In the film Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), the main antagonist, Simon Gruber (portrayed by Jeremy Irons), utters the phrase "Hook, line and sinker". This line is delivered as Simon observes the authorities, specifically McClane and Zeus, being drawn into his elaborate plan to steal gold from the Federal Reserve Bank. The "hook" is his initial bombing of a department store, forcing McClane's involvement in a game of "Simon Says" to prevent further explosions. The "line" refers to the continued tasks and distractions designed to keep the authorities focused on a city-wide chase while Simon's crew executes the heist. Finally, the "sinker" signifies the success of his deception, as they fall completely for his ploy to draw police away from Wall Street. Simon's use of the phrase demonstrates his confidence in manipulating the authorities and highlights the theatrical nature of his criminal enterprise. He relishes the psychological aspect of the game he plays with McClane, using the bomb threats and riddles as a smokescreen for his true objective, which is stealing the gold.