Art Evans (Leslie Barnes)
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Die Hard 2
Diss_Oriented — 11 years ago(December 07, 2014 07:11 PM)
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!"
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Diss_Oriented — 11 years ago(December 26, 2014 08:30 PM)
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!"
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tdl797 — 11 years ago(January 25, 2015 07:36 PM)
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 — 11 years ago(January 27, 2015 06:44 AM)
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.
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demps10 — 11 years ago(March 12, 2015 03:25 PM)
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! -
Melton1 — 3 months ago(December 25, 2025 12:19 AM)
He combines poor acting with undeniable likeability.
‘A…and the antennae array is gone. Didn’t you see it!?’
Terrible delivery, but you still like the guy. He trusts McClane and he’s the one who figures out how to contact the planes, and he just has a warm, fuzzy dwarf vibe.
It’s a damn tough question - who is McClane’s greatest negro ally? Powell, Barnes or Zeus? -
Melton1 — 2 months ago(January 06, 2026 05:07 AM)
Yes, we’re communicating in English (other than your nonsensical statement in your post below in which you wrote ‘He had a very likable to him.’) Why do you ask?
How are you getting along with your fellow Sisters?
Let’s get you signed up…