Die Hard with a Vengeance
Unclear and Present Danger
Jamelle Bouie
4.7 • 660 Ratings
🗓️ 15 April 2023
⏱️ 77 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, we watched “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” the 1995 threequel to the original 1988 “Die Hard.” Directed by John McTiernan, who helmed the first film, it was written by prolific Holllywood screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh based on an original screenplay and stars Bruce Willis as recurring hero John McClane, Samuel L. Jackson as “Zeus,” and Jeremy Irons as Simon Gruber, brother of Hans.
In the episode, Jamelle and John discuss Rudy Giuliani’s New York, the racial and class politics of the film and how this movie seems to anticipate the imagery of the 9/11 era.
Connor Lynch produced this episode. Artwork by Rachel Eck.
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Our next episode is on the 1995 political satire “Canadian Bacon,” directed by Michael Moore and starring an ensemble cast of John Candy, Alan Alda, Bill Nunn and many others. You can find it to rent on iTunes and Amazon.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In the hands of a mastermind of terror, |
| 0:02.0 | I want to play a game with Lieutenant McLean. |
| 0:05.0 | What kind of game? |
| 0:07.0 | Simon says. |
| 0:12.0 | The path to revenge lead straight to John McLean. |
| 0:16.0 | If we don't do what this guy says he's going to blow up another public place. |
| 0:19.0 | Why me? What's he got to do with me i have |
| 0:20.9 | no idea he just said it had to be you it's nice to be needed simon says get to the paper in wall street |
| 0:30.0 | station by 1020 or the number three train and its passengers are vaporized i'm not jumping |
| 0:34.9 | through hoops for some psycho that's a white man with white problems. |
| 0:38.3 | You deal with him. |
| 0:39.3 | Where the hell are you going, McLean? |
| 0:41.3 | I know what I'm doing. |
| 0:43.3 | Not even God knows what you're doing. |
| 0:46.3 | This guy wants to pound on you till you crumble. |
| 0:48.3 | Are you aiming for these people? |
| 0:50.3 | No. |
| 0:51.3 | Well, maybe that mine. |
| 0:52.3 | He wants you to dance to his tune and then... |
| 0:55.0 | Oh, dear. |
| 0:57.0 | Clay! |
| 0:58.0 | You're gonna late because I'm white. |
... |
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