Day 0: Intro
An overview of the concept and a brief outline of things to come
12 Days of Die Hard is an in-depth appreciation of the popular but critically-underacclaimed action film Die Hard (1988). The 16-episode series was produced by Cosmo Catalano, and released in daily installments from December 10th through December 25th, 2018. It is also available as a YouTube playlist.
An overview of the concept and a brief outline of things to come
We begin at the beginning—which also happens to be one of the most efficient expositions in film
Both Bruce Willis and his portrayal of John McClane were a much needed breath of fresh air in the action film genre
Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber was a brilliant creation, and the perfect counterpoint to Willis' McClane
Even Die Hard's supporting cast of villains managed to break the '80s mold
Decades before "Leaning In", there was Bonnie Bedelia as Holly Gennero (or is it Holly McClane?)
Die Hard provides some remarkably nuanced insight on a decade best remembered in synth-and-neon spoof
Information security and over-reliance on the digital world loom large in Die Hard
Have you ever noticed that Die Hard is an '80s movie that doesn't feel like an '80s movie?
From camerawork to smirking nods at contemporaries, Die Hard is brazenly self-aware
The amazing, unlikely story of how a depressing print sequel became Die Hard
An incomplete catalogue of Die Hard's brilliant use of predictive description and foreshadowing
For a movie focused on terrorists, Die Hard turns out to be pretty entertaining and enjoyable
Despite the explosions and gunfire, the John/Holly dynamic is what's really at Die Hard's heart
Die Hard's unflinching rejection of authority has some uncomfortable present-day resonance
Wrapping things up and trying to make sense of it all