Live Free or Die Hard is a 2007 American action thriller film directed by Len Wiseman and written by Mark Bomback, based on the novel A Farewell to Arms by John Carlin. It is the fourth installment in the Die Hard film series.
It is known as "Die Hard 4.0" in some regions since it is the fourth installment in the Die Hard film franchise. In this film, Bruce Willis reprises his role as NYPD detective John McClane. The plot revolves around a cyberterrorist attack on the United States and McClane's efforts to thwart it.
Here's a brief overview of the plot:
The film begins with a cyberattack on the United States' infrastructure, orchestrated by a brilliant and vengeful cyberterrorist named Thomas Gabriel (played by Timothy Olyphant). Gabriel's attack disrupts transportation, communication, and power systems, causing chaos and endangering the nation's security.
John McClane is tasked with bringing Gabriel to justice and protecting his latest target, a young computer hacker named Matt Farrell (played by Justin Long). McClane and Farrell must work together to unravel the cyberterrorist's plot and prevent further destruction.
Live Free or Die Hard introduces a contemporary and technologically driven threat, shifting the franchise into the 21st century. The film explores themes of cyberterrorism and the vulnerabilities of modern infrastructure. John McClane's character, known for his physical toughness, adapts to the digital age, making this installment a unique addition to the series.
The film features the signature action and suspense that "Die Hard" is known for, along with impressive stunts and set pieces. It received generally positive reviews and continued the legacy of John McClane as an iconic action hero. The partnership between Bruce Willis and Justin Long's character adds a modern twist to the franchise's dynamic.
Cast
- Bruce Willis as Detective John McClane of the NYPD. He becomes involved in stopping Thomas Gabriel after being tasked with transporting Matt Farrell to the FBI for questioning. He saves Farrell from a hit squad and the two work together to stop Gabriel's plan.
- Justin Long as Matthew "Matt" Farrell, a hacker-turned-white hat who now designs cyber-security algorithms. He unknowingly helped Thomas Gabriel with his plan and survives an assassination attempt with McClane's help. He uses his computer expertise to help McClane stop Gabriel's plan.
- Timothy Olyphant as Thomas Gabriel, a crazed former U.S. Department of Defense analyst who leads a group of cyber-terrorists systematically shutting down the entire U.S. infrastructure. Olyphant filmed his role within three weeks.
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Lucy Gennero-McClane, McClane's estranged daughter. The inclusion of McClane's daughter was previously considered for the third film, and she was in the video game Die Hard: Vendetta.
- Maggie Q as Mai Linh, Gabriel's second-in-command and lover
- Kevin Smith as Frederick "Warlock" Kaludis, a hacker who reluctantly helps McClane and Farrell track down Gabriel. Smith made uncredited rewrites to the scenes in which he appears.
- Cliff Curtis as Miguel Bowman, Deputy Director of the FBI Cyber Security Division.
- Jonathan Sadowski as Trey, Gabriel's main hacker
- Edoardo Costa as Emerson, Gabriel's terrorist and hacker
- Cyril Raffaelli as Rand, Gabriel's acrobatic henchman
- Yorgo Constantine as Russo, Gabriel's henchman
- Željko Ivanek as Agent Molina, Bowman's right hand man.
- Christina Chang as Taylor, an FBI Cyber Security Division analyst.
- Len Wiseman as F-35B pilot (cameo)
Additional characters include Gabriel's henchmen: Chris Palmero as Del, Andrew Friedman as Casper and Bryon Weiss as Robinson. Chris Ellis appears as Jack Sclavino, McClane's superior officer. Sung Kang makes an appearance as Raj, a desk officer of FBI's cyber division. Matt O'Leary appears as Clay Wheeler, a hacker who unwittingly gives Gabriel a code, allowing his house to be destroyed. Jake McDorman plays a small role as Jim, Lucy's boyfriend. Tim Russ appears as an NSA agent. Rosemary Knower has a cameo as Mrs. Kaludis, Frederick's mother.
Director: Len Wiseman
Writers: Mark Bomback
Box Office Gross: $388,156,011
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Trailer:
Die Hard Films:
- Die Hard
- Die Hard 2: Die Harder
- Die Hard with a Vengeance
- Live Free or Die Hard
- A Good Day to Die Hard