Posted on 07/13/2022 9:42:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Harrison Ford has played some of the most memorable and iconic characters in the history of cinema. Han Solo, Indiana Jones and Rick Deckard in the Bladerunner films despite making their first screen appearances, decades ago, and still remain audience favorites.
In addition to the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner series, Ford has starred in many hugely successful films, such as The Fugitive, Air Force One, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger.
But the downside of superstardom is that some among Ford’s efforts were dwarfed, not because of their lack of eminence, but because of the tendency of audiences and critics to focus on the blockbusters and the iconic characters.
On his 80th birthday, let’s revisit some of Harrison Ford's underrated films, in no particular order of importance.
Witness (1985)
When a young Amish boy witnesses a murder, the investigating officer (Ford) goes into hiding with the boy and his mother in Amish country. The film is notable for the endearing love story that develops between Ford’s detective and the boy’s widowed mother. This is arguably Ford’s finest acting moment and that earned him his only Academy Award nomination, so far.
The Mosquito Coast (1986)
Ford is enthralling as Allie Fox, the cynical but genius inventor who relocates his family to the jungles of Central America because he is sick of the decadence within the U.S. Fox is selfish, unpleasant, humorless, and egocentric to the point of madness. As he goes deeper into the jungle, he begins to lose his sanity.
The film is dark and disturbing, and also a fascinating character study.
It makes one wonder what Ford's career would have been like in the absence of his superstardom. He would have excelled playing a wider variety of parts that were not necessarily virtuous.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Where's the fun in that?
One of the best scenes, imho, was the townie scene in ‘Witness’.
Caught him in a role I never knew about. He was an assistant to “The Director” in The Conversation with Gene Hackman. Decent, but definitely early-70s-weird, movie.
Ford us aging far, far better than Biden.
Oh, the guy that shaved his chest to support the Amazon rainforest? The street racer in American Graffiti. That guy? 😂🙌
I think I like him best as “Falfa” in American Graffiti.
The drugs kinda screwed him up a bit.
He’s an Ok actor. Just ok. Kinda like Redford/Newman. Pretty boy. Gets by on his looks. The really good ones were not that pretty. I remember Richard Harris calling out Redford and Newman on just that. Harris was good enough to be taken seriously.
Not really a knock on Ford, but I never found him to be a particularly engaging or charismatic actor. Just seemed to be a guy who was in the right place at the right time.
Enjoyed “Force 10 from Navarone”, Clear and Present Danger, and of course “Blade Runner”.
RE: Just seemed to be a guy who was in the right place at the right time.
My sentiments exactly. Some people just get lucky. :)
He was from nearby Lancaster County, and much of the film was shot on his aunt's farm. His aunt was not Amish, but had purchased and maintained the farm as authentically as practicable which made it ideal for filming as many in the Amish community were wary of the outsiders and reluctant to participate in the filming. He kept a scrapbook of the film's production including a pic of him and Ford with Harrison holding his arm around him and both of them with big grins. My friend is actually an extra in the film as one of the Amish teens walking through the field to the funeral in the opening scene. He said Ford was as personable , friendly and as likeable as could be, and some evenings would take some long walks through the farmland just for a little solo time to unwind.
Ford was already a high-profile star at the time, and while he's gone loopy with his politics, I always had a positive impression of him based on my friend's account.
Ford is a likeable guy on screen. Snd he takes beatings well. That can go a long way. He’s a crazy leftie, but so are most actors. Gotta ignore that or give up movies.
That must be before the plastic surgery.
A RICH, woke putz....crashed his expensive biplane at some California golf course IIRC...... the guy was good in his movies. He should have just took it all and shut up about is wokeness....
COL Lucas, yes!!!
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Thanks.
Hollywood Homicide is another good one that highlights his comedic side....
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