Greetings! As it is that most wonderful of days of the week, time again for Friday Spotlight…and this actor needs no introduction, quite frankly, so I give you (just a warning, this is going to be a LONG post)….Harrison Ford.
Gotta say…this guy is a Hollywood LEGEND, folks. Now in his 47th year acting (not too shabby for a former carpenter!), Ford has embodied some of the greatest roles on film, a LOT thanks to TWO major franchises he’s had the blessing of being a part of, which we will mention later. Starting back in 1966 with some small, uncredited film appearances as well as TV roles, let’s face it…need you ask where MY first exposure to this amazing actor came?? The year is 1977, and some little film called “Star Wars” hit cineplexes across this country. Introducing us to what would become just ONE of his many iconic roles, Ford brought us Han Solo, a seriously cocky space smuggler who gets himself into the mix with budding hero Luke Skywalker and his companions Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2, and C-3PO in a race against a galactic empire and its leader, Darth Vader. Ford played this character SO spot on, I will ALWAYS remember it from the first time I saw the film to the most recent times I’ve re-visited them. Han’s universe-size ego running amok along with his Wookie partner, Chewbacca, and his beloved spaceship the Millennium Falcon, were an integral part of the sheer entertainment juggernaut this film was. As I was only between 7 and 9, the years post-“Star Wars”, I did not initially see several of Ford’s films that I WOULD, however, catch later on, including his turn as a military expert sent as part of an elite team to wipe out a strategic bridge in 1978’s excellent “Force 10 From Navarone“, or seeing him play a military part again as Colonel Lucas in 1979’s classic, but brutal, Vietnam War film “Apocalypse Now“.
No, my next experience was 1980 when the second installment of the “Star Wars” saga, “The Empire Strikes Back“, was released, once again featuring the expected blaze of fire, cockiness, and comic relief that Ford could deliver in Han Solo, who definitely does NOT end up in a good spot by films end! Then, as if Han was not a big enough larger-than-life fantasy character to enjoy, 1981 brought what was to be ANOTHER iconic character, the professor/archeologist/adventurer (and often scoundrel) hero, Indiana Jones in 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark“. With all the bravado, foolishness, yet determined resolve mustered by his love of preserving all things ancient from falling into wrong hands, I will NEVER forget the first trip through the temple, the rolling rock, the natives chasing him, the exceptionally creepy Nazi officer, snakes, pits, the whip, the fedora, oh yeah…the face melting! Ford took on the same persona as Han for this role, which just made it that much more entertaining to watch him in action. Again, age-restricted viewing caused me to miss out initially on 1982’s awesome sci-fi classic, “Blade Runner“, in which Ford played Rick Deckard, a cop with more than his fair share of issues, who ends up having to track down and confront a group of rogue “replicants”. It was a journey into a dark future, and Ford showed us a totally different kind of flawed character that we had not really seen yet from him. 1983 kept the momentum going as Ford’s 3rd trip into the galaxy came with “Star Wars”‘ third chapter (OK OK…SIXTH chapter really. Sheesh! lol) “Return of the Jedi“, with the same fun actions and attitude for Han, who at least is defrosted, gets the girl, saves the universe, and mingles with small, furry critters who originally wanted to eat him. Then came 1984’s second chapter in the “Indiana Jones” series, “The Temple of Doom“. Honestly, I personally don’t have a lot of good to say about that movie, and therefore, I move on (Ford did fine, but the overall film…ugh). Now we enter 1985, with Ford taking on the role of John Book, a police officer who gets involved with an Amish community after a boy from the town is witness to a murder, in Peter Weir‘s great effort, “Witness“. I thought this was Ford’s first, straight up dramatic role, and it solidified the fact that he had RANGE, which would only serve him even better as time went on. Three more films that I never saw in theatrical release were also more along those lines, with excellent performances in 1986’s “The Mosquito Coast” and 1988’s “Frantic“. Also in 1988, Ford took on a comic role for “Working Girl“, playing a boss who steals an idea from his secretary…and then learns some lessons on why that WASN’T a good idea. I remember seeing it, but it has been a long time, so commenting further is somewhat moot. The Eighties ended off, though, with another CLASSIC film, the third installment of the “Indiana Jones” series, “The Last Crusade“. THIS was an awesome film, WAY making up for “Temple” and adding some additional class AND humorous banter for Indy in the form of his father (WONDERFULLY played by original Bond himself, Sean Connery) getting stuck in the seeking of the Holy Grail. Ford has this character just as down pat now as Han, and it really showed through in a fantastic way.
The Nineties come about, and this was a really great decade for Ford to show more and more diversity in his film, and subsequently, his acting range. If you’re following the year references as we go, you notice this guy doesn’t slow down in his cranking out of movies. 1990 brought the legal thriller “Presumed Innocent“, playing Rozat “Rusty” Sabich, a D.A. trying to clear his name for the murder of a deputy prosecutor he had an affair with. Here, Ford really tried to draw us into this person’s predicament in a way that, while fictional, was still grounded at least in a sense of realism. This is an aspect of Ford’s dramatic acting that I have always admired. And that was on FULL display in 1991’s “Regarding Henry“, playing a lawyer who, after being shot, has no memory, and also has to contend with learning to speak and be mobile again. Just FANTASTIC acting here, folks. Just see the film if you never have, as Ford excelled. Ford then took on a more action-oriented role in 1992’s “Patriot Games“, based on the Tom Clancy book, as Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who gets into the crosshairs of the IRA after foiling an assassination attempt. Taking this role from Alec Baldwin, who covered the character in 1990’s “The Hunt For Red October“, Ford just made Ryan more HUMAN, more believable as a guy who is forced to become more than what he is due to the circumstances he’s in. Then, in 1993, another classic movie, “The Fugitive“, playing Dr. Richard Kimball, and another situation where he’s a man trying to clear his name after being framed for killing his wife. The whole dynamic between Ford’s Kimball and break-out star Tommy Lee Jones‘ Marshall Samuel Gerard is just GREAT throughout and Ford plays this man on the run with so much conviction, you’re most certainly rooting for him to do the things he does to make events clear. 1994 saw Ford reprise his role as Jack Ryan in “Clear And Present Danger“, which again, gave Ford a chance to play him more seasoned and attuned to the politics of what he gets involved with, all while STILL keeping that “all-American patriot” aura around him. The following year brought another comic/dramatic role in Sydney Pollack‘s “Sabrina“, this time as Linus Larrabee, a successful, but quite non-ethical business man whose brother has decided it is good to fall in love with the limo driver’s daughter after she grows up and returns from a time in Paris. But, as Linus gets to know her, his hard shell cracks, and he finds himself attracted to her as well. It was a very smart film, well-acted, well cast, and Ford AGAIN excels at portraying this type of character, much to our amusement more often than not in the film. We jump a few years to 1997, where Ford took on another role as a New York cop, Tom O’Meara, in “The Devil’s Own” in which Brad Pitt co-starred as an IRA soldier sent to the U.S. to hide after an incident in Ireland. After taking Pitt’s character into his home, O’Meara over time ends up discovering his house guest’s secret, and things take a turn from there. Ford’s O’Meara is an everyman, and he nails it to a T. 1997 also brought is one of THE action/drama films worth its salt, “Air Force One“, this time playing the President of the United States who takes on Gary Oldman’s hijacking terrorist on the presidential plane. All I’ll say is, I wanted Harrison Ford to RUN for President after this film! He portrayed the kind of leader any of us would love to have in office, a man driven by wanting justice for wrongdoing and is willing to get his own hands into the fray to do it, as his character James Marshall happens to be an ex-Marine! By the time you’re at “Get off my plane!!”…ballot, please! Ford wound up the Nineties with two somewhat ho-hum films: 1998’s comedy “Six Days, Seven Nights” with Anne Heche that DID have its MOMENTS (pretty much TOTALLY thanks to Ford being, well, Ford), and the fairly bland 1999 drama “Random Hearts” that I really don’t remember anything about!
So now we’re finally into the 2000’s, and sadly, this for me was one of the only times I had experienced where Ford’s films actually STAYED somewhat “Eh”. 2000’s “What Lies Beneath” was his venture into the creepy horror genre, and again, it had MOMENTS, but I started feeling like “Harrison, c’mon man, you’re better than this!”. In 2002, he played a Russian sub commander Capt. Alexei Vostrikov, in “K-19: The Widowmaker“, but after having the excellent “U-571” a few years earlier, this one, despite being based on a true event, seemed lacking. 2003 brought the apparent “comedy” “Hollywood Homicide“, which I skipped altogether despite Ford’s presence in it. I heard SO much bad press about the movie, I actually began to worry Ford was washing out. 2006’s film “Firewall” did not do anything to alleviate that fear, either. It was….ok…after thinking about it, but it just was so…cliché…that Ford being IN it was ultimately disappointing, despite playing a character whose family is held hostage and is forced to rob a bank HE protects via being a security specialist, etc, etc, etc. Again….MOMENTS and nothing more. Then I REALLY had a conniption in 2008, when, after waiting NINETEEN YEARS for the newest installment of the “Indiana Jones” films….they give us “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull“…..come on, guys….ALIENS??? The last time I checked, Indiana’s last name wasn’t Riddick, Ripley, or even just J or K!! It was SUCH a monumental letdown for ME, again. I never even bothered with 2009’s “Crossing Over” or 2010’s “Extraordinary Measures“, so I cannot comment on those. FINALLY, later in 2010, Ford got back to playing one of the types of characters I love…the brash, ego-driven scoundrel, which he did wonderfully in “Morning Glory“, playing a veteran and SNARKY newsman Mike Pomeroy, who goes to war for a lead anchor position against an equally snarky Colleen Peck, played by Diane Keaton, all to the challenge of a new producer played by Rachel McAdams. It ends up giving us a chance to really laugh again at Ford playing this totally “evil” guy who ends up learning to be a bit more human. I breathed a sigh of relief….until 2011’s sci-fi snooze fest, “Cowboys & Aliens“. **Sigh** Yeah, it COULD have been something…but it wasn’t, despite Ford, Daniel Craig, Clancy Brown, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Abigail Spencer, and Olivia Wilde. But then, 2013 brought us FOUR films on the plate, with diversity as the key…there was “42“, Jackie Robinson’s story with Ford brilliantly playing Brooklyn Dodger exec Branch Rickey, then the “meh” film “Paranoia“, which saw Ford as a ruthless IT exec trying to down his competition (oh the POTENTIAL…except for bad writing…but great cast), “Ender’s Game“, based on the YA book series, about a boy trained to become an elite “soldier” to fight an alien race that already came close to destroying Earth, where Ford played the hard pressing and personal agenda-driven military commander Colonel Graff, and finally ending the year, a wonderfully created cameo appearance in “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues“. All I have to say now is….**WHEW!!!**
Upcoming projects that include an appearance in “The Expendables 3“, the drama/romance “The Age of Adaline“, and the BIGGEST stuff…a return to an elder Han Solo in the J.J. Abrams-directed “Star Wars: Episode VII“, and even a FIFTH attempt playing Indy. So needless to say, this guy HAS done it all and is still looking to keep going for the foreseeable future. Despite some slips in film quality, Ford is still one of THE overall preeminent actors in the business, most certainly deserving of the accolades he’s received.
As always, this is all for YOUR consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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