Harrison Ford will go down as one of the greatest movie stars of all time. And it almost didn’t happen.
Ford was ready to quit acting and become a carpenter until getting his big break in 1973. An ancillary role in “American Graffiti” caught the attention of George Lucas. Lucas would cast Ford as Han Solo four years later. Then he got his bff Steven Spielberg to cast Ford as Indiana Jones. 50 years later and the rest is history.
Harrison Ford has been a mainstay in Hollywood for my entire life. He brought me countless hours of joy with movies and characters I love. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is one of my all-time favorite films. I watched the VHS a million times growing up. And played video games. I also watched the prequel series. So one last hoorah is a surreal experience.
Ethann Isidore, Harrison Ford, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a scene from “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” (Lucasfilm Ltd.)
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” serves as a fitting sendoff for the legendary character and film series. It’s the fifth film in the saga, and was written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and David Koepp. James Mangold would direct.
It’s a fun summer movie that offers an escape from life (and excess heat) for a night of nostalgia. There are insane special effects and sequences that flex the modern filmmaking muscle. Fans of the original films will relish the callbacks, references, and returning characters.
The plot is moot. We aren’t watching this movie for some intricate script or deeper meaning. Indiana Jones grabs his iconic hat and whip and goes on a quest, fending off nefarious folk along the way. And that’s all we need to know.
Great Acting
Harrison Ford – even at 80 – is still the man. The film opens in the WWII era, and production used appropriate technologies to de-age the actor. The beginning looked fine, though the uncanny valley makes it feel slightly off. Thankfully the bulk of the film occurs in the present day (1969) with Ford acting as himself. Suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite as the grey-haired Indiana Jones fights off toughs, races various vehicles, and takes bullets the way a normal person would stub a toe.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” (Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd.)
Indiana is joined by his goddaughter, Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Waller-Bridge plays a feisty character who is impressive at working with Indy and also knowing how to keep him in place. I would watch a continued story with this character going on her own series of adventures.
And it wouldn’t be an Indiana Jones film without Nazis. Stealing the show is Mads Mikkelsen who plays Jürgen Voller, an astrophysicist who has some big plans in mind. Mikkelsen is a fantastic bad guy and, in a sinister way, makes for a great Nazi.
Mads Mikkelsen makes a great Nazi. (Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd.)
There are several other names and faces you’ll recognize and cheer for, but I’ll let you be surprised.
My only real complaint with the movie is the length. While never a dull moment, 154 minutes is too much. The action is seemingly non-stop but gets repetitive. One or two fights or chases could have trimmed down or eliminated completely and the ending result would be better for it.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is a fun movie that serves to conclude the Indiana Jones series. Watch it to enjoy Harrison Ford as the movie star that he is. Ford doesn’t play Han Solo, or Indiana Jones. Ford is Han Solo and Indiana Jones. It’s nice to see him still going strong at 80 (81 next week) and I hope he has many more adventures to go on.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is currently only available in theaters.
