MovieChat Forums > Die Hard 2 (1990) Discussion > Art Evans (Leslie Barnes)

Art Evans (Leslie Barnes)

posted 9 years ago by Diss_Oriented
10 replies | jump to latest

You know, the traffic control technician........

Anyone really like him in this movie? I have no idea why....

- - -
"And the number one reference that I am running into the ground is: Homer Simpson!"

[–] Craigsr82 9 years ago

He adds a certain something to the film. He is likeable but such a bad actor!

[–] nutsberryfarm 9 years ago

he's awesome!

'where do we get those big portable lights? borrow them from batman?!!'

🎄Season's Greetings!🎁🎅🎄

[–] Diss_Oriented 9 years ago

I think it's partly because we are used to seeing technicians in movies played by nerdy-looking white guys.

So just by being nonwhite he pleases audiences (well, discerning audiences like us) by being "different" from standard casting or whatever. I think that's mostly something people like but we don't consciously realise we like it. But yes he also does play it with a general likability.

Although, I dunno if I'm just imagining this but I think there are a lot of minorities in the air-traffic-control in US. Maybe I'm wrong.

- - -
"And the number one reference that I am running into the ground is: Homer Simpson!"

[–] tdl797 9 years ago

It seemed like a lot of his lines were dubbed in post to me.
Anyone else?
The sound doesn't quite fit the image at times, and he also seems too loud in the mix sometimes.

The bad guy who is about to kill McLane when he is on the ground by the moving sidewalk also seems to be dubbed.

[–] steelywulf 9 years ago

Wouldn't surprise me if they were dubbed. A lot of dialogue in action movies is dubbed in post-production. A couple of possibilities are bad recording when they were shooting the scene, or a change in dialogue for continuity due to editing. Just a couple of examples for ya.

[–] demps10 9 years ago

I think he's very good in this movie and plays the character of Barnes excellently. I saw the movie in the theaters in 1990 and never once thought 'oh, wow, cool a black guy is an aircraft control technician'. But, at the outset he's stunned to learn of the terrorist plot as are Trudeau and Lorenzo and critically underestimates Stewart's motives at first. But, Barnes quickly learns to trust McClane's judgement and uses his knowledge and expertise to be as resourceful as McClane cracking two critical elements of the movie - how to contact the planes overhead and finding out Stewart's location. Barnes is a critical element to the plot because he thinks of things no one else does. And he rightly does not trust Grant keeping his thoughts about Stewart's location to himself and McClane.

The best part about this movie is the scene when they uncover Stewart's location at the church. I love the 'shing' sound when the guy wrestling McClane pulls out a huge knife and the sound of Barnes dialing quickly to Lorenzo he realizes they've found Stewart's location!

[–] Dan_Garten 8 years ago

A memorable character actor.

[–] Drooch 7 years ago

What's not to love about Barnes? - His warm and toasty waistcoat, his comforting moustache and little grey afro, and his funny voice that sounds like a husky munchkin.

[–] nutsberryfarm 7 years ago

he does have an awesome coat! 

🎄Season's Greetings!🎄

[–] HelpMeRhonda (1155) 5 years ago

I think that he’s a character that is somewhat parallel to Al from the first movie. They are both local and are the first to trust McClane. So the reasons that we like both characters are fairly similar.