So let me say this: I am not a HUGE fan of the Indiana Jones series. I like it, I appreciate it and I will pretty much watch everything Harrison Ford is in so on a lazy Sunday afternoon if there is no Star Wars flick on then I will even watch Temple of Doom before I find something constructive to do.

Anyway, my point is this: my favorite moment of all in any of the Indy movies is the first ten minutes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I am of course talking about River Phoenix’s BRILLIANT turn as Indy. No, strike that: I mean his brilliant turn as Harrison Ford playing Indy. The boy was a genius and the first in a sad long line of actors who have died long long before we got to see more of them. What Phoenix manages to pull off in just a few seconds in this film is literally the best impersonation I have ever seen. How long do you think that kid (and its funny that I am calling him kid cause he was older than I was at the time he made this film) studied Ford before they filmed this? How many times did he watch previous Indy movies to figure out the subtle moves, vocal inflections and body movements of the icon. Cause he is SPOT on and I am betting he hardly had to try. I think he was so talented he just figured it out inhumanely fast. I have watched it dozens of times, often not even bothering to watch the rest of the movie and I still can’t get over it. More than any other performance River gave, this one makes me smile the most. I love him for this piece and it always makes me miss him terribly.

Favorite moments:

When he exits the cave, glances frantically about and says, “Everyone’s lost but me.”

The facial reaction River has when he finally gets to his father’s house and his best buddy (the almost cartoonish slightly over-weight blonde kid) comes in with a bugle, pulls the horn away from his lips and continues to blow. That tiny look on River’s face is THE BEST Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones moment. Trust Me.