John McTiernan’s legacy will risk ruin under the leadership of another man this summer when Underworld's Len Wiseman directs Live Free or Die Hard, the fourth film in the once great franchise McTiernan started. But John is moving on. The Hollywood Reporter says he’s set to direct a Las Vegas action-thriller called High Stakes. McTiernan has always loved the obvious title.
McTiernan also loves action, in fact his name is practically synonymous with it. Unfortunately he’s had nearly as many bombs as hits. Predator, Die Hard 1 & 3, The Hunt for Red October, and to a lesser extent The Thomas Crown Affair are all classic action flicks. Unfortunately he also made movies like Last Action Hero and Rollerball. Which McTiernan will show up on the set of High Stakes? The guy who was Michael Bay before there was Michael Bay, or Paul W.S. Anderson’s older, slightly dumber brother?
I’m hoping for the good McT because it’s about time someone blew up Las Vegas, and blew it up good. The place is practically begging for a fireball. It’s too bad Len Wiseman has taken over the life of John McClane, because the Strip really could use a strong McClane cleansing. Instead, High Stakes is about two friends who find themselves “in over their heads when they realize they are the living collateral of a high-stakes bet.” That may actually be the most generic Vegas movie plot I’ve ever heard.
