Local Hero (1983)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Ross C

  
  A taste of the quaint life of rural Scotland back in the early 80s when the oil giants were still considered a necessary evil. This really is a British classic with memorable characters and a signature theme tune in Mark Knopfler's synth score.

• Cassandra M

  
  I really cannot praise Local Hero enough; it is simply one of the best films ever made and certainly, without any shadow of doubt, my number one favourite movie of all time. Fans of Ealing Comedy will relate to this film instantly. The humour is extremely subtle, going for the… More
  I really cannot praise Local Hero enough; it is simply one of the best films ever made and certainly, without any shadow of doubt, my number one favourite movie of all time. Fans of Ealing Comedy will relate to this film instantly. The humour is extremely subtle, going for the quirkiness of human behaviour rather than prefabricated belly-laughs. For example, the two farmers arguing which is the better vehicle for transporting winter lambs, Massarati or Rolls Royce. And the African preacher who has to explain that he's "not Scottish either" but still has the surname McPhearson. At first glance, the story of Local Hero is hardly one which would engage fevered interest. A big Texan oil company wants to buy a huge chunk of Scottish coastline and a representative is flown over to close the deal. Chosen because it's thought he is of Scottish origin, McIntyre (Peter Riegert) complains to a colleague that he could do the deal over the wires in an afternoon and that his parents chose the surname when they got off the boat from Hungary because they thought it sounded American. But what grabs the attention and is the fundamental beauty to the film is "Mac's" journey from a materialistic Texan yuppie to one who falls in love with the simple things of life and by the film's end, when Mac returns home, has been changed forever by his trip. Mac plays his part very well from a character who depends on his expensive suits, his Porsche, quad hi-fi and personal health insurance to one who collects shells on a Scottish beach and drinks 40 year-old malt whisky in the bosom of the small community that he suddenly finds himself a part of. Burt Lancaster plays the wonderfully eccentric oil company CEO who is more concerned with dicovering a comet of his own than making millions of dollars. Then of course there is Denis Lawson as the estate agent / taxi driver / hotelier, Peter Capaldi as the bungling company trainee and Jenny Seagrove who prefers being underwater to life on land, along with all the various yokels and locals that give this film its very unique charm. And the plot twist? A fabulously subtle one-liner that gives the whole thing away. But of course, one cannot talk about this movie without mentioning the soundtrack. Many years ago I felt compelled to watch this movie because (being a big Dire Straits fan at the time) i had the soundtrack and was instantly hooked. Mark Knopfler does sterling work in adding musical flavour to the film. Lazy acoustic guitars match perfectly the breath-taking scenary that the director, Bill Forsyth, has captured of the Scottish Highlands. Overall, I would have no hesitation in recommending this film to people. Every recommendation I've made has been met with the same response: a gem of a movie that simply cannot be ignored. Local Hero will be my own personal number one for ever!

• Jason S

  
  Not a bad flick. We watch a fast moving Texas oil man slow down and appreciate the world around him when visiting Scotland on business and it tries to remind us that we need to slow down as well and take a good look at the things we think are the most important things in our lives.… More
  Not a bad flick. We watch a fast moving Texas oil man slow down and appreciate the world around him when visiting Scotland on business and it tries to remind us that we need to slow down as well and take a good look at the things we think are the most important things in our lives. The acting is solid and the music helps set the mood and speed of the flick perfectly.

• Randy T

  
  Sometimes, even Texas oil billionaires have to stop and smell the seaweed. A clever little morality tale about Scotland and meteor showers and women with webbed toes. This one is really starting to grow on me.

• Tim S

  
  I really enjoyed this movie a lot. I thought it was sweet and endearing without being cheesy. There are also a lot of subtle touches about power and wealth that I really thought resonated. Peter Riegert and the villagers are all very natural and every performance adds something to the… More
  I really enjoyed this movie a lot. I thought it was sweet and endearing without being cheesy. There are also a lot of subtle touches about power and wealth that I really thought resonated. Peter Riegert and the villagers are all very natural and every performance adds something to the overall story. To top it all of you have the amazing Burt Lancaster. I could listen to him talk all day. Chris Menges makes the film look beautiful, using the natural lighting and the landscapes that allow you to get lost in this gorgeous corner of the world. Good writing and direction by Bill Forsyth.

• Justin Y

  
  A comedic drama done the right way. Current comedies need to take a lesson and learn how to make people laugh without overdoing and forcing the jokes on us.<p>The story works well for this type of film and at the same time is actually pretty thin, if you think about it. Yet,… More
  A comedic drama done the right way. Current comedies need to take a lesson and learn how to make people laugh without overdoing and forcing the jokes on us.<p>The story works well for this type of film and at the same time is actually pretty thin, if you think about it. Yet, somehow the film drags it out to almost 2 hours without making it entirely boring. How is this possible? The timing and style of the humor is performed at the right times and in the right amounts, which will keep you entertained. It is also constant throughout the film and it actually seems natural at times. You can tell that these comedic points aren't forced on the audience either. The biggest complaint I have with the story is the ending, which I believe could have been better. On a side note, the film does use some nice cinematography. Combine this with the nice setting and you get some wonderful shots.</p><p>The acting is done nicely. Both Peter Riegert and Denis Lawson carry this film to the very end. What is nice about these two is that one is American and the other is Scottish. They really do work well together. Burt Lancaster has a nice role, but is definitely underused, especially with the way he is advertised for this film. Jenny Seagrove is just beautiful to look at, but what was up with her feet?</p><p>This may not be the most entertaining of movies, but it is a nicely written comedic drama.

• xGary X

  
  Amiable british comedy in the spirit of Ealing in which big city american developer Burt Lancaster gets the inevitable life lessons from the usual collection of village eccentrics. Pleasantly predictable.

• Kyle M

  
  Not bad, but not great either. Pretty disappointed with this one.

• Marion R

  
  It was just ok, I just didn't care about any of the characters.This film was just to bland for me, like eating unflavored gelatin.

• Doctor S

  
  Quirky, goofy, charming movie in which nothing can be predicted. The creators of 'Northern Exposure' must've used this film as a blueprint for their excellent series, right down to the Rob Morrow lookalike as their fish-out-of-water.

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