A wee gem
- Local Hero review by HE
Everything about it is so good: the dialogue by Bill Forsyth shines, the music by Mark Knopfler is knockout, the story, the cast, the setting....it's Scottishness was so on the money...the only bit I find tedious is the psychoanalyst..... it's not really a criticism, just doesn't add anything to the plot in my view.
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
A gentle masterpiece
- Local Hero review by CP Customer
Perhaps Bill Forsythe's best film, with a touch of the Ealing Comedies about it (Whisky Galore comes to mind). It's a wistful reflection on Scottish identity, the virtues of small-town life and the value (or not) of money. It's sentimental, but (imho) in a really good way, with lovely performances by the main actors and a fabulous supporting cast. Well worth seeing (or seeing again. And again).
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Its Local Hero what more do you want?
- Local Hero review by PT
Absolute stone classic. For my money up there with “Life of Brian” and “Death of Stalin” as contender for best British comedy film of all time. Superior to any of the various Ealing comedies with which it is often compared in that it produces actual laughter rather than the odd wry smile.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Simply Wonderful & Gentle Comedy
- Local Hero review by GI
Local Hero is a gentle British comedy in the style of the endearing Ealing Comedies and it's also a beautiful homage to Scotland, indeed it's often be praised as a love poem to the country. A clash-of-cultures narrative where Texas oil billionaire Felix Happer (Burt Lancaster) sends his ambitious gopher Macintyre (Paul Riegert) to a remote Scottish village to buy it so he can build an oil refinery. Mac finds the locals are very enthusiastic to the plan and can't believe their luck. But a local hermit, Ben (Fulton MacKay) happens to own the main beach and steadfastly refuses to sell forcing Happer to make the journey to Scotland personally. The film is very reminiscent of The Maggie (1954), where a rich American comes up against wily local Scots. There's a lovely romance involving a young Peter Capaldi and some delightful comedy moments. The ending is quite lovely and the film has a famous score by Mark Knopfler. This is a beautiful little film and is beloved by critics and the public alike and is well worth checking out if you've never seen it.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Hasn't stood the test of time
- Local Hero review by TL
Sorry, but this didn't work for me, and I was really looking forward to it. Mildly pleasant, but not really anything special. It was many people's favourite when it came out, but now it seems rather plodding and predictable. I was waiting for the moments of poignant humour but they never came.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Two stars for the music and scenery, none for the rest
- Local Hero review by CP Customer
This 1980s film seems really dated and not in a good way. Terrible roles for the female characters. Terrible trousers for the men. Nice music and scenery. The sort of plot that Ealing Studios would have handled so much better in its day.
0 out of 3 members found this review helpful.