It’s Die Hard in New York City!

 

It’s finally here! This week Phil and Liam drill down on one of the most beloved films in the storied Die Hard franchise: Die Hard With A Vengeance! To aid them in their investigation of this all-conquering box office smash, the boys have brought in special guest Chris Tilly, a writer, journalist and editor at Dexterto.com and one of the hosts of the hugely popular film podcast Clash of the Titles.

While back working for the NYPD, detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is targeted by a mysterious terrorist named Simon (Jeremy Irons), who effectively holds New York hostage and forces McClane to complete a series of deadly puzzles around the city to prevent further attacks. In the process, McClane teams up with Harlem store-owner Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), and together they uncover Simon’s true agenda…and his real identity!

The guys start by recalling their memories of seeing this hit film upon its release in the summer of 1995, before moving into the ‘Die Hard DNA’ section where they identify who stayed and who left the series in terms of cast and crew. They talk about what makes this film so uniquely ‘New York’, as well as the complex racial politics of the picture, before moving into a detailed discussion about the film’s tortured production history, including an examination of the previous sequel concepts that were explored and abandoned, before Jonathan Hensleigh’s spec script ‘Simon Says’ ultimately became the basis for the third installment in the increasingly popular franchise.

In ‘Anatomy of an Action Movie’, the guys break down the film in terms of its premise, heroes, villains (‘Who’s Your Favorite Terrorist?’ is back!), and the action itself, along with the wisecracking East Coast humor that has become a staple of the series, this time bolstered by the addition of the effervescent Samuel L. Jackson.

The guys dig underneath the Dolby Theatre to attend the ‘Die Hard Oscars’ and steal away some gold statues, before events culminate with an appropriately collaborative edition of the ‘Double Jeopardy’ trivia quiz!

DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE trailer

At the time of release, DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE is streaming on Hulu, DirectTV, Fubo, and Starz and is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Apple/iTunes, YouTube, Vudu, Redbox, AMC On Demand and all the usual platforms!

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