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Why was Harrison Ford so popular when he acts as if he's in a mandatory prison theater program? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 week ago by to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
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Harrison Ford is usually looks like he does not want to be in the movie, no matter what movie it is. It makes me feel badly for him, like, honestly, bro, if you hate acting this much, just, like, stop. You've got enough money.

In some rare instances, it works for the character--Blade Runner, Force Awakens.

The times where he does seem to be enjoying himself, he is fun to watch (Solo, Jones), but for most of his action star runs (Witness, Patriot Games, the one where he's president on a plane), he is just entirely miserable.

Harrison Ford is almost unique here. The only other time I remember an actor palpably not wanting to be there was Halle Berry's Storm in the first X-Men.

What's the appeal?

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[–] 6 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Ford to me is one of those actors who enjoys their craft, but not so much the showbiz side of it. He's not alone in feeling annoyed by having to do press tours, interviews, and all that, and seems like the type who'd much rather pursue his hobbies, like carpentry and solo-flying... even if it literally kills him, haha.

Was there a movie with a similar theme with fellow Graffitti alumnus Richard Dreyfus?

He was in the sequel briefly (as a police officer, oh the irony), but Dreyfus was not. So I don't know.

(Ford’s role in Graffitti was a different character than his usual; that guy made my skin crawl.)

Interesting, because Bob Falfa was a fairly standard American bad boy trope / character / stereotype. I'm personally not a big fan, but there's been something of an Hollywood industry of such characters, such as the many bad boy cop movies. But you are French, if I recall correctly? Based on my knowledge of French films, that type of character seems too over-the-top for general Gallic audiences. Kinda makes me curious what your thoughts are on Luc Besson's Léon. ("Leon: The Professional")

Maybe because he’s so openly talks about not liking so many of the roles he does.

I know that famous Caine quote and I think I see what you're saying, altho I'm not sure Ford's general style of acting would play well with Brits. It would probably come off on the whiny side, I'm thinking. Anyway, I'm not aware that Ford disliked so many of his roles. Is that right? oO

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 week ago (3 children)

    You know what? I think you might have answered a different question, "Why do I associate Harrison Ford's character's misery with Harrison Ford's misery as an actor?'"And he has that same air in press junkets, so I guess I naturally make the connection to "this man, Harrison Ford, does not want to be in front of a camera."

    I checked on Dreyfus' filmography and I think I was hallucinating. He doesn't have a descent-into-madness in the wild, unless you cound What About Bob?

    Ford's character in graffitti seemed predatory to me, probably because he was a man in his twenties getting high school girls in his car... maybe something not entirely foreign to Ford if the stories about him and Carrie FIsher are true. Not to mention Indiana Jones sleeping with teenagers.

    I'm not French, and thanks for reminding me of that because I just made the error of writing mon freres instead of mes freres and you reminded me to correct it... I dabble in French but haven't done a deep dive. And speaking of pedophilia (or hebephilia, if you are so inclined), I think French were pretty horrified by Luc Besson take in Leon because it was Jean Reno himself pushing back against it.

    As for whether Ford really does dislike roles, I know he's pretty open about not liking Star Wars and just made the connection that he's a guy that'll take a paycheck. I don't think I've seen him actively diss other roles he's taken.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

    Ford’s character in graffitti seemed predatory to me, probably because he was a man in his twenties getting high school girls in his car…

    Good point!

    ...maybe something not entirely foreign to Ford if the stories about him and Carrie FIsher are true. Not to mention Indiana Jones sleeping with teenagers.

    Ford and Fisher absolutely did have a famous affair during shooting on Star Wars. I think he would have been about 33yo and she, 20yo at the time. That said, they were consenting adults, and friends, and that's enough for me. That said again, I can understand people having a moral problem with it. And so the world goes.

    Not sure what you mean about the Indy films (I pretty much only count the first three, as the next two were awful). All three of his love interests in those films were absolutely not teenagers IIRC.

    My bad about the French angle. Obviously I misunderstood something, but in my mind it's also a compliment. Probably not hard to guess why based on the sub I founded here.

    And speaking of pedophilia (or hebephilia, if you are so inclined), I think French were pretty horrified by Luc Besson take in Leon because it was Jean Reno himself pushing back against it.

    I don't understand that one. Mathilda (Portman) was the one portrayed as consistently pursuing Leon in the film, against his wishes, and it was pretty obvious why she did it in large part, with her whole life being instantly shattered like that. Certainly, it's not healthy in my mind, but it's something completely understandable. I don't feel like the film 'cheated' in terms of portraying that aspect, but then again it's been years.

    I know he’s pretty open about not liking Star Wars and just made the connection that he’s a guy that’ll take a paycheck.

    I'm gonna always think of him as a boss for telling Lucas that "George, you can type this shit (dialog), but you sure can't say it! Move your mouth when you're typing!" And to me there's a long backstory on that, specifically relating to his then-wife Marcia Lucas, who was an underrated genius IMO upon adding the human touch to the first two films, even brilliantly so.

    George didn't make a single strong movie after they divorced... not that he made a slew. But I lowkey resent that Marcia didn't get more credit, as one of those people like Lebowski's rug... really tying the room together(!)

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  • [–] [S] 0 points 1 week ago* (1 child)

    Yes, I think I misremembered Carrie's age at the time. It's not a big deal, but it is a little bit of a red flag in my book.

    If you re-watch the first Indiana Jones movie, the backstory with him and Marion is that she was the daughter of professor when they met and fell in love. I think she even includes the line "I was underage" when they're reminsicing at the bar. So Indy slept with a minor, singular.

    I agree Mathilda's romantic interest in Léon 100% makes sense with her character (PTSD/RAD), but it's also a common pedo fantasy to be seduced by a child. Besson was trying to get Reno to be more receptive to Mathilda's approaches, and that's what Reno was pushing back against, even making the character a little simple (child-like) to make the connection more real while at the same time fully understanding that it was horribly wrong.

    There is Mathilda's corruption in terms of being involved in Léon's jobs, but that's completely cut out of the original (US?) version.

    It's pretty damn fascinating to watch.

    And, yes, Marcia Lucas did finally get her credit in the very watched YouTube Video titled something like: "Star Wars: Saved in the Edit", but he also got a lot of feedback from other directors. I think everyone agrees the prequels very obviously suffered from not having anyone willing to tell Lucas his dialogue was shit.

    Women are often the unsung heroes behind great men. Shymalan's work turning from great to mediocore coincided with a break up; CG Jung's wife was responsible for a lot of his ideas; the list is sadly endless. James Cameron is demonstrably free of that problem, at least.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 week ago

    If you re-watch the first Indiana Jones movie, the backstory with him and Marion is that she was the daughter of professor when they met and fell in love. I think she even includes the line “I was underage” when they’re reminsicing at the bar. So Indy slept with a minor, singular.

    Ohh... damn.
    Shit, and they seemed similarly-aged in the first movie.

    Actually this is one of the many reasons I appreciate so many French films, because it usually wouldn't just be an incidental like that, that doofuses like me could casually miss. Nah, it would be more of an inflection point, methinks.

    ...it’s also a common pedo fantasy to be seduced by a child.

    🤢

    Besson was trying to get Reno to be more receptive to Mathilda’s approaches, and that’s what Reno was pushing back against, even making the character a little simple (child-like) to make the connection more real while at the same time fully understanding that it was horribly wrong.

    Oof, and... fascinating. Phew, and good for you, Reno.

    Oh dear, it's times like these in which I sometimes comfort myself via The Rockford Files eps. It's an hilarious formula to me-- the aging PI (private investigator) bad boy, still attractive to various ladies, who sometimes brilliantly and sometimes bumblingly solves cases, with various results, but the result is usually steeped in irony. XD Yet I really like the agency of the women characters portrayed overall in those eps, which I try to do a good job of focusing in on via the many subs I post to, starting with my own.

    There is Mathilda’s corruption in terms of being involved in Léon’s jobs, but that’s completely cut out of the original (US?) version.

    Huh! Do you know if there are any online sources to watch?

    Women are often the unsung heroes behind great men.

    Oh, for sure. That's something that has endless scholarly foundation IMO.

    Indeed, something happened to me a couple months back when I was reading "Sapiens," and it was mainly the transfixing idea that with the general dawn of the Neolithic / Agricultural Revolutions, which happened ~12Kyo ago, the very first casualties were arguably women. I.e., the ones who were typically expected to 'hold things together on the home front.' Or something like that.

    One of my major fascination points is the Bonobos, or "dwarf chimps," our very close cousins. They are absolutely matriarchal in order, not unlike meerkats, and there's even a fascinating series about them. (Meerkat Manor)

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