Local Hero

Local Hero

By Bill Forsyth

  • Genre: Comedy
  • Release Date: 1983-02-17
  • Advisory Rating: PG
  • Runtime: 1h 51min
  • Director: Bill Forsyth
  • iTunes Price: USD 9.99
  • iTunes Rent Price: USD 3.99

Description

Screen legend Burt Lancaster gives an outstanding performance as an eccentric oilman who orders a young executive ("Crossing Delancey"'s Peter Riegert) to purchase a quaint Scottish village as the site for a giant oil refinery. Produced by David Puttnam ("Chariots of Fire," "Midnight Express"), with a musical score by Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler ("The Color of Money," "The Princess Bride"). New York Magazine called this "'Brigadoon' without bagpipes, a wonderful movie that creates magic without resorting to special effects" and the Daily News said "this entrancing comedy proves hard to resist...a warmly refreshing movie." Received Best Screenplay Awards from both the National Society of Film Critics and the N.Y. Film Critics, and won a place on the "top ten" lists of 16 publications including, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. Maltin dubs this "a little gem." Recently selected by the prestigious American Film Institute as one of the 400 greatest American films of all time.

Reviews

  • My favorite movie of All Time

    5
    By Count090
    “Local Hero” stands as my all time favorite. A man who sees his world, and then steps outside to realize that there is so much more to experience. He grows to value success, and also question what he considers success. Although, the ending seems very sad and lonely, it is filled with potential. By the end of the movie, his world has grown, and so has his desire to experience it. Joseph bednarz
  • Great Little Film

    5
    By chrishenry
    Whoever does those kind of lists rated this as one of the Top 400 American Movies of All Time. Very dry humor, characters you'll fall in love with, and Scotland coastal scenery. On stressful days in the 1980s, I'd rent this on VHS and pour a couple of scotches. It makes you chuckle, consider your life's goal, and leaves you with incredible peace. Bonus: a magic soundtrack by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Decades later this movie is fresh and funny.
  • WHEN will it be available in HD?

    5
    By tinac1
    Love this movie. Very quirky and funny. I’ve been waiting a LONG time for this to be available in HD! Please!
  • Underappreciated

    5
    By ndru
    Local Hero is not without its flaws, and of course not everyone will love its sense of humor, but in my experience not many people in the U.S. have ever heard of it, and I think that's a shame as it's a wonderful comedy with a serious, wistful element.
  • Magically Charming

    5
    By Frank C 66554321.
    Bill Forsyth wonderful film about a successful oil man who sends his best man to acquire some valuable land in Scotland and both find something more important than oil in the the land and the community that calls it home. Quite, slow and awkwardly funny, yet touching in the end.
  • Perfection

    5
    By Ann.O.Dyne
    So sorry to use such a trite cliche, but this truly is a "feel good" flick. Was delighted that it's very crisp & clean on iTunes. Even spotted some new details. The soundtrack is superb (Mark Knopfler!) and the casting is spot on.
  • Boring and Pointless

    1
    By NicolasdePasadena
    Don't be fooled by the fake reviews. This movie is badly acted, badly written and totally unbelievable. The music is barely audible even though that's the best part of it. Most of the movie is devoid of music (the only reason I rented it as a Mark Knopfler fan). The inauthentic accents by all the British and American actors actors often sound like Polish or Lithuanian accents. Horrible. Save your 3 bucks...
  • Total agreement with Bondophile

    1
    By Doc Hopper
    Absolutely zero character and barely any plot development. So much potential and wasn't given a chance. No wonder I never heard about this movie. Besides the music and landscape, it stinks!!
  • Local Hero

    5
    By Londann
    Quite simply my favorite film ever, a simple story set in a gorgeous landscape, wonderful characters and a timeless soundtrack by Mark Knopfler.
  • A quiet gem.

    5
    By HaveaDuff2
    With strong performances and a wry, gentle story, this movie is still one of my favorites 30 years later. Worth a rent, and you may end up buying it.

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