Die Hard (film series) memorable." James Berardinelli wrote that the film "represents the class of modern action pictures and the standard by which they must be judged." Critic Desson Howe wrote that "Willis has found the perfect vehicle to careen wildly onto the crowded L.A. freeway of "Lethal Weapons" and "Beverly Hills Cops"." Willis was also called "perfect as the wisecracking John McClane" and "an excellent casting choice as a sardonic action hero." Alan Rickman's portrayal of villain Hans Gruber was described as "marvelous" and "a career-making performance." Gruber also ranked 46 on the villain side of AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains. In
Alan Rickman Jamie in "Truly, Madly, Deeply" (1991); numerous villains in Hollywood big-budget films, including German criminal Hans Gruber in "Die Hard" (1988), Australian Elliot Marston opposite Tom Selleck in "Quigley Down Under" (1990) and the Sheriff of Nottingham in "" (1991); and the occasional television role such as Dr. Alfred Blalock in HBO's "Something the Lord Made" (2004) and the "mad monk" Rasputin in the HBO biopic "" (1996), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. Rickman's role as Hans Gruber in "Die Hard" earned him a spot on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains