Category Archives: New York

A close friend of mine wisely pointed out via Facebook that, while no Hollywood natural-disaster film is complete without a grizzled, determined, and attractive lead character to save the day, the media frenzy surrounding Hurricane Irene’s east coast debut lacked a standard hero type. Since the double lead of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman in 1974’s The Towering Inferno, American film has never missed this opportunity to remind us that, while we will all someday die, we should always go out looking our best. Dante’s Peak had Pierce Brosnan. The Perfect Storm had George Clooney in flannel. Independence Day (because extraterrestrials are still natural) had Will Smith. Twister had Bill Paxton. The Day After Tomorrow touted Dennis Quaid for moms and Jake Gyllenhall for daughters. 2012 featured the boyish duo of John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Ad infinitum, et cetera.