AlthoughBruce Willisis often named as part of the “Planet Hollywood” trio that includesArnold SchwarzeneggerandSylvester Stallone, he is certainly not only defined by his roles in action films. John McClane of theDie Hardfranchise is undeniably one of the most influential action heroes of all-time, but Willis was also a very versatile actor who worked alongside great auteurs likeRian Johnson, Robert Zemeckis, M. Night Shyamalan, Terry Gilliam,andRichard Linklater. Although Willis has sadly retired from actingdue to his diagnosis with aphasia, he did some of the most interesting work of his entire career within the past decade.Willis appeared inWes Anderson’s charming coming-of-age dramedyMoonrise Kingdom, and he was so good that it is a tragedy that they didn’t get to collaborate on any other films together.
Who Does Bruce Willis Play in ‘Moonrise Kingdom?’
Set on the New England island of New Penzance,Moonrise Kingdomexplores aRomeo & Juliet-style romancebetween the 12-year-olds Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), who decide to run away together. Sam is an orphan who serves as part of the Khaki Scout program under Scout Master Randy Ward (Edward Norton), but finds it challenging to be part of the intensely masculine, competitive environment; Suzy was born to the wealthy landowners Walt (Bill Murray) and Laura (Frances McDormand), and finds herself uninterested in their highly materialistic lifestyle.Willis stars as the local Police Captain Duffy Sharp, who is charged with helping both the Scouts and the Bishops identify the two children. Although he was assigned to prevent Suzy and Sam from making irresponsible decisions, he finds that all the adults tend to act much more spoiled and childlike than the two young lovers.
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While playing McClane means that he would always be the perfect casting choice for a law enforcement official,Willis is perfectly suited to play the moral compass of the film. After hearing from both sides interested in getting back the children, he begins to understand that they are more upset at the stain on their own egos than anything related to Sam and Suzys’ safety; the Scouts want to maintain the reputation of their organization, and Suzy’s parents feel that she is simply an extension of their own wealth. Although he is bound by duty to respect the law, Sharp offers some critical insights to the adults involved, and implies that they should put more consideration into why Sam and Suzy felt that their current living situations were unsuitable. While Anderson’s dialogue is already clever, Willis hasthe perfect sarcastic, expressive physical reactionsthat make each of the punchlines even more effective.
Bruce Willis Was a Perfect Fit for the Wes Anderson Aesthetic
AlthoughMoonrise Kingdomfeatures veterans of Anderson’s past films, includingTilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman,andBob Balaban,it’s exciting to see a new actor like Willis try out the material, which helps the film avoid being repetitive.Willis is given the opportunity to show a gentle, warm-hearted side to himselfthat he hadn’t been allowed to showcase since his days onMoonlighting. Decades of playing action heroes that delivered snarky one-liners made Willis perfectly suited to handle the highly mannered, specific rhythm of Anderson’s dialogue, but he also is able to use his stoicism to his advantage; Sharp is the one character inMoonrise Kingdomwho seems to have empathy for everyone, as it is implied thathe once has the same youthful energythat is so present within Sam and Suzy.
Sharp ends up being involved in the most emotional moments onMoonrise Kingdom, as the instance in which he saves Sam and Suzy amidst a lightning storm serves as a reminder that Anderson is capable ofmaking a compelling action sequence. However, the more moving component in seeing Sam being adopted by Sharp; this not only allows Sam to have the same family comforts that are enjoyed by Suzy, but indicates that Sharp was sincere in his mission to genuinely make his life better. While it is heartbreaking that Willis is unable to make any more new films, his powerful role inMoonrise Kingdomshowed that he was an actor of much greater depth than anyone may have realized.
Moonrise Kingdomis available to rent on VOD services in the U.S.
Moonrise Kingdom
In a quaint coastal town, a pair of young lovers flee their oppressive family lives, sparking a local search that draws the community into a bizarre adventure. As the townsfolk confront their own issues, the children’s innocent escape brings about unexpected consequences and revelations.
