Bruce Willis’ Unforgettable Performance that Astounded Quentin Tarantino

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Touchstone Pictures

Bruce Willis, a name that resonates with action film lovers, made the leap from TV to big screen in 1988 with “Die Hard”. His rugged charm and blue-collar hero persona made him a unique figure in Hollywood. He embodied the rough, ready, and witty characters with a strong moral compass, often seen correcting their mistakes throughout the movie while fighting against villainous characters. These were characters that audiences could relate to and admire.

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Yet, there was another dimension to Willis, one that could be seen as even more commendable. Despite his retirement, this aspect of Willis, the true actor-star, is still very much alive in his past performances. He strived to push beyond his comfort zone, portraying flawed characters seeking redemption without the need for heavy artillery. He wasn’t afraid to play an abusive character in Alan Rudolph’s “Mortal Thoughts”, or take a backseat as a disgraced journalist in Brian De Palma’s “Bonfire of the Vanities”. He was willing to take risks, but not all his ventures were successful. However, everything changed when Quentin Tarantino offered him the role of Butch Coolidge in “Pulp Fiction”. As a boxer driven by pride, Willis delivered a performance that was recklessly perfect.

Tarantino, known for his confidence, could arguably say that Willis’ portrayal of Butch was his finest hour on screen. However, when asked by Sky Movies about his favorite films from 1992 to 2009, Tarantino expressed his admiration for Willis’ work in a rather unconventional superhero film.

Quentin Tarantino’s love for Bruce Willis is Unbreakable

Bruce Willis dons a hoodie as David Dunn in Unbreakable
Touchstone Pictures

If Bruce Willis hadn’t signed a contract with Disney, owing them a film due to the collapse of the unfinished “Broadway Brawler”, M. Night Shyamalan might never have had the opportunity to create a unique movie like “Unbreakable”. Willis, in accepting the role of a deceased character in “The Sixth Sense”, helped Shyamalan get the green light for his story about a man who discovers he’s a superhero after surviving a massive train accident.

In a 2009 interview, Tarantino described “Unbreakable” as “one of the masterpieces of our time”. He admired it as a “brilliant retelling of the Superman mythology” and praised Willis for his “magnificent” performance as David Dunn. According to Tarantino, it was Willis’ best on-screen performance. Despite some reservations about the central metaphor of the movie, Willis’ outstanding performance in this comic book film, which carries shades of a Tarkovsky aesthetic, is undeniable. Films like these are what we live for, and we are grateful for stars like Willis who make them possible. His absence is truly felt.


Credit: www.slashfilm.com

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