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?

Typecasting and a big enough paycheck.

Is at his peak in Shrinking. Watch it

That explains why he was acting, not why he was popular.

Peak acting or peak misery?

Acting.

Have you seen the interview he made for when he last played Solo ? He was really funny because interviewers kept geeking out at star wars and he was just « I don’t care about this character, it’s not a good character. Disney pay me a shit tonne of money though. »

I think that he is obligated to play the role shitty prod have corner him in. He doesn’t like it very much but if he wants great role he have to keep the game going

Expert mumbler.

This is a fair assessment and question IMO that doesn't deserve the downvotes.

I couldn't tell you what his international appeal might be, but to me he carries on a sort of Clint Eastwood-type lineage. The jaded, world-weary, cynical lead with anti-hero properties, one might say. Bonus pts for being a good-looking guy in his younger days with something of a riveting glare. EDIT: actually, I'm selling him short. His ability to go from weary / bored to intense & even ferocious surely was part of the appeal.

But actually I think there's a certain appeal there in terms of him representing an everyman-type who's uncomfortable with the situation and just kinda wants to extract himself from it, like you say. And you could say that got pushed to the max in a movie like The Fugitive.

In other movies his general cynicism is featured more, such as Mosquito Coast, a fascinating, futile little film about trying to escape the bubble of high-tech civilisation.

I've always liked Ford's performances without him necessarily being my absolute favorite. But he can be a terrific ensemble-lead (to coin a phrase) in movies like the original Star Wars and the first three Indy movies, among others. He was also a fun 'bad boy / bad guy' in the lovely American Graffiti.

Popularity is weird. You might as well try to understand up/down votes

Yes, Ford's famously never hidden his contempt for Han Solo; I think he was griping even back in the days of the Star Wars Christmas Special.

Edit: Shrinking is a TV show? That's a surprise. Cool. Added to The List!

I saw and loved Mosquito Coast when I was younger, back in the Blockbuster days and never even clocked that it was Harrison Ford even though I was, as everyone, a huge fan of Star Wars. In fact, I was about to correct you on it but it is Harrison Ford.

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

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

I was thinking that the answer would fall into the suffering macho archetype; probably worth examining the difference between Eastwood and Ford to mine a little deeper. It's all subjective of course, but I think I'm relating to Ford as a human being instead of his character; like for some reason, I'm interpreting his misery as his personal misery being on set, not the misery of his character. I don't know why that is. Maybe because he's so openly talks about not liking so many of the roles he does.

But I think it was Michael Caine who replied about whether he enjoyed a role with, "I enjoyed the house it bought", but I never got Harrison Ford-vibes from any of his roles.

He tas typecast into roles he excelled at, which were frequently the rokes you are thinking of. Honestly the roles that I can think of where he doesn't seem to be having fun are sequels, which he clearly doesn't enjoy doing.

I think a funny example of him seeming to enjoy playing a role that doesn't fit what you are pointing out that I watched again recently is Cowboys vs Aliens. In that one he is the grizzled army vet who hates Native Americans and is gruff as he has ever been but he is absolutely chewing up the scenery and not coming across as working for a paycheck.

This is a fun thread because people are bringing up Harrison Ford in movies I forgot he was in.

Yes, I remember that character in Cowboys vs Aliens... that was good times.

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

He was pretty good in his minor role in Apocalypse Now and he didn't entirely look like he didn't want to be there.

What about roles like The Fugitive... His character seems believably motivated there.

He might actually be self-aware that he comes off as miserable. Look at his cameo in Bruno.

Yes I'd say Fugitive belongs in the "works for the character" roles, but I also get the feeling he was having fun acting against fellow curmudgeon Jones.

I heard he's a nice guy irl

Seeing him break his type casting worked for me in Regarding Henry.

Honestly...both. It really is a very good show and he really is very good in it.

Yup, he seems solid. There's a video of him accidentally landing his plane a taxiway and he immediately admitted fault, apoligized, and took down The Number. No ego there.

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.

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(!)

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.

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)

Go watch and report back.