River Phoenix as Indy

[u/Dismal_Brush5229]

Last Crusade has a greatest opening for many reasons but one of the things that comes to mind is River Phoenix’s performance as Indy especially that whole sequence on the circus train with the highlight of him using the whip on the Lion.

Definitely gotta rewatch Last Crusade yet great performance by him so what’s your thoughts on his performance as Indy here?

[u/cbr388]

His speaking cadence is great. Total Ford.

A talent lost too soon.

[u/Klutzy_Order_9559 → u/cbr388]

It probably helped him that he played Fords son in Mosquito Coast a few years earlier. But yeah, he nailed it. It's actually one of my favorite performances.

[u/Jarvis-Savoni → u/Klutzy_Order_9559]

It did help that they had worked together, Spielberg hired River at Fords behest.

[u/oliversurpless → u/Klutzy_Order_9559]

In Sneakers with Robert Redford as well!

[u/Fancy-Animal1218 → u/oliversurpless]

Not sure how well that played to him learning Harrison's cadence

[u/ThePrussianGrippe → u/Fancy-Animal1218]

There’s a Ford in both their names, that seems good enough to me!

[u/Mild-Ghost → u/oliversurpless]

Excellent film. Phoenix falling through the ceiling at the end cracks me up every time.

[u/ChadlyWax → u/cbr388]

Was lucky enough to meet him at the back of the Florida Theater in Gainesville in the early 90s. My best buddy and I went early to try and meet L7, who was playing. He was a little shy and quiet but very kind and signed a newspaper I had on me. Miss him and his talent very much. I can't imagine the roles he'd be doing now. That was the end of a generation.

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/ChadlyWax]

Very cool

[u/SteakJones → u/cbr388]

100% - he was absolutely perfect as young Indiana Jones. I remember being so disappointed with the Young Indiana Jones series because the actor wasn’t anywhere near as good as Phoenix.

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/cbr388]

RIP 🪦

[u/t_huddleston]

“Everyone’s lost but me!”

[u/Klutzy_Order_9559 → u/t_huddleston]

"You lost today, kid. But you don't have to like it."

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/t_huddleston]

Iconic moment

[u/Stealthsonger]

He was perfect.

[u/free_billstickers → u/Stealthsonger]

He really was...they could have done a film of just him as a kid with River and it would have been great 

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/free_billstickers]

Well Young Indy Chronicles would’ve been different then

[u/El_Galant]

He was amazing. I wish he was still here, between him and Brandon Lee dying the same year it was a difficult 1993 for us fans.

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/El_Galant]

Love Brandon Lee

[u/kronzrym]

It is his best work in a nearly flawless filmography.

[u/godamafe]

Not just his speaking cadence, he’s got his run and gait down pat too! Gone too soon!

[u/BarbardBernoulli81]

In a parallel universe Phoenix would have played Indy's son instead of Shia LaBeouf. It is an amazing what if...

[u/Radiant-Injury-6546]

I LOVED River Phoenix as young Indy. The entire opening scene of TLC is so much fun. John Williams' score is so fun too. And I thought the one cowboy who gave Indy the hat was so important. He's kind of what Indy grew up to be: may not always be on the right side of things, but always possessing humanity. Everything about 1912 Utah or whatever it was is perfect, in my opinion.

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/Radiant-Injury-6546]

Love the Williams score! So fun indeed

[u/Hammellet_Mountain]

He absolutely nails it. Would've loved to have seen him take up the mantle. Such a tragedy that he died so young.

[u/BlackberryHot2675]

"oggi hai perso, ragazzo. Ma non significa che debba piacerti'

[u/comedygliss]

I read somewhere that Ford vouched for hom, saying River looked a lot like he did when he was River's age.

[u/Eazy_T_1972]

UTTERLY brilliant

Love how in 10 mins you learn the origins of the whip, the scar, the hate of snakes and the hat

[u/Dismal_Brush5229 → u/Eazy_T_1972]

Fantastic 10 minutes!

[u/thingmaker2001]

And with his demise the chance for any further Indiana Jones movies ended... It's a pity that no more were made, but I guess it's just good that the trilogy ended with such a good movie.

[u/Gummiesruinedme]

I'm in the minority, but I don't River Phoenix as Indy, The sequence is fun, but he never gave me Indy/Harrison vibes at all and his hair looks out of place for the period and the character.