What are Harrison Ford's best movies?

Over the weekend, a major event happened: Harrison Ford had a birthday. Yeah, yeah, I know, this is a blog about movies, not celebrity birthdays, but in honor of Ford's 71st birthday, I thought it might be fun to discuss some of my favorite Ford films. And let's face it: The man has starred in some of the biggest blockbuster movies in cinema history.

Harrison Ford is one of the most legendary, rugged and handsome actors ever. He was also my first serious movie crush. My love affair with Harrison Ford officially began with Han Solo (specifically, in The Empire Strikes Back if you must know), and it continues to this day. Choosing just one favorite Ford movie is impossible. Does a trilogy count? If so, I think the choices are rather obvious: the Raiders of the Lost Ark films and the Star Wars movies. Duh.

But there are many other excellent Harrison Ford movies - and that's what this is all about. If I can only name three others, I'd have to go with Blade Runner, The Fugitive and Air Force One...or Patriot Games...oh shoot, or Witness.

This is impossible. Blade Runner is one of my favorite movies of all time, and Harrison Ford as burned-out cop Rick Deckard blew my mind. If I had to pick one non-Star Wars/non-Raiders favorite, this is it. I suspect many of you are nodding your heads in agreement. Blade Runner is a sci-fi masterpiece, and no matter how many times I watch, it continues to be as thought provoking as it was the first time I saw it,  years and years ago.

Okay, my next choice for favorite Harrison Ford films is The Fugitive. I was so skeptical about this movie before its release. I absolutely did NOT think director Andrew Davis could pull off a truly riveting, successful movie adaptation of this TV show. I'm so glad I was wrong: Harrison Ford is brilliant as Dr. Richard Kimble, and his ability to convey pain and angst on the big screen is never more apparent than here. I haven't seen The Fugitive in a long time, but now that I think about it, I'm putting it in my Netflix queue.

 Here's where things get really tough for me: I've got a lot more Harrison Ford favorites to name, and I'm having trouble singling out just a few. I'd have to say Air Force One is way, way up on the list (definitely in my top 10) and so is Patriot Games (I was a huge fan of Ford as Jack Ryan). And I can't leave off Witness, either: I remember being blown away by this "new" Harrison Ford I was seeing. His role as John Book in this Peter Weir classic earned him the only Oscar nomination he's ever received.

That's right: Harrison Ford, despite having starred in some of cinema's most iconic films, has never won an Academy Award.

Okay, anyone else out there a huge Harrison Ford fan? If so, what is your favorite Ford movie? I'd love to hear about it!!

Photo courtesy of Life'd