The new year has already asked a lot of movie fans.
Recently, we said our goodbyes to the Goblin King (Labyrinth) and Nikola Tesla (The Prestige) with the passing of David Bowie not to mention the greatest walk-off moderator in ever (Zoolander). And now, barely two weeks into the new year, were staring at a future without Alan Rickman.
Rickmans ability to make you love, trust or fear his characters seemed effortless. We wanted Alice to listen to Absolem because, well, he had the voice of Alan Rickman. The affair in Love Actually was so much more heart breaking because, once again, that was Alan Rickman. And when it came to villainy, he was so good its hard to imagine a bad guy he couldnt have played.
How amazing would it have been to hear Rickman tell Marty to Make like a tree and get outta here? Jack Torrance from The Shining? Yes. He would have even nailed the paperboy from Better Off Dead.
Didnt ask for a dime. Two dollars.
Luckily for we movie fans, Rickman actually did play some of the best characters in repeatable cinema, and here are five of our favorites:
Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
Was there a better '80s villain than Hans Gruber? No, there wasnt. And you can thank Rickman for that. Even Beethovens Ode to Joy sounds ominous when casually hummed by the charismatic baddie. As much fun as it is to watch officer John McClane spout off one-liners and take out henchmen, Die Hard couldve never become the billion-dollar franchise it is today without Gruber.
Everyone has their nontraditional Christmas favorites, and I know I speak on behalf of action fans everywhere when I say, Die Hard is among the best.
Elliott Marston (Quigley Down Under)
It was pretty brilliant to take the classic American western and move it to the Outback. It was also pretty brilliant to plant a bad guy in that story who over-romanticizes the wild west and ends up importing his own demise from the country he idolizes.
Rickmans take on the wealthy landowner and murderer, Elliott Marston, maintains the actor's usual gravity, but it's the fear behind Marstons eyes that ultimately makes the portrayal so compelling. If its been a while since youve seen Quigley Down Under, or, and obviously this isnt the case, youve never actually seen it, this is the weekend to dust off the 1990 classic.
Sheriff of Nottingham (Robin Hood)
There are people who genuinely hate this version of Robin Hood, and I understand the general criticism; however, Rickmans Sheriff of Nottingham is so good, its easy to overlook everything else.
Whether hes threatening to tear someones heart out with a spoon, or simply getting even for the scar on his cheek, Rickman sells the dialogue perfectly.
Alexander Dane (Galaxy Quest)
Galaxy Quest is one of my favorite sci-fi comedies, and Rickmans Alexander sits at the top of my list for reasons why.
On paper, this is a movie that shouldnt have worked, and yet this is a movie that gets funnier and funnier with every viewing. So why are people still watching a parody about an old TV show that lifted its plot from Three Amigos? Thats right, Alan Rickman. By Grabthar's hammer, we live to tell the tale.
Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
I dont know that Ive ever had a conversation about the Harry Potter movies which doesnt include someone bringing up how much they love Rickmans portrayal of Severus Snape. Even if the conversation is about one of the lesser-Potters, Rickman always gets a pass because he seemed to have walked out of the pages and onto the screen.
As time moves on, Snape will probably be the role Rickman is remembered most for, and that seems rather appropriate, doesnt it? A villain at first glance who the world was better off having known.
Thank you for the memories, Mr. Rickman.
Recently, we said our goodbyes to the Goblin King (Labyrinth) and Nikola Tesla (The Prestige) with the passing of David Bowie not to mention the greatest walk-off moderator in ever (Zoolander). And now, barely two weeks into the new year, were staring at a future without Alan Rickman.
Rickmans ability to make you love, trust or fear his characters seemed effortless. We wanted Alice to listen to Absolem because, well, he had the voice of Alan Rickman. The affair in Love Actually was so much more heart breaking because, once again, that was Alan Rickman. And when it came to villainy, he was so good its hard to imagine a bad guy he couldnt have played.
How amazing would it have been to hear Rickman tell Marty to Make like a tree and get outta here? Jack Torrance from The Shining? Yes. He would have even nailed the paperboy from Better Off Dead.
Didnt ask for a dime. Two dollars.
Luckily for we movie fans, Rickman actually did play some of the best characters in repeatable cinema, and here are five of our favorites:
Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
Was there a better '80s villain than Hans Gruber? No, there wasnt. And you can thank Rickman for that. Even Beethovens Ode to Joy sounds ominous when casually hummed by the charismatic baddie. As much fun as it is to watch officer John McClane spout off one-liners and take out henchmen, Die Hard couldve never become the billion-dollar franchise it is today without Gruber.
Everyone has their nontraditional Christmas favorites, and I know I speak on behalf of action fans everywhere when I say, Die Hard is among the best.
Elliott Marston (Quigley Down Under)
It was pretty brilliant to take the classic American western and move it to the Outback. It was also pretty brilliant to plant a bad guy in that story who over-romanticizes the wild west and ends up importing his own demise from the country he idolizes.
Rickmans take on the wealthy landowner and murderer, Elliott Marston, maintains the actor's usual gravity, but it's the fear behind Marstons eyes that ultimately makes the portrayal so compelling. If its been a while since youve seen Quigley Down Under, or, and obviously this isnt the case, youve never actually seen it, this is the weekend to dust off the 1990 classic.
Sheriff of Nottingham (Robin Hood)
There are people who genuinely hate this version of Robin Hood, and I understand the general criticism; however, Rickmans Sheriff of Nottingham is so good, its easy to overlook everything else.
Whether hes threatening to tear someones heart out with a spoon, or simply getting even for the scar on his cheek, Rickman sells the dialogue perfectly.
Alexander Dane (Galaxy Quest)
Galaxy Quest is one of my favorite sci-fi comedies, and Rickmans Alexander sits at the top of my list for reasons why.
On paper, this is a movie that shouldnt have worked, and yet this is a movie that gets funnier and funnier with every viewing. So why are people still watching a parody about an old TV show that lifted its plot from Three Amigos? Thats right, Alan Rickman. By Grabthar's hammer, we live to tell the tale.
Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
I dont know that Ive ever had a conversation about the Harry Potter movies which doesnt include someone bringing up how much they love Rickmans portrayal of Severus Snape. Even if the conversation is about one of the lesser-Potters, Rickman always gets a pass because he seemed to have walked out of the pages and onto the screen.
As time moves on, Snape will probably be the role Rickman is remembered most for, and that seems rather appropriate, doesnt it? A villain at first glance who the world was better off having known.
Thank you for the memories, Mr. Rickman.
