@gameism Meanwhile Indy and Sherlock were always titular characters, and their supporting cast was always just that. Their sequels have been of mixed quality, but still quite watchable due to the star power and production values of the films. (There’s also the one we don’t talk about.)

Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism In broad strokes, each actor had a break-out role as a science-fiction scoundrel with a heart of gold, which they followed up with a swashbuckling adventurer in a lightly-historical setting.

5/19/2019, 12:19:55 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism The sci-fi scoundrel (Han/Tony) has to overcome small-scale technical difficulties while trying to not take sides into the large-scale wars going on around him... both of which he’s profiting from.

5/19/2019, 12:21:51 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Ultimately the scoundrel has to take the side of “the good guys”, abandoning his prior role and identity, and literally end the story on stage in front of everyone, being recognized as a hero. But we know he’s a scoundrel and love him for it.

5/19/2019, 12:23:20 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism In the follow-up films, the swashbuckler (Indy/Sherlock) is a bad-boy in a well-to-do society (academia/London) who doesn’t mind breaking rules to achieve his goals. His arc is less of redemption and more a rollercoaster ride of close escapes and supernatural threats.

5/19/2019, 12:27:16 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism While Indy is more directly forced to admit that there are forces larger than himself and beyond his control, Sherlock gets to stay one step ahead of the villain. But both Indy/Sherlock are forced to confront the power and fear-enducement of the ultimate supernatural power: love.

5/19/2019, 12:30:53 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism All four roles (Han/Indy/Tony/Sherlock) include classic tropes. The adopted brother from another culture who provides grounding and assistance. A will-they-won’t-they love interest, with a good deal of disdain. And lots of “hey, it’s me” moments where the actor can ooze charisma.

5/19/2019, 12:35:57 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism It’s worth considering these roles as part of the franchises they helped birth. Both Han and Tony appeared in numerous sequels with ensemble casts. Their characters and charisma was a focal point when they appeared, and sorely missed when omitted.

5/19/2019, 12:38:30 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Han and Tony’s redemption arcs were made all the better when we got to see them as mentors, helping guide a new generation of heroes through their universes. I’d argue it worked better with Tony than Han, but that’s largely due to the 20 years we lived without Han on-screen.

5/19/2019, 12:40:23 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Meanwhile Indy and Sherlock were always titular characters, and their supporting cast was always just that. Their sequels have been of mixed quality, but still quite watchable due to the star power and production values of the films. (There’s also the one we don’t talk about.)

5/19/2019, 12:42:18 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism A key difference in the roles of Harrison and Robert are the origins of the source material. Han and Indy are original creations, first known to the public thru film. Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes are of course both literary creations, known for decades before embodied by RDJ.

5/19/2019, 12:45:26 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism But all four of these heroes are undoubtedly “pulp heroes”, created for serial fiction to be loved and consumed by mass audiences. They’ve each appeared in hundreds, if not thousands of stories, far beyond the performances of these actors.

5/19/2019, 12:51:29 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism These characters will continue to live long past the performances of Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr. And even though RDJ’s Sherlock might not even be the most popular of the decade, his star power makes these films noteworthy and quite watchable.

5/19/2019, 12:55:13 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism For extra credit I’d like to draw parallels to the films of Mr. Keanu Reeves, from Mr. Anderson (Neo) to John Wick. It’s a lil bit of a stretch, but here we go!

5/19/2019, 12:57:48 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Neo fits the bill of a sci-fi loner living on the fringe of a larger struggle, who’s drawn in to take sides in the big war. But Neo was never the loveable scoundrel, he was an anxious pre-Y2K geek, IE before being a geek was cool.

5/19/2019, 1:01:13 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Neo’s story is much more a classic hero’s journey like Luke Skywalker and Steve Rogers (Captain America), than the bad boy redemptions of Han Solo and Tony Stark.

5/19/2019, 1:04:14 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism John Wick is absolutely a swashbuckler, and while not exactly a “historical” setting, the modern-day NYC underworld setting of the films oozes a sense of time and place. Like Indy and Sherlock, it’s “the real world with a twist”.

5/19/2019, 1:08:46 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism I suppose all six characters are reluctant to step into the spotlight and become “heroes.” Neo and Wick feel even more reluctant to me than the others. Maybe that’s about Keanu’s performances, or maybe more about the film’s messages?

5/19/2019, 1:11:05 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Action and violence are of course central to all of these film franchises. Sometimes our heroes get to be smart or at least clever, but resolutions usually come down to gunslinging and fisticuffs.

5/19/2019, 1:17:08 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism I’m happy when they sneak in some heart and hope. We can’t expect too much more from big budget Hollywood blockbusters. 😜

5/19/2019, 1:18:59 AM

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Patrick Curry

@patrickmcurry

@gameism Thus concludes my dissertation defense. RIP Bowler’s notifications.

5/19/2019, 1:19:37 AM

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