Forty Fords
July 29, 2011 10:43 AM Subscribe
To celebrate Harrison Ford's 40th credited big-screen appearance in Cowboys & Aliens this weekend, Steve Murray takes a look back at everyone's favourite acting chameleon.
Antidisestablishmentarianist : You beat me to it.
posted by snap_dragon at 10:47 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by snap_dragon at 10:47 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Harrison Ford does play a soulless, emotionless replicant rather well.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:49 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 10:49 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wow, I thought he'd appeared in Cowboys & Aliens only 28 times, tops.
posted by DU at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by DU at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2011 [12 favorites]
Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
Not necessarily inaccurate, then.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
Not necessarily inaccurate, then.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
Antidisestablishmentarianist: "Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions."
Psst, I think that's the joke here.
posted by octothorpe at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
Psst, I think that's the joke here.
posted by octothorpe at 10:51 AM on July 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
No one plays the character of Harrison Ford better than noted character actor Harrison Ford.
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:52 AM on July 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by 2bucksplus at 10:52 AM on July 29, 2011 [8 favorites]
everyone's favourite acting chameleon
Wait... I thought it was Johnny Depp that starred in Rango...
posted by quin at 10:53 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wait... I thought it was Johnny Depp that starred in Rango...
posted by quin at 10:53 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
He has like three facial expressions...
which seem to work in any context. Deckard, Solo and Kimball are distinctly different characters. Somehow the same three expressions are able to do very different jobs.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 10:53 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
which seem to work in any context. Deckard, Solo and Kimball are distinctly different characters. Somehow the same three expressions are able to do very different jobs.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 10:53 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Harrison Ford finger-pointing.
There used to be a video compilation of these but I can't find it right now.
posted by plastic_animals at 10:55 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
There used to be a video compilation of these but I can't find it right now.
posted by plastic_animals at 10:55 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wow...40 roles and only two out-and-out comedies (The Frisco Kid and Six Days and Seven Nights)? I haven't seen The Frisco Kid, but he spent most of Six Days and Seven Nights scowling and yelling at Anne Heche, so it wasn't much of a stretch.
* Yeah, I watched it. Let's see you fill the time on a 28-hour bus ride in Australia before smartphones were invented.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:56 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
* Yeah, I watched it. Let's see you fill the time on a 28-hour bus ride in Australia before smartphones were invented.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:56 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Harrison Ford is not an actor. Harrison Ford is a movie star. You do not go to a movie with Harrison Ford and expect to be blown away by his performance -- you go because he is a familiar presence who will entertain you for a couple of hours. A little gruff, a few wry comments here and there, a certain above-the-material air about him, and two hours later you're back at home and satisfied that you got your ten bucks worth.
(Okay, except for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I got hit by a drunk driver on the way back from that, and the movie was still the low point of the night. But it wasn't Harrison Ford's fault.)
posted by Etrigan at 10:58 AM on July 29, 2011 [32 favorites]
(Okay, except for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I got hit by a drunk driver on the way back from that, and the movie was still the low point of the night. But it wasn't Harrison Ford's fault.)
posted by Etrigan at 10:58 AM on July 29, 2011 [32 favorites]
I have to say, even if you can argue with the premise of the joke (I'm not sure I would), I really respect people who will go all out to make the joke.
I just wish I could re-order the faces to make them switch in a different order. It would be fun to mix them up -- though I am having fun just going "Indy, Deckard, Han Solo" back and forth, back and forth, I'd like to re-order the game.
Also, I didn't realize how many shit movies Harrison Ford has been in (despite my love of the three aforementioned characters/movie franchises)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:59 AM on July 29, 2011
I just wish I could re-order the faces to make them switch in a different order. It would be fun to mix them up -- though I am having fun just going "Indy, Deckard, Han Solo" back and forth, back and forth, I'd like to re-order the game.
Also, I didn't realize how many shit movies Harrison Ford has been in (despite my love of the three aforementioned characters/movie franchises)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:59 AM on July 29, 2011
Let's see you fill the time on a 28-hour bus ride in Australia before smartphones were invented.
You could have played the "spot animals/insects/arachnids that can kill me" game.
The answer, of course, is all of them.
posted by kmz at 10:59 AM on July 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
You could have played the "spot animals/insects/arachnids that can kill me" game.
The answer, of course, is all of them.
posted by kmz at 10:59 AM on July 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
Psst, I think that's the joke here.
Pony request: Post Comment button doesn't work until you click one of the links in the FPP.
posted by swift at 11:03 AM on July 29, 2011 [30 favorites]
Psst, I think that's the joke here.
Pony request: Post Comment button doesn't work until you click one of the links in the FPP.
posted by swift at 11:03 AM on July 29, 2011 [30 favorites]
I enjoyed Morning Glory more than staring out the airplane window for 90 minutes.
posted by GuyZero at 11:05 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 11:05 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Not that it matters, The Card Cheat, but I think Morning Glory was also a straight-up comedy. I didn't see it, and the trailer suggested that it wasn't funny, but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't get the genre label.
Because if we're going to start calling romantic comedies that aren't comedies something else, we're going to have to come up with a word quickly, simply because of the demand to use it these days.
God, when did I turn into that crank
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:06 AM on July 29, 2011
Because if we're going to start calling romantic comedies that aren't comedies something else, we're going to have to come up with a word quickly, simply because of the demand to use it these days.
God, when did I turn into that crank
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:06 AM on July 29, 2011
Deckard: He's a movie star.
Tyrell: I'm impressed. How many movies does it normally take?
Deckard: Twenty, thirty, with top-billing.
Tyrell: But with Harrison Ford it took forty.
Deckard: He doesn't know.
Tyrell: He is beginning to suspect I think.
Deckard: Beginning to suspect? How can it not know what it is?
posted by hal9k at 11:06 AM on July 29, 2011 [13 favorites]
Tyrell: I'm impressed. How many movies does it normally take?
Deckard: Twenty, thirty, with top-billing.
Tyrell: But with Harrison Ford it took forty.
Deckard: He doesn't know.
Tyrell: He is beginning to suspect I think.
Deckard: Beginning to suspect? How can it not know what it is?
posted by hal9k at 11:06 AM on July 29, 2011 [13 favorites]
And Ford's own stated favorite? Allie Fox, god love 'im.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:10 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:10 AM on July 29, 2011
Harrison Ford finger-pointing.
Chez gompa, we call the one he uses to silence C-3P0 in Empire "the shaddup finger." My daughter loves it. She uses it herself around the house. Laughs her ass off. She's six.
It took us nearly two years to convince her Empire's the best movie and Han the best character, and I'll be damned if I'm going to back off now on my propping up of Harrison Ford's career.
(Again, with the exception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which is the universal cinematic caveat, applicable in almost any discussion of film. For example: "I love going to the movies, with the exception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Or: "You know, if the technology in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind existed, but it could only be used to erase the memory of movies you've seen, I can't think of one I'd actually feel was essential to be removed. With the exception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.")
posted by gompa at 11:10 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Chez gompa, we call the one he uses to silence C-3P0 in Empire "the shaddup finger." My daughter loves it. She uses it herself around the house. Laughs her ass off. She's six.
It took us nearly two years to convince her Empire's the best movie and Han the best character, and I'll be damned if I'm going to back off now on my propping up of Harrison Ford's career.
(Again, with the exception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which is the universal cinematic caveat, applicable in almost any discussion of film. For example: "I love going to the movies, with the exception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Or: "You know, if the technology in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind existed, but it could only be used to erase the memory of movies you've seen, I can't think of one I'd actually feel was essential to be removed. With the exception of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.")
posted by gompa at 11:10 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
"Harrison Ford is not an actor. Harrison Ford is a movie star."
That's funny, because I vaguely recall an interview with Ford where he's describing one of his first acting gigs, and the director told him that when a certain actor came on screen you would say "Now THAT'S a movie star!" and Ford replied "I thought you were supposed to say 'now THAT'S a (whatever the role was)'.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:12 AM on July 29, 2011
That's funny, because I vaguely recall an interview with Ford where he's describing one of his first acting gigs, and the director told him that when a certain actor came on screen you would say "Now THAT'S a movie star!" and Ford replied "I thought you were supposed to say 'now THAT'S a (whatever the role was)'.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:12 AM on July 29, 2011
I must have missed something, I thought Harrison Ford had only two facial expressions.
posted by Cranberry at 11:13 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by Cranberry at 11:13 AM on July 29, 2011
"Katherine Hepburn runs the gamut of emotions from A to B." (Dorothy Parker) [although I really like Hepburn's acting, still one of my favorite snarky quotes]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:16 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:16 AM on July 29, 2011
Finger pointing? Check him out on Charlie Rose. Dude is casting spells all over the place.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 11:18 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 11:18 AM on July 29, 2011
> Not that it matters, The Card Cheat, but I think Morning Glory was also a straight-up comedy.
I stand corrected. No, romantic comedies count (Six Days and Seven Nights is a "romantic" "comedy")...I just missed that one as I mouse-overed all of them. Anyway, given, say, Bruce Willis' track record in comedies, I don't think we're missing much.
gompa: don't get me wrong, Crystal Skull was awful and all, but if I *had* to choose between cinematic atrocities I'd gladly take it over either of the first two Star Wars prequels (I haven't seen the third and never will).
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:19 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I stand corrected. No, romantic comedies count (Six Days and Seven Nights is a "romantic" "comedy")...I just missed that one as I mouse-overed all of them. Anyway, given, say, Bruce Willis' track record in comedies, I don't think we're missing much.
gompa: don't get me wrong, Crystal Skull was awful and all, but if I *had* to choose between cinematic atrocities I'd gladly take it over either of the first two Star Wars prequels (I haven't seen the third and never will).
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:19 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Antidisestablishmentarianist: Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
So he's like a surly golden retriever?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:19 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
So he's like a surly golden retriever?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:19 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
LAUGH IT UP, FURBALL
posted by Hoopo at 11:21 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
LAUGH IT UP, FURBALL
posted by Hoopo at 11:21 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Sabrina is also a romantic comedy (this comment is eponysterical for the real me).
posted by sweetkid at 11:22 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by sweetkid at 11:22 AM on July 29, 2011
That's funny, because I vaguely recall an interview with Ford where he's describing one of his first acting gigs, and the director told him that when a certain actor came on screen you would say "Now THAT'S a movie star!" and Ford replied "I thought you were supposed to say 'now THAT'S a (whatever the role was)'.
Tony Curtis, playing a grocery delivery boy.
I have no idea how I know that.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:23 AM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
Tony Curtis, playing a grocery delivery boy.
I have no idea how I know that.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:23 AM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
Is there an actor who has done a whole bunch of movies that you couldn't make a page like this for?
posted by straight at 11:26 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by straight at 11:26 AM on July 29, 2011
gompa: don't get me wrong, Crystal Skull was awful and all, but if I *had* to choose between cinematic atrocities I'd gladly take it over either of the first two Star Wars prequels (I haven't seen the third and never will).
Chacun a son gout, but I find I can make it through the prequels when I'm watching with a wide-eyed six-year-old - just enough Ewan MacGregor awesomeness and space opera to carry me through C-SPAN Coruscant and the Worst Love Story Ever Told - whereas Crystal Skull made me want to scoop up Jar Jar Binks by his ears and use him like a rubber war hammer to beat Shia LaBoeuf to death.
posted by gompa at 11:27 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Chacun a son gout, but I find I can make it through the prequels when I'm watching with a wide-eyed six-year-old - just enough Ewan MacGregor awesomeness and space opera to carry me through C-SPAN Coruscant and the Worst Love Story Ever Told - whereas Crystal Skull made me want to scoop up Jar Jar Binks by his ears and use him like a rubber war hammer to beat Shia LaBoeuf to death.
posted by gompa at 11:27 AM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
LAUGH IT UP, FURBALL
It's LAUGH IT UP, FUZZBALL, you nerf herder.
posted by gompa at 11:28 AM on July 29, 2011 [14 favorites]
It's LAUGH IT UP, FUZZBALL, you nerf herder.
posted by gompa at 11:28 AM on July 29, 2011 [14 favorites]
Is there an actor who has done a whole bunch of movies that you couldn't make a page like this for?
of big-money people: Johnny Depp
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:29 AM on July 29, 2011
of big-money people: Johnny Depp
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:29 AM on July 29, 2011
Is there an actor who has done a whole bunch of movies that you couldn't make a page like this for?
Gary Oldman? Johnny Depp (speaking of...), Daniel-Day Lewis?
There are a lot of actors who seem to revel in playing as distinctly different characters as they possibly can.
posted by quin at 11:30 AM on July 29, 2011
Gary Oldman? Johnny Depp (speaking of...), Daniel-Day Lewis?
There are a lot of actors who seem to revel in playing as distinctly different characters as they possibly can.
posted by quin at 11:30 AM on July 29, 2011
...whereas Crystal Skull made me want to scoop up Jar Jar Binks by his ears and use him like a rubber war hammer to beat Shia LaBoeuf to death.
This.
Sitting through the horror that was Crystal Skull, watching old, wrinkled, heavy Ford, reminded me why they invented the term "Age Appropriate."
posted by Thorzdad at 11:30 AM on July 29, 2011
This.
Sitting through the horror that was Crystal Skull, watching old, wrinkled, heavy Ford, reminded me why they invented the term "Age Appropriate."
posted by Thorzdad at 11:30 AM on July 29, 2011
Harrison Ford tells a joke on Letterman.
posted by auto-correct at 11:30 AM on July 29, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by auto-correct at 11:30 AM on July 29, 2011 [12 favorites]
Nicole Kidman
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:31 AM on July 29, 2011
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:31 AM on July 29, 2011
> C-SPAN Coruscant
lol
I just hope to go through life without having to watch any of them ever again. And the worst thing I can think of to say about Crystal Skull is that Shia LaBoeuf was the least of that movie's many, many problems.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:31 AM on July 29, 2011
lol
I just hope to go through life without having to watch any of them ever again. And the worst thing I can think of to say about Crystal Skull is that Shia LaBoeuf was the least of that movie's many, many problems.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:31 AM on July 29, 2011
Laugh if you will, but there's nothing wrong with being Harrison Ford as long as there are movies that need a "Harrison Ford type" in them.
posted by tommasz at 11:32 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 11:32 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I won't stand by as Johnny Depp's good name is besmirched so carelessly. He has only ever made six movies - Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Donnie Brasco, Dead Man, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and the first Pirates of the Caribbean - and each shows the distinctive work of a remarkably gifted actor.
The fact that DeppBot models 201.3 (the "Burton-ator") and 440.06 ("Hunter-esque") have been overused by corporate Hollywood is, in my personal reality, no reason to speak ill of the man himself.
posted by gompa at 11:36 AM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
The fact that DeppBot models 201.3 (the "Burton-ator") and 440.06 ("Hunter-esque") have been overused by corporate Hollywood is, in my personal reality, no reason to speak ill of the man himself.
posted by gompa at 11:36 AM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
One look? One look!
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:39 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:39 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ahem, Cry-Baby, dammit.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:39 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:39 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
There were a handful of actors--I believe they called 'em contract players back in the day--that made a very good living always playing the same type, and audiences wouldn't have had it any other way. Even some big guys--seems to me that Gary Cooper always played a variation on Gary Cooper, and Errol Flynn was the go-to guy when buckles needed swashing, as it were.
Ford gets jobs 'cause he fills seats. Wish he'd do more comedy, though--auto-correct's joke link made me LOL.
posted by kinnakeet at 11:46 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ford gets jobs 'cause he fills seats. Wish he'd do more comedy, though--auto-correct's joke link made me LOL.
posted by kinnakeet at 11:46 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
They interviewed Harrison Ford on some network daytime talk show six months or more ago -- how long has this movie been sitting on the shelf anyway? The interviewer was all bubbly and sparkly and Harrison looked pained and glowered sullenly the whole time and mumbled his answers and rolled his eyes when she asked him questions about the movie and how great it must have been to work with Jon Favreau and Olivia Wilde, etc., etc. His facial expression basically said, "I'm doing this gig for the money, nobody else is hiring me right now, I'm 69 years old and I'm playing second fiddle to Daniel Craig, let's get this goddamn charade over with" more succinctly than anyone I can remember. And then the interviewer cut him off at the end and had him go on sitting there on that stool in agony while the happy-talk music blared she went on to tease some story about cat videos on YouTube or "Dancing with the Stars" or Justin Bieber or something.
posted by blucevalo at 11:58 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by blucevalo at 11:58 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
Namely Skewed Bewilderment, Twisted Rage, and Crooked Smirk.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:58 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Namely Skewed Bewilderment, Twisted Rage, and Crooked Smirk.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:58 AM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
> And then the interviewer cut him off at the end and had him go on sitting there on that stool in agony...
I once stood in line at a Blockbuster and watched Ralph Fiennes stumble through one of those press junket interviews for The Avengers on the TVs they had above the main desk...and that was the most depressed I've ever seen an A-list actor look in public.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:08 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I once stood in line at a Blockbuster and watched Ralph Fiennes stumble through one of those press junket interviews for The Avengers on the TVs they had above the main desk...and that was the most depressed I've ever seen an A-list actor look in public.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:08 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
The interviewer was all bubbly and sparkly and Harrison looked pained and glowered sullenly the whole time and mumbled his answers
He's looked like that in interviews for as long as I can remember.
posted by callmejay at 12:13 PM on July 29, 2011
He's looked like that in interviews for as long as I can remember.
posted by callmejay at 12:13 PM on July 29, 2011
Much as I like Daniel Craig, seeing Harrison Ford take second billing to him broke my heart.
posted by Trurl at 12:13 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Trurl at 12:13 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I re-watched the Star Wars movies this week and I'll tell you what, he sure was a looker. I don't care if he's only got three facial expressions; they're good ones.
posted by something something at 12:16 PM on July 29, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by something something at 12:16 PM on July 29, 2011 [9 favorites]
Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
Oh, Metafilter, don't ever change.
posted by solistrato at 12:19 PM on July 29, 2011
Oh, Metafilter, don't ever change.
posted by solistrato at 12:19 PM on July 29, 2011
I love Harrison Ford (don't judge me) and I thought this was a lot of fun. I figured that I'd click on it and have trouble identifying the movie for each face, but the artist did a great job at capturing the nuances (well, in some cases, giant hats) that made each character obvious.
posted by cider at 12:22 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by cider at 12:22 PM on July 29, 2011
Heh. They should do one for David Duchovny by just erasing some the wrinkles from this one.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:23 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 12:23 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would like to nominate What Lies Beneath as Ford's definitive shark-jumping moment.
posted by HeroZero at 12:35 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by HeroZero at 12:35 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thank you, plastic_animals, for posting the fingering link. That thing made me laugh my ass off the first time I encountered it. The OP link is good but it would have been better if he had the finger going in all the pictures.
And I don't care if Harrison Ford is old enough to be my father, not to mention some of y'all's grandfathers, and only has three expressions, and has been in some really crappy movies, he's still hot and awesome and I'll go see Cowboys & Aliens because he and James Blond are in it. (I actually liked Morning Glory, although Ford wasn't particularly good in it, mostly because it wasn't a romantic comedy except for Rachel McAdams' love for her work.)
posted by immlass at 12:46 PM on July 29, 2011
And I don't care if Harrison Ford is old enough to be my father, not to mention some of y'all's grandfathers, and only has three expressions, and has been in some really crappy movies, he's still hot and awesome and I'll go see Cowboys & Aliens because he and James Blond are in it. (I actually liked Morning Glory, although Ford wasn't particularly good in it, mostly because it wasn't a romantic comedy except for Rachel McAdams' love for her work.)
posted by immlass at 12:46 PM on July 29, 2011
He's looked like that in interviews for as long as I can remember.
I know. That's why it was so awesome.
posted by blucevalo at 12:46 PM on July 29, 2011
I know. That's why it was so awesome.
posted by blucevalo at 12:46 PM on July 29, 2011
I once stood in line at a Blockbuster and watched Ralph Fiennes stumble through one of those press junket interviews for The Avengers on the TVs they had above the main desk...and that was the most depressed I've ever seen an A-list actor look in public.
I think everyone involved with "The Avengers" probably gave Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline's stock quite a boost that year.
posted by blucevalo at 12:49 PM on July 29, 2011
I think everyone involved with "The Avengers" probably gave Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline's stock quite a boost that year.
posted by blucevalo at 12:49 PM on July 29, 2011
Harrison Ford was my first big elementary school-girl crush. Rather, Indiana Jones was. Indy was cooler than Solo. That is all.
posted by Windigo at 12:51 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Windigo at 12:51 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Harrison Ford made my gayness undeniable to my 15 year old self. Would still do him in a heartbeat. With my partner and even my mom watching.
posted by yesster at 12:58 PM on July 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by yesster at 12:58 PM on July 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
I won't stand by as Johnny Depp's good name is besmirched so carelessly. He has only ever made six movies - Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Donnie Brasco, Dead Man, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and the first Pirates of the Caribbean - and each shows the distinctive work of a remarkably gifted actor.
Ahem, Cry-Baby, dammit.
Also, The Ninth Gate, double-dammit!
posted by mannequito at 12:59 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Ahem, Cry-Baby, dammit.
Also, The Ninth Gate, double-dammit!
posted by mannequito at 12:59 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
When his character's injured he also does this business with his fingers where it looks like they're broken. This made sense in, say, Blade Runner, where his fingers were supposed to be broken, but he does it to indicate injuries in general.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:50 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by kirkaracha at 1:50 PM on July 29, 2011
scoop up Jar Jar Binks by his ears and use him like a rubber war hammer to beat Shia LaBoeuf to death.
Dear Hollywood: Please make this movie.
posted by emjaybee at 2:07 PM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
Dear Hollywood: Please make this movie.
posted by emjaybee at 2:07 PM on July 29, 2011 [5 favorites]
Josh Benson in Capital:
The whole top of the [NY Post front] page, below the flag, is taken up by something I would not even notice on a day I didn't happen to be subbing for Tom McGeveran on this column. It's a picture of James Bond dressed as Indiana Jones wearing something from "Tron" on his wrist. The big red text over the picture (which is of actor Daniel Craig) says "How the West was fun!" and the little white text beneath it says "Cowboys & Aliens review: Pulse."posted by Jahaza at 2:35 PM on July 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
"How the West Was Fun" is the name of a movie starring the Olsen twins.
I love Harrison Ford in all his rumble-voiced rumpled hotness, and I'll endure nearly any movie in which Ford drops by to glower suspiciously throughout and be skeptical at things. His disarming dubiousness is his charm: the cynically savvy Dr. President Han Deckard Kimble Jones is not gullible enough to fall for any of your silliness regarding doomed rebel causes, mystical Force shenanigans, robot unicorns, adorable kittens, terrorist threats, or fancy swordwork, mmmmkay? So in comparison the faster-than-light travel, giant talking furballs and Muppets, whip-swinging, and standard archaeological Nazi encounters make perfectly acceptable reality.
Harrison Ford doesn't have to star in comedies because he's already unfunny on levels comparable with Batman, likely because they can both breathe in space.
In conclusion, here's my favorite Ford face.
posted by nicebookrack at 3:05 PM on July 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
Harrison Ford doesn't have to star in comedies because he's already unfunny on levels comparable with Batman, likely because they can both breathe in space.
In conclusion, here's my favorite Ford face.
posted by nicebookrack at 3:05 PM on July 29, 2011 [6 favorites]
I just saw Cowboys and Aliens. Not a bad film, and Ford is great in it.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 3:29 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 3:29 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Dr. President Han Deckard Kimble Jones awesome mefi handle, this.
posted by sweetkid at 4:16 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by sweetkid at 4:16 PM on July 29, 2011
Harrison Ford tells a joke on Letterman
Letterman's stock joke:
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 4:51 PM on July 29, 2011
Letterman's stock joke:
"I bought my first car at Harrison Ford"always manages to make me smile.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 4:51 PM on July 29, 2011
auto-correct's joke link made me LOL
There's a "related video" called "Harrison Ford's scar" or something like that which might be even funnier than the joke one.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 5:16 PM on July 29, 2011
There's a "related video" called "Harrison Ford's scar" or something like that which might be even funnier than the joke one.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 5:16 PM on July 29, 2011
I'm gonna break the thread for a second to say just one nice thing about the otherwise ill-considered Star Wars prequels, particularly the horrible second film:
The scene on the ark bound for Tatooine, where Hayden whassisname explains to the girl from The Professional that 'compassion' means 'unconditional love' and that therefore a Jedi is encouraged (required?) to love - which he's trying to slyly imply means 'love carnally,' on account of he's a horny teenager - is an absolutely brilliant bit of writing. In one scene Lucas (and his cowriter) establishes the philosophy of the Jedi, Anakin's attempt to understand it, his dangerous willingness to blur the distinction between passion and compassion (and between union and possession), his immaturity, his weird insight...it's an entire character arc in one scene. It's also arguably the only good thing about that second movie, other than Detective Obi-Wan.
OK, done with this.
posted by waxbanks at 6:11 PM on July 29, 2011
The scene on the ark bound for Tatooine, where Hayden whassisname explains to the girl from The Professional that 'compassion' means 'unconditional love' and that therefore a Jedi is encouraged (required?) to love - which he's trying to slyly imply means 'love carnally,' on account of he's a horny teenager - is an absolutely brilliant bit of writing. In one scene Lucas (and his cowriter) establishes the philosophy of the Jedi, Anakin's attempt to understand it, his dangerous willingness to blur the distinction between passion and compassion (and between union and possession), his immaturity, his weird insight...it's an entire character arc in one scene. It's also arguably the only good thing about that second movie, other than Detective Obi-Wan.
OK, done with this.
posted by waxbanks at 6:11 PM on July 29, 2011
I would like to nominate What Lies Beneath as Ford's definitive shark-jumping moment.
Oh, man, I saw that in the theatre, with my dad. (True of many of the eh movies I've seen.) It was novel for the Harrison Ford-as-bad-guy aspect. But I'd nominate Random Hearts instead.
Also, I can't help but think of Force Ten from Navarone fondly. The last time I saw it, it was on AMC and my housemates were all going 'What is this movie? What the hell, that's Harrison Ford!'
posted by hoyland at 6:45 PM on July 29, 2011
Oh, man, I saw that in the theatre, with my dad. (True of many of the eh movies I've seen.) It was novel for the Harrison Ford-as-bad-guy aspect. But I'd nominate Random Hearts instead.
Also, I can't help but think of Force Ten from Navarone fondly. The last time I saw it, it was on AMC and my housemates were all going 'What is this movie? What the hell, that's Harrison Ford!'
posted by hoyland at 6:45 PM on July 29, 2011
I enjoyed some horrible 80 minute SFX failure filled 80s/90s movie just because it was a space Western. So I'll probably enjoy Cowboys bs Aliens.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:09 PM on July 29, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:09 PM on July 29, 2011
What, no mention of Working Girl as a comedy? He was hilarious in that. That scene where he changed his shirt in his office and all the secretaries started applauding, and he struck a pose? Or the scene where he and Melanie Griffiths crashed a wedding to pitch a business deal to the father of the bride? Awesome.
And then there's this quote from Paul Bettany, who is nearly thirty years' Ford's junior:
I wouldn't want to tumble with Harrison Ford in real life. He's a tough son of a bitch. I threw that man through a window seven times and he landed on his head, got up, rebuilt the window with the crew and then got thrown through it again. I hit that man in the stomach and he said, 'Could you just land it a bit harder so I could feel it?' So I landed it a bit harder and he wanted a bit more so he could react to it. Finally, I just wound one up and let loose on him and he said, 'That's it!' It was the most humiliating day of my life.
posted by orange swan at 7:15 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
And then there's this quote from Paul Bettany, who is nearly thirty years' Ford's junior:
I wouldn't want to tumble with Harrison Ford in real life. He's a tough son of a bitch. I threw that man through a window seven times and he landed on his head, got up, rebuilt the window with the crew and then got thrown through it again. I hit that man in the stomach and he said, 'Could you just land it a bit harder so I could feel it?' So I landed it a bit harder and he wanted a bit more so he could react to it. Finally, I just wound one up and let loose on him and he said, 'That's it!' It was the most humiliating day of my life.
posted by orange swan at 7:15 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
In high school (Witness to Indiana Jones Last Crusade), I was "cool" because all my friends thought my dad looked like Harrison Ford (well, and because my mom used to let kids who had ditched class come over for a cigarette and a cup of coffee, though, having just quit smoking herself, she reminded them it was a terrible thing to get hooked on, and she only let the stay for one period). This was terrifically awkward for me because I always thought Harrison Ford was hot.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:30 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 7:30 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
We were one week behind Ford and Flockhart on the Llangollen Canal. His charm and our similar American accents got us many a free pint canalside, such is his power.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:36 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:36 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
That scene where he changed his shirt in his office and all the secretaries started applauding
Please let this be on YouTube Please let this be on YouTube
posted by sweetkid at 7:39 PM on July 29, 2011
Please let this be on YouTube Please let this be on YouTube
posted by sweetkid at 7:39 PM on July 29, 2011
I got on Apres Vous Chairlift with Harison Ford in Teton Village near Jackson Hole Wyoming. Me and Han Solo for like 15 minutes. After twelve minutes of not being able to think of anything I say, excuse me but are you Harison Ford. He says, Yep. And then I've got nothing. We get to the end and he says, "have a great run kid." Best powder day ever.
posted by humanfont at 8:12 PM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 8:12 PM on July 29, 2011 [4 favorites]
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Blade Runner (1982)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Witness (1985)
*** The Mosquito Coast (1986) ***
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!
posted by falameufilho at 8:36 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Blade Runner (1982)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Witness (1985)
*** The Mosquito Coast (1986) ***
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!
posted by falameufilho at 8:36 PM on July 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
Chameleon? He has like three facial expressions.
Pony request: One week ban for first posts that obviously haven't read the article.
posted by rodgerd at 11:37 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Pony request: One week ban for first posts that obviously haven't read the article.
posted by rodgerd at 11:37 PM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
We were one week behind Ford and Flockhart on the Llangollen Canal. His charm and our similar American accents got us many a free pint canalside, such is his power.
Wait, what?
Harrison Ford went on a canal boat holiday. Harrison Ford?
posted by Helga-woo at 3:30 AM on July 30, 2011
Wait, what?
Harrison Ford went on a canal boat holiday. Harrison Ford?
posted by Helga-woo at 3:30 AM on July 30, 2011
In high school (Witness to Indiana Jones Last Crusade), I was "cool" because all my friends thought my dad looked like Harrison Ford
A friend of mine had a crush on my dad because she thought he had that "Harrison Ford look of rugged integrity". And there were some parallels between them. My dad (whose name is Harry) had his small pilot's license as a young man (HF has his helicopter pilot's license), my dad is a former farmer and is a skilled carpenter (HF owns a ranch and is a skilled carpenter). They really are the same "type" of guy: blue collar, but cleans up well; laid-back, a bit crotchety or hot tempered at times but but with a boyish, mischevous side; not athletic but physically very tough and with high endurance levels; and with the same height and build. They are also only two years apart in age. Unfortunately, my father is not a mult-millionaire. Fortunately, he is still with his first wife as opposed to being on his third marriage with Allie McBeal, a woman young enough to be his daughter. And he didn't have a late blooming mid-life crisis, nor get the world's dumbest looking earring. My mother teasingly calls him Harrison sometimes, and all is well.
posted by orange swan at 12:01 PM on July 30, 2011
A friend of mine had a crush on my dad because she thought he had that "Harrison Ford look of rugged integrity". And there were some parallels between them. My dad (whose name is Harry) had his small pilot's license as a young man (HF has his helicopter pilot's license), my dad is a former farmer and is a skilled carpenter (HF owns a ranch and is a skilled carpenter). They really are the same "type" of guy: blue collar, but cleans up well; laid-back, a bit crotchety or hot tempered at times but but with a boyish, mischevous side; not athletic but physically very tough and with high endurance levels; and with the same height and build. They are also only two years apart in age. Unfortunately, my father is not a mult-millionaire. Fortunately, he is still with his first wife as opposed to being on his third marriage with Allie McBeal, a woman young enough to be his daughter. And he didn't have a late blooming mid-life crisis, nor get the world's dumbest looking earring. My mother teasingly calls him Harrison sometimes, and all is well.
posted by orange swan at 12:01 PM on July 30, 2011
Harrison Ford doesn't just have his rotorcraft rating, he also flies rescue missions and lets wayward hikers barf in his helicopter:
On July 31, 20-year-old Sarah George and her friend Megan Freeman, 22, set out on a five-hour hike of Table Mountain in Idaho Falls. But, when they reached the summit, George was so overcome by dehydration and altitude sickness she could hardly take any more steps.posted by autopilot at 2:42 PM on July 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
A passing hiker phoned in a call for help using his cell phone, and faster than you could say Air Force One, Ford, who volunteers his services to mountain rescuers, hopped into his trusty Bell 407 helicopter and raced to the scene. [...]
Johnny Depp ... has only ever made six movies
Am I missing an inside joke?
posted by anadem at 4:09 PM on July 30, 2011
Am I missing an inside joke?
posted by anadem at 4:09 PM on July 30, 2011
Overheard at the local diner 5 minutes ago: "The only thing wrong with Harrison Ford is his politics."
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:08 AM on July 31, 2011
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:08 AM on July 31, 2011
« Older The work of art in the age of digital reproduction | The goddamn Batma'am is tired of your crap Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 10:45 AM on July 29, 2011 [31 favorites]