Before we get to today’s PCA Nominee discussion, what do you make of the three remaining Dancing With The Stars stars? Was anyone surprised that Hope is now, well, solo minus Maks and that mirror ball? I’m actually stunned she lasted as long as she did. Care to guess who will win the whole thing? We’ll get back to it next week right before the show, although I am beyond convinced about who’s going to triumph.
Now back to our regularly scheduled PCA Icon-ography.
Where we take a peek at the nominees and see what you think about the people you – and more than 40 million of your friends –selected to compete. Yesterday we talked about George Clooney. Today’s icon?
Harrison Ford. Action star. Kind of the ruggedest thing out there on screen. Right? Kind of always has been, too. Indiana Jones. Han Solo. Are there more heroic/badass roles? Did anyone do for fedoras, bomber jackets and bullwhips what this guy did? (By the way – did you know that the Indiana Jones craze dovetailed beautifully with the original Banana Republic store – which first sold only safari wear and other rugged things made out of khaki? Thus, when Indy first appeared America went mad for his look. Nowadays of course, Banana Republic is known as a regular shop with upscale work-y clothes. But before that, the store strictly sold togs for adventure-seekers and the Lost Ark Raiders they hung out with…that’s just FYI).
Back to Harrison Ford – who, it should be noted, also has some fearsome comic chops too. If you’re wondering about this, just watch one of my all time favorite flicks, Working Girl. He is superb. But for sheer action and adventure, nobody else even comes close to Ford. It’s worth mentioning that he also has a knack for embarking on insane death-defying journeys reluctantly, which – in addition to making him doubly sexy, also makes him a bit of a cerebral icon — the thinking-woman’s action hero. Plus we know that he was an actor who then decided that it wasn’t working for him at which point he returned to, em, carpentry. The house on his 800 + acre ranch in Wyoming? He built himself. Plus, there are the airplanes and the helicopters. Not too much the dude can’t climb, scale, build, open, fly, fix, or save. And he’s a three-time People’s Choice Award-winner to boot.
Most people learned about Ford in Star Wars. Or they watched their parents’ VHS copy of Star Wars. But before all that, George Lucas cast him in a movie called American Graffiti, which ultimately got the ball rolling. Then, before Raiders of the Lost Ark made archeology popular and Ford a megastar, there was also a little something called Blade Runner (which is being remade now, and which will not, reportedly, feature Ford). Then there was Witness, which snagged him an Oscar nod, those Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan movies and of course, The Fugitive. If you’re an LA local, you probably also know that Ford’s son Ben is a first-class chef who runs an ultra-cool restaurant called Ford’s Filling Station which is out of this world food and drinkwise.
So is Harrison Ford your choice for PCA’s Favorite Movie Icon? If he is, be sure to let us know by voting. Now’s the time to let your voice be heard!
Today’s poll:
1) Star Wars
2) Raiders of the Lost Ark
3) Blade Runner
4) Air Force One
‘Fugitive’ is a great film, it’s up there with ‘Raiders’, ‘Empire’,'Star Wars’ and ‘Crusade’ in my opinion.
Fugitive for action and working girl for comedy. But for those that say witness, I slept during that one, maybe his worst movie I think.
Love Harrison Ford
Regarding Henry, Fugitive, Witness, anytime anywhere!
I JUST LOVE WATCHING HIM ACT. I LOVED WATCHING HIM IN AMERICAN GERFITTIE. HE WAS SO YOUNG THEN… WOW & STILL LOOKING GOOD.. : )
Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of his best performances. I agree with several of the people who have commented. I can’t think of a Harrison Ford movie that was just compeltely awful. I wasn’t a big fan of Firewall but he was a good actor in it. I just didn’t like the story. All in all, Harrison Ford is a brilliant and talented guy who makes great movies:)
I love him in everything but I don’t like it when he plays a bad guy. Favorites: Raiders, Last Crusade, Witness, Working Girl & last but not least…Cowboys & Aliens. He still looks good in jeans, cowboy hat & boots.
I’m going by Ford’s performances, not the movie itself…
1) Raiders of the Lost Ark 2)Witness 3)The Empire Strikes Back 4)The Fugitive 5)The Mosquito Coast
“witness”…..tops my list of favorite movies. for fun, you can’t beat “Raiders” and “the last crusade”—sadly the second indiana jones film sucks big time!!!
“american graffiti” is a great film, but he doesn’t even count in this pic….
Wait… what about American Gaffitti
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Harrison Ford is an amazing actor one of my favs is what lies beneath with Michelle Pfiefer great movie i also like all the others
Witness is one of my favorite movies ever.
1) Raiders of the Lost Ark; 2) Empire Strikes Back; 3) Star Wars; 4) American Graffitti
Regarding Henry is for wussies
I agree, while i don’t think ‘Presumed Innocent & ‘What Lies Beneath’ are as strong of films as ‘Apocolypse’,'Star Wars’,'Graffitti’,'Empire’,'Raiders’,'Witness’,'Fugitive’,'Blade Runner’ & ‘Present Danger’, i think Ford’s personal acting performance might be better.
Thanks for the info, ‘Apocolypse Now’, another great film i totally forgot about, i stand corrected on missing mentioning that masterpiece. You think Ford phoned it in on “Star Wars’,'Empire’,'Raiders’,'Blade Runner”Temple’,'Witness’,'Crusade’,'Fugitive’,'Present Danger’,'Air Force One’,etc, come on now, really?
Presumed Innocent and What Lies Beneath. It takes a rare talent to walk the line and keep the audiences guessing about whether you are a good or bad guy.
I’ve always thought he decided to phone it in after “American Graffiti” and “Apocalypse Now.”
I adore him. He is about the most leading man in todays movies. My favorites are..Seven Days and Seven nights and The Fugitive.. but love all his movies..The Witness ws great also..
No movie he has done is bad. He only makes them better. Regarding Henry and working girl brings out another side of Ford, but theres nothing like the Jack Ryan and Raiders movies
He does a great job in all his works. I have never seen a picture that he hasn’t into a MAJOR hit by just doing it. All he touches turns to gold.
Downhill after American Graffitti, that’s funny. American Graffitti was another good one.
That’s the other movie i was thinking about, Frantic was an excellent and underrated film in my opinion.
Regarding Henry and Witness – totally charming in both!
All downhill after American Graffitti
i liked him in frantic too but i liked him best in raiders!
Regarding Henry.
Mosquito Coast
I love ‘The Last Crusade” as well, but still not as good as ‘Raiders”. You also have “Temple Of Doom”, Witness, Jedi,etc., Ford has been in many great films, that’s for sure.
I forgot about Clear And Present Danger, another great film.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hands down was his best movie. Two of my most favorite actors Harrison Ford and Sean Connery worked beautifully together. However if I have to stick to the list I would have to say Air Force One, I would vote for him to be president any year.
Alex Baldwin was in the Hunt for Red October as well as Sean Connery. Ford as Jack Ryan in “Clear and Present Danger” was on of his best. Right now this country needs a Jack Ryan.
The Fugitive!!!
Anybody remember “The Frisco Kid” with him and Gene Wilder? It’s a good one.
If you follow an actor’s career you compile in your mind all the “best” moments of each of their films as you watch their newest offering. For some, we tend to draw those past character attributes and failings into the package of the person of the newest character offering. He (Mr. Ford) is a supurb entertainer. When he laughs, so do I. When he shows pain in his face, I feel it. A favorite film…”All” because each has been a building block of the excellent performer we applaud today.
Witness. Then Presumed Innocent.
Presumed Innocent and The Fugitive…My Favorites…
I liked him in that series of movies starting with Hunt for Red October (can’t remember his character’s name – Jack something?)
Seven Days and Seven Nights, of course.
For me, it’s most certainly Raiders Of The Lost Ark, just a classic and a great film, and one iconic unforgetable theme song. Though i like Air Force One, i would have deleted that film from this list and added The Empire Strikes Back & The Fugitive.
Raiders of the Lost Ark – the last crusader & Air Force ONe.
Presumed Innocent!!! Almost as great as The Fugitive
I, too , loved Regarding Henry – something special & touching about it..
Agree with Suzan, Empire over original Star Wars. Although a very small early part, blink and you missed it, his scene in Apocolypse Now was good.
I think he is actually best in Empire Strikes Back. Super sexy and funny. I love you. I know.
Regarding Henry! Great movie that Ford did a super job in!