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Your Favorite Harrison Ford Non-Star Wars/Indiana Jones Film

Poll Results: What's your favorite Harrison Ford Non-Star Wars/Indiana Jones Film?

 
  • 0% (0)
    AMERICAN GRAFFITI
  • 53% (24)
    BLADE RUNNER
  • 6% (3)
    WITNESS
  • 2% (1)
    THE MOSQUITO COAST
  • 6% (3)
    FRANTIC
  • 4% (2)
    PATRIOT GAMES
  • 20% (9)
    THE FUGITIVE
  • 4% (2)
    CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
  • 2% (1)
    AIR FORCE ONE
  • 0% (0)
    WHAT LIES BENEATH
45 Total Votes  
post #1 of 24
7/30/05 at 2:32pm
Thread Starter 
I remember someone starting one of these for George Lucas a while back. Since Ford is the other guy most associated with both the STAR WARS and the INDIANA JONES series why not see how the rest of his films measure up.

I'm going with AIR FORCE ONE. He's surrounded by a very good cast, especially Gary Oldman who was a great contrast to Ford. Another thing I like about that movie is that it was made at a time when ridiculous summer movies had good actors and directors. The plot is outlandish but because of the people involved you can buy into it. Now you get stuff like STEALTH. I haven't seen anything in the ads for STEALTH that looks better than the sequence in AIR FORCE ONE when the Migs are trying to shoot Air Force One down. The only thing in AIR FORCE ONE that looks STEALTH-like is when the plane crashes into the water, that was pretty poor.

Another thing I like about AIR FORCE ONE is that as big a star as Ford is (was?), he still felt the need to get on the DIE HARD-rip off gravy train.
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post #2 of 24
7/30/05 at 2:37pm
I'd have to go with the Fugitive and Regarding Henry. The Fugitive has enough action and Ford was good in it. Regarding Henry just for the story's character and how he almost spews egg chunks.
I think a lot of his recent films are lacking in any emotions from Ford's characters. It's like he's almost sleepwalking through them.

And you forgot Working Girl - just because he lays Melanie before she turned into a hag.
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post #3 of 24
7/30/05 at 2:54pm
Cool thread.

I dig Air force One as well. It's a really fun action flick with a classic Ford line : "Get off my plane". AFO, was IMO, Harrison's last *good* film. Well ok, K-19 wasn't bad and Six Days Seven Nights while not great was at least a fun way to spend a couple of hours. I found What Lies Beneath to be rather forgettable, Random Hearts was boring and Hollywood Homicide was a fucking joke.

But anyways back to the thread question. For me, it's a tie between Blade Runner and The Fugitive. But I voted for BR since it's a thought provoking film that improves with repeated viewings.

My top five Non-SW/Indy list:

1.) Blade Runner
2.) Fugitive
3.) Clear and Present Danger- My fave Jack Ryan film
4.) Air Force One
5.) Witness/ Mosquito Coast- Great performances by Harrison
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post #4 of 24
7/30/05 at 2:55pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, WORKING GIRL almost made the cut. I've never seen it but it's one of his few comedies so it would have been nice to fit in. Even though his role in AMERICAN GRAFFITI is small I wanted it on there because of the Lucas connection.

Sometimes 10 listings isn't enough. I'm prepared for any anger unleashed my way by the ever growing population of crazed RANDOM HEARTS fanatics.

Gumble, I'm with you on the CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER choice for best Jack Ryan flick. Like AIR FORCE ONE, another example of Ford having a great cast to play off of.
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post #5 of 24
7/30/05 at 2:58pm
I thought Presumed Innocent (1990) was good too. Though Fugitive is the better of the Ford "trying to prove he's innocent" films.
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post #6 of 24
7/30/05 at 3:11pm
I think the clear cut winner here is Blade Runner. Not just an excellent film for Ford, but a great job by Ridley Scott. The work of these two really cements this as one of the best Sci-Fi films around. The film holds up incredibly well to this very day.
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post #7 of 24
7/30/05 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moltisanti
I remember someone starting one of these for George Lucas a while back. Since Ford is the other guy most associated with both the STAR WARS and the INDIANA JONES series why not see how the rest of his films measure up.

I'm going with AIR FORCE ONE. He's surrounded by a very good cast, especially Gary Oldman who was a great contrast to Ford. Another thing I like about that movie is that it was made at a time when ridiculous summer movies had good actors and directors. The plot is outlandish but because of the people involved you can buy into it. Now you get stuff like STEALTH. I haven't seen anything in the ads for STEALTH that looks better than the sequence in AIR FORCE ONE when the Migs are trying to shoot Air Force One down. The only thing in AIR FORCE ONE that looks STEALTH-like is when the plane crashes into the water, that was pretty poor.

Another thing I like about AIR FORCE ONE is that as big a star as Ford is (was?), he still felt the need to get on the DIE HARD-rip off gravy train.
Air Force One is right up there with Armaggedon for my least favorite movie ever. It's been a while since I saw it, but I really, really hated it.
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post #8 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StabmasterArson
Air Force One is right up there with Armaggedon for my least favorite movie ever. It's been a while since I saw it, but I really, really hated it.
I agree whole heartedly. "Get off my plane" how did that become a catch phrase that any self respecting person would utter, especially when it never really fit any situation. And a woman as Vice President? Come on. Next thing you know they are going to want the right to drive and vote.
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post #9 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:12pm
1)Blade Runner(of course)
2)The Mosquito Coast(best Ford acting bar none)
3)Frantic(very underrated movie)
4)The Fugitive
I can't even think of a good number 5 starring Ford, so I'll just go with Apocalypse Now.

I also thought Air Force One was really poor. When I look back on that movie, all I see is a horribly blue-screened fat black lady in a parachute. Oldman's one of my favorite actors too, but there wasn't anything to him other than a Russian accent. For that action/adventure type movie, I'd have to go with the Fugitive or Patriot Games as Harry's best(well non SW and IJ of course).
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post #10 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NadaTodd
And a woman as Vice President? Come on. Next thing you know they are going to want the right to drive and vote.
They need to stay home and make babies. And fix me a turkey pot pie.

Blade Runner was a good film - but I don't think it was all Harrison Ford. What was memorable for me was the "I've seen things" speech at the end. Ford just kinda wandered through the film looking perplexed.
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post #11 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:27pm
The mans a hack and he's ugly as hell.

Oh and I chose Witness.
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post #12 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:32pm
i would have chosen Hollywood Homicide, but sadly it was no where on that list. Damn, that Josh Hartnett could act his way out of any situation. And Harrison Ford, he didn't look irritated to have to be in that film at all.

While a Turkey Pot Pie is delicious and full of Turkey goodness, i do like me a good casserole. And lets face the facts, only women know how to make casseroles. Men know how to barbeque things, not put things into a pan with noodles and other assorted goodies.
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post #13 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by StabmasterArson
Air Force One is right up there with Armaggedon for my least favorite movie ever. It's been a while since I saw it, but I really, really hated it.
I find AIR FORCE ONE to be in a whole other class far above ARMAGEDDON. ARMAGEDDON was sort of the start of the suck ass summer blockbusters that we've gotten ever since. It tried to get you to care about characters that did nothing to deserve sympathy whether they lived or died. The scene where Oldman threatens to kill Ford's family if he doesn't release the imprisoned dictator has more emotion than anything in ARMAGEDDON.

Oldman was a better bad guy in both THE PROFESSIONAL and TRUE ROMANCE but he was terrific in AIR FORCE ONE. He says he will count to 10 before he kills a woman, then counts to 10, and he kills her. A lot of movies would have pulled back from that promise, except DIE HARD where Gruber did the same thing (but he only counted to 3, and it was a man he killed).
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post #14 of 24
7/30/05 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grofield
I love how AMERICAN GRAFFITI is in the poll, but not THE CONVERSATION or APOCALYPSE NOW.

Yeah. Okay.
10 choices, that's all they give ya. I picked one of his small roles and I stand by it. I suppose it's only a matter of time before DEAD HEAT ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND'S abscence is met with contempt.
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post #15 of 24
7/30/05 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grofield
I love how AMERICAN GRAFFITI is in the poll, but not THE CONVERSATION or APOCALYPSE NOW.

Yeah. Okay.
Well I could also complain that Six Days Seven Nights (a big hit with his female fans btw), K-19: The Widowmaker, The Frisco Kid, Force 10 from Navarone and so forth are not on the list but as he mentioned you only get 10 options and I believe he did a great job with the list.

He chose movies that spanned Harrison's career which is a fair way to do something like this.

Oh and regarding Apocalypse Now. Harrison is only in it for what 3 minutes at best! Besides, that movie would be voted for by people who enjoyed the entire movie, not Harrison's performance.
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post #16 of 24
7/30/05 at 5:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moltisanti
it's only a matter of time before DEAD HEAT ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND'S abscence is met with contempt.
Well damn you for not putting in LUV, Jimmy Hollywood, A Time for Killing, Zabriskie Point, More American Graffiti or Getting Straight.

I am putting you on my ignore list mister.
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post #17 of 24
7/30/05 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 
I can't blame you for that. I probably should have found a way to include Ford's "Celebrity Secrets" from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

http://nbc.com/nbc/Late_Night_with_C...ets/ford.shtml
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post #18 of 24
7/30/05 at 7:57pm
Favorite film of his of the last few years, which I have not seen:

http://www.bluebirdwax.com/teaserpage.htm

From what I saw of Hollywood Homicide, he should always play "scoundrels," never romantic leads or noble ones.
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post #19 of 24
7/30/05 at 9:50pm
I'm going to second the love for both Working Girl and Six Days, Seven Nights. Don't get me wrong; I love the action hero, but the rom com leading man was, back in the day, wonderful for him as well. He has, in my opinion, a fabulous charm and charism that translated wonderfully in the rom com format. Shame that he didn't do more of that when he had the chance.

Just my opinion, but, as craggy as he looks now, he would be perfect for Westerns, (has Larry McMurtry, (sp?), written anything lately?), but as time goes on, I fall into more despair for want of Indy 4.
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post #20 of 24
7/31/05 at 12:48am
I voted Frantic, and great movie that needs a widescreen dvd. Blade Runner would be next.
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post #21 of 24
7/31/05 at 1:31am
I'm kinda surprised no-one's talked about Patriot Games. It's a great movie, and Ford fit that father/CIA analysist Ryan to a T. Granted it's not as solid as Blade Runner, but that movie gets enough love as it is, while Patriot Games sits in the dark, alone. That ain't right.
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post #22 of 24
7/31/05 at 2:23am
I voted for the Fugative. Love that movie, actually I love all movies Ford is in. While, yes, his film roles have slipped the last few years (6?) in an interview I read of his, he said he was done doing the same type of movies thats why each movie he does now is like, so not the old stand by Ford. Guess if you've done three trilogies you'd get tired of being in similar movies
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post #23 of 24
7/31/05 at 7:57am
While a great list of choices Moltisanti, for the sake of conversation I'll say that I think "Presumed Innocent" is much better than "Frantic" and "What Lies Beneath", the latter of which I despised.

I voted "The Fugitive". Its an exceptionally well made film and one that plays to all of Ford's gifts as an actor. Righteous, decent, you never even suspect that he did it, which sounds like a given, but there are few actors so noble and unfailingly good that without any real explanation we never question his absolute innocence. Plus that performance is so silent, such a series of gestures and looks, a performance that says more with silence than other actors can do with reams of dialogue. Harrison Ford is the only actor who could, while being chased by the polic, stop and treat a hurt kid, and it never feels false.

And I also take "Patriot Games" over "Clear and Present Danger". Unhinged, beaten father Ford is more compelling than noble, CIA crusader Ford. Watch the scenes after his daughter is injured, specifically when he has to tell his wife the extent of her injuries. Great stuff.
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post #24 of 24
7/31/05 at 2:09pm
Thread Starter 
I'd probably take CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER over PATRIOT GAMES just because the scope of the film feels bigger. PATRIOT GAMES is a nice "defend your family" type movie but I liked all the smaller subplots going on in DANGER. Joaquim De Almeida was a smooth villain and I'm sure his role here had some reason to give him his role in DESPERADO. Dafoe made for an excellent Clark and Henry Czerny was a true (wink, wink) bastard for the entire film. I know John Milius had a hand in writing DANGER which must have helped make it a more polished movie.
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