He tended to settle into his comfort zone, playing morally righteous and reasonable down-to-earth men of action, rather than play eccentrics and kooks like Fox, which would have allowed him to expand his range (although I love how he subverted his traditional Mr Reliable persona in What Lies Beneath). And I can't help feeling that in many recent films he's been phoning-it-in, although I think he put much more effort and conviction into his two-minute scene as a ghost in The Rise of Skywalker, than he did during the entire time he appeared onscreen during Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Force Awakens, so, that recent cameo gives me some hope.

[–] triplea (3577) 4 years ago

Hahah love it, the whole "I don't like popular opinion because I'm unique" mentality 🤣🤣🤣

[–] BillySlater (4285) 2 years ago

Brux can´t stand someone, what a shock!

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

Star Wars and Indiana Jones aren't based on comic books (even if comic adaptations were subsequently made of these films), and Ford is only as popular as he is because audiences like him and engage with his characters. He didn't emerge as the stand-out actor in the Star Wars franchise, or bag the highly prized part of Indiana Jones, without possessing the charisma and talent one needs to become a bona fide star in Hollywood.

Now, I agree with you about celebrity culture, although I'm surprised that you take particular exception to Ford, seeing as he's a liberal, like you and I, and, to be fair, one who isn't as vocal or egregious about it as some celebs are. His opinions and beliefs are on record. He doesn't pretend to be a conservative. But he's not constantly going on about his politics the way some celebs, both left and right-wing, do.

Also, what roles has Ford deprived from others? Post 80s/90s he hasn't been as shoved in our faces as some actors have been, so what's the problem?

[–] DMT (4483) 2 years ago

the pilot shit is pretty funny actually