At Zoom In I'm talkin' bout my favorite Off-Franchise performances by Harrison Ford and his current reputation as an actor who just won't stretch himself. Fascinating are the roles he turns down.Why talk about him now? I'm not really sure but you know how I am about birthdays (it's his 65th tomorrow). Or perhaps it was the pic of him back in Indiana Jones garb... Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) is my favorite Spielberg picture which is not the same as saying that I'm anxious for or convinced that we need this fourth Indy film. I'd personally rather see Harrison Ford reteamed with Peter Weir or hear him say yes to the next offer as meaty and stretchy as Kinsey.
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I just read your essay and I have to agree with you, Nat. "Witness" is Ford's best performance, bar none (at least in my book).
I had completely forgotten that once upon a time (...in a galaxy far, far...oh, never mind) he had done some very interesting and genuinely exciting work.
RedSatinDoll
Yeah, Ford really needs to stretch himself.
Speaking of Weir, I hope he returns with another film soon. He's such an underrated director with a really solid filmography.
Pete
It would be great to see him in a more challenging role at this stage in his career than InJones. Dare I suggest that he might be risking becoming a caricature of his younger self?
When I saw your link, I immediately thought of Mosquito Coast, which is so superb and different. And Witness is a long-time favorite. Great choices, smart essay.
He was terrific in Mosquito Coast and Witness, no doubt. But for me, Han Solo in the first Star Wars was his best performance. He exuded efortless charm, scruffy sexiness, reluctant heroism. A little Bogart, a little Tracy, a touch of Eastwood. He was outstanding. No wonder he's the only cast member who became a seriously big star.
I don't mind that Harrison Ford passed on "A History of Violence". He was too old for that role, and I think that what was needed was someone more virile and younger to attack the physical demands and the complexity of the role, which Viggo Mortensen did wonderfully. But "Kinsey"? He could have been great with that role. It might have had to been re-imagined a bit for him (Harrison as a college student?), but it definitely would have allowed him to stretch his acting muscles, which would have been nice for a change. But we got Liam Neeson though, and he was excellent.
As for "Indy 4", I'm kind of looking forward to it. I've never been a fan of the series, but I'm digging the photo, and I'm on a nostalgia trip right now. I might give this one a shot.
But yeah, it's absolutely ridiculous that Harrison Ford passed on roles like "Misery", "JFK", "The Mirror Has Two Faces", "Terms of Endearment", "Schindler's List", "Traffic" (I could have seen him in Michael Douglas's role), and "Syriana". Wow.
Though his accent was sub-par, I thought his performance in K19 was pretty darn good, as well as the rest of the cast. Otherwise, I agree with everything you said, Nat.
P.S. Bonnie Bedelia is playing Margene's mom on "Big Love" in one of the next episodes. Yay!
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