ROTTEN TOMATOES: Indiana Jonesin': The Best of Harrison Ford

Indiana Jonesin': The Best of Harrison Ford

by Jen Yamato

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7. Jack Trainer in Working Girl
Tomatometer: 81%

Even in his lighter films, Ford played it straight. As Jack Trainer, the male object of desire in Mike Nichols' corporate climbing romantic comedy, Ford is a man stuck between two women: Sigourney Weaver's power broker, and Melanie Griffiths' working class beauty. With a roguish charm, he fends off Katharine's advances and succumbs to Tess as every leading man should: by deferring to her brilliance.

Best quote:
Jack Trainer: "I've been looking for you."
Tess McGill: "Why, do you know me?"
Jack Trainer: "No, but I promised myself that when I saw you, I would get to know you."

Video

more info...

6. Rusty Sabich in Presumed Innocent
Tomatometer: 91%

Prosecutor Rusty Sabich has gotten beyond a recent affair with a co-worker (Greta Scacchi) -- until she winds up dead. Investigating her murder leads to a whole mess of city-level politics and scandal... but the real shock is waiting at home in a final act twist, courtesy of novelist Scott Turow and conspiracy flick director Alan J. Pakula.

Best quote: "I'm going to need a lawyer, a very, very good lawyer, an expensive lawyer."

Video

more info...

5. Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive
Tomatometer: 93%

In the thick of his most prolific and successful period, Ford took on the role of Dr. Richard Kimble, a surgeon wrongfully accused of killing his wife. On the lam from a U.S. Marshall (the Oscar-winning Tommy Lee Jones), he follows the trail of a mysterious one-armed man in order to prove his innocence -- and makes us believe the good doctor is as resourceful, canny, and elusive as MacGyver himself.

Best quote: "It wasn't me. It was the one-armed man."

Video

more info...

4. Han Solo in Star Wars
Tomatometer: 95%

How do you describe the innate coolness of Han Solo? The loner space cowboy with a Wookie for a BFF epitomized an unruffled, rascally spirit that came to define Ford''s most memorable youthful roles. Sparring with Jabba the Hutt (and with his own conscience), Han ditches the smuggler's life to join Luke and Leia in the rebel cause in Episode IV -- and becomes one of the most-worshipped heroes in pop culture history.

Best quote: "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy!"

Video

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(1-20 of 44 posts) | Reply

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on May 12 2008 09:18 PM

I've always thought that if Ford had a strength, it was playing to his.. strength(?). He does(did) the reluctant hero thing better than just about anybody. Range? not so much. Charisma? in spades, circa 81 through 94.

(Reply to this)

Superzone writes:
on May 12 2008 09:19 PM

Harriswon Ford is freakin' awesome. 'Nuff said.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on May 12 2008 09:37 PM

Totally agree, Tombstone. He's not a versatile actor, but he's damn good at what he does.

(Reply to this)

Vortex&Vertigo writes:
on May 12 2008 10:01 PM

I have to disagree with the best quote on TESB, The best quote is this one:

Leia
I love you

Han
I know

(Reply to this)

jasper de large writes:
on May 12 2008 10:09 PM

'witness' is a great one. also, check out 'mosquito coast' by the same director. i guess its tomatometer wasn't hot enough to make the list[really?] but it's def one of his standout roles

(Reply to this)

Floor Man writes:
on May 13 2008 03:00 AM

Dayum...that man has been in a lot of great movies...I forgot! :)

(Reply to this)

Weston B writes:
on May 13 2008 07:39 AM

I have to admit a bit of a man-crush on Harrison Ford.

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rle4lunch writes:
on May 13 2008 08:18 AM

Talking about range, while he doesn't strech too far from his main genre, he did do well in 'Regarding Henry'. I actually enjoyed that movie, even though I was in High School when that movie came out. As well as playing a bad guy in 'What Lies Beneath'.

thoughts?

(Reply to this)

Books writes:
on May 13 2008 09:13 AM

What the hell. The Mosquito Coast is my favourite movie of all time. It didn't even make RT's ****ty list? Ford has also personally stated it is his favourite role.

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DarthWonka writes:
on May 13 2008 09:42 AM

It seemed obvious to me as well that the best line from "Empire" was "I know" after Leia's "I love you." Ford made up that line himself after several takes of "I love you too" failed to feel right. I think RT should either change his best line or make room to add this one.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on May 13 2008 09:50 AM

Geez ok folks, I'm changing the Empire quote. The people have spoken!

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on May 13 2008 09:53 AM

Books, we didn't handpick these roles - otherwise I wouldn't have included Han Solo and Jack Ryan twice. We went by the Tomatometer - Ford's ten best-reviewed films (with a few conditions), because these ten films also happen to be some of his most memorable characters.

(Reply to this)

smi1ey writes:
on May 13 2008 09:59 AM

In reply to this comment (#1733166)
Oh lord I agree with Vortex... that quote from Star Wars definitely should rank high on the best quote list!

What about "He didn't have his ticket." after he throws the guy out of the zeppelin from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? I always loved that one.

(Reply to this)

Shatter24 writes:
on May 13 2008 10:20 AM

I agree with Jasper on "Mosquitto Coast". An excellent turn by Ford in a different kind of role. I think he does have some versatility, and this, along with another good, non-Ford role, "Regarding Henry", shows that this guy can really act. He does take roles he is good at and comfortable with (which has made him a box office star) and has a definite Ford charisma, but there are subtle character differences in Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Rick Deckard (they are not all the same guy).

I hope Hollywood can find a place for Ford after Indy IV. His last good film was 2000's "What Lies Beneath" and he's been cast in crap ever since. I'd like to see him do a final Jack Ryan film, with the "Debt of Honor" storyline, where he becomes Vice-President, because of some political bargaining, there's terrorists, and a surprise twist at the end. That would be a great, age appropriate film for him.

(Reply to this)

ihatecarneys writes:
on May 13 2008 10:50 AM

The best line of his career was from "The Last Crusade."

Connery, "I didn't know you could fly a plane."

Ford, "Fly yes. Land, No."

Classic Ford.

(Reply to this)

tgibfo writes:
on May 13 2008 11:24 AM

Simply put, and I'm going into fanboy overload on this, Harrison Ford is God. I have to disagree with the Tomatometer on BLADE RUNNER over EMPIRE, and I think it would be obvious (to me) that RAIDERS would be number one on the list (at 98% I believe) if the Indy series was allowed on here, but an otherwise good list. Worth checking out also btw is HANOVER STREET, FRANTIC and FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE.

"I don't know, I'm making this up as I go."

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on May 13 2008 12:27 PM

Harson Ford is numer 1!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hes still proving hes the best and better action star and actor the Steve McQuenn. Firewall was the only movie I didnt like that he did. Raiders of the Lost Arc is the best movie ever.

(Reply to this)

PennsylvaniaJames writes:
on May 13 2008 01:18 PM

No Indiana Jones on this list? I'm disappointed! I would think that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade would be there.

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NotoriA writes:
on May 13 2008 01:44 PM

The classic hero of many film generations, from Star Wars to Indiana Jones, to playing the president of the USA. However what makes Harrison Ford such an amazing actor, is that his movies still ring true today and no matter how crappy a film he might have made ( cough* Random Hearts cough*) He still has so much charisma when he acts that you really end up loving the film because of him.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on May 13 2008 04:01 PM

I thought air force one was one of the dumbest movies he's ever done.

I think he's fairly versatile, I remember Regarding Henry.

He can play the wisecrackin' Han Solo, and then that murderous guy in . . . well, some movie he did with Pfeiffer.

(he also had a small role in Apocalypse Now)

(Reply to this)

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