Local Hero

Rating:
Summary: great film but a Mono DVD? outrageous
Review: I love the film, I own the soundtrack but why would anyone release a mono DVD. The sound is awful. I wish I hadn't bought it .

Rating:
Summary: brilliant comedy
Review: A fascinating look at business vs the environment in a humorous movie. A special twist regarding the locals and the most unexpected "hero". The music by Mark Knofler of Dire Straits is terrific- get his "Screenplaying" CD. An unusual setting shows off the beautiful cinematography in filmed mostly this unusual town (Pennan) on the North Sea of Scotland. Well-developed characters build lots of sympathy. A must see!

Rating:
Summary: BRIGADOON
Review: Director Bill Forsyth's LOCAL HERO is a movie I watch every two or three years since its theatrical release in 1983. Always with the same pleasure. The musical score, the landscapes, the Minnellian atmosphere and the original screenplay form a little cinematographical pearl of pure enchantment. It was also one of the last performances of a legend, Burt Lancaster, who, unlike many Hollywoodian stars of the 40's and the 50's, has carefully chosen the movies he starred in until his forced retreat.

The themes treated by LOCAL HERO are universal and you never have the feeling to watch one of these arty movies shot only for the local (scottish in this case) audience. LOCAL HERO can be read, like every good movie..., at different levels. For my part, I consider it as a fairy tale - à la Vincente Minnelli - which begins with the first night in the fog.

A theatrical trailer, english and french subtitles as bonus features. Sound and images are only average.

A DVD for your library.

Rating:
Summary: Personal Best [e-mail]
Review: In 1995 I was up in Scotland with five of my best friends whom had literally come from the four corners of the earth for the occasion. We travelled around the beautiful country, camping where we could and generally enjoying our freedom and youth. One particular spot that we stayed at was on the North West coast of Scotland, on a small, remote peninsula next to a white sanded beach with a view towards the Isles of Muck and Rum. After being there for a couple of days, we were told by a passing local that the beach was the very one that Local Hero was filmed on, and the peninsula where we had been camped for the past two days is where the church in the film was situated (it was apparently a set, made around an old house that still exists). At this point I had not seen the movie but knew the soundtrack by Mark Knopfler very well. The holiday I had that year was without a doubt one of the best I've ever had. Two years later on returning to NZ, I watched Local Hero with tears in my eyes, I couldn't believe that my favourite place in all the world was captured on an exceptionally beautiful, quirky, strangely romantic, and intelligent film. Overall I think that the general gist of the film is one of awakening our senses to the simple things in life, just like MacIntyre did on arriving at that small coastal village. We all need, at some point in our lives, to escape the hum-drum of every day life and awaken ourselves to the real life outside of our own. It is a wonderful, gentle film that will always be a part of me. P.S. I have omitted the exact name and location so that it is not overrun with tourists, but if you really want to know, send me an E-mail.

Rating:
Summary: What a great movie is all about!
Review: I first saw this movie when I was in the navy back in the early eighties. The ship was in port at the time in southern California and had access to a local cable station that played this film one evening. Most young, single navy men are far more interested in movies that offer fiery explosions and bikini clad women than a film that moves itself along on dialogue and cinematography. So it was a tribute indeed to the films overall charm that a whole group of us watched quietly from begining to end; the silence of the berthing compartment being interupted only occaisionaly by our laughter. Years later, when I left the navy and got my own apartment, the first video I purchsed was a copy of 'Local hero' which I've watched now more times than I can count. I believe the film gets its magnetic qualities from its simplicity. It's a quiet, unobtrusive film that seems to put one at ease from its very start. Peter Riegerts character is great as the accomplished oil man so much out of place in the simple lifestyle of this old scottish village, a way of life which seems to awaken something inside him, something that perhaps even he didn't know exsisted. There's a host supporting characters that help add so much flavor to this film; a russian sea captain who visits regularly to fish, drink and check the money markets, the african reverend who could "never get away again", the punk rocker girl who thinks other people are different and, of course, the hermit who "works" the beach daily and resides comfortably in a little shack with a secret of his own. My favorite character just may be that of Burt Lancasters, an excentric CEO who replaces the unhappiness of his life here on earth with an intrest in the stars. I could go on and on about this film but the most I could ever say to anyone is just watch it, chances are, you'll come away loving it too! Personally, I've always found the last minute or so to be rather haunting with regards to Riegerts character. For those of you who have seen the film, I ask only this; Who's making the phonecall? (I think we know.)

Rating:
Summary: A Must for everyone
Review: Local Hero is one of those sleeper films that comes out of the UK and we wonder, why can't we get this in our country? This is a fine tweaking of the American nose in the charecters of Happer and MacIntyre but the Scots of a small fishing town in Northeast Scotland. The visual detail is exceptional. The casting is superb and just a little off kilter. The local charecters steel the show from the mimic in the bar who's impersonations are all the same, the vicar who came from Africa and never left, to the visiting Russian sitting on the jetty discussing high performance cars. These charecters made the film. I think it is also a story of the Ugly American - MacIntryre arrives and tries to put everything he sees and does into an American context. There is an ironic twist to MacIntyre, watch for it. In his haste to close the deal, MacIntyre runs into a much sharper negotiator in the local Scottish lawyer who also runs the B&B and pub; and always seems to be in bed with his wife when he isn't wheeling and dealing with MacIntyre. Burt Lancaster is exceptional as Happer who between psychotherapy sessions is running a billion dollar oil company and searching the stars for relaxation. Happer's relationship with the psychotherapist are terrific and spot on. The local Scottish oceanographer gives the viewer a visual start as she goes about her work; watch for it. Overall, this is a charming, simple (but not simplistic) film that should be in everyone's film library.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but won't change your life
Review: This is a very nice movie, that will make for a pleasant evening of viewing, but is not the masterpeice many people decsribe below. All the parts are well played and everyone is likable enough. Burt Lancaster is terrific as the aging oil tycoon.

I bought this movie in part because Mark Knopfler did the score, but his signature "sound" (if you've seen "The Princess Bride" or "Cal" you know what I'm talking about) is almost nowhere to be heard.

The picture quality of the dvd is very good (at least the widescreen version is, I haven't watched the pan & scan side of this disc), the colors are realistic, the pictures are sharp, and the contrast is good. The soundtrack is an unremarkable mono, but all the dialogue is clear.

I would have given it three and a half stars if Amazon allowed such a thing. I was not sorry I bought it.

Rating:
Summary: A Magical Delight and Utterly Irresistible!
Review: I was convinced this film inspired Northern Exposure even before I read that it did. It tells the tale of a Houston oil executive sent to a tiny, remote Scottish fishing village to purchase their land for oil development. As the film's magic plays out (it would be a shame to spoil it) the viewer is left wondering who are the wheeler-dealers. A delicious host of wonderful characters people the film--a shrewd Scottish entrepreneur, an eccentric Houston oil magnate, a mysterious human mermaid with webbed feet, a vibrant Russian merchant sailor, a hermit in possession of priceless beachfront real estate--everyone in this film is memorable and vividly drawn. It is a deserved cult favorite, a film you'll want to see again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Nearly Perfect...
Review: I only write nearly perfect, because I'd like to see Hollywood top this terrific piece of film art, and hope that this might give them something to reach for. This film, along with To Kill A Mockingbird, remains one of my top two of all time. It's a real jewel among so much banal trash, in spite of its age (nearly 17 years!) I watch it over and over. 2 weeks ago I visited the main site in Scotland where this movie was filmed-Pennan, Aberdeenshire, and it was every bit as beautiful, remote, and haunting as is pictured in the movie. We stayed in the hotel, drank in its pub, sat on the jetty and watched the sea, and called the US from the phone box. I did miss Mac, Gordon, Danny, and Stella, and the locals and I halfway expected them to walk in the door at any time. You guessed it-I'm a cult follower of Local Hero. Run, don't walk, and buy this movie. It may be a bit of an older movie, but the message is timeless.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet Movie
Review: The great thing is -- there's really no bad guys in this film. None of Hollywood's politically correct scapegoats. All the characters want what is best for themselves, without being overly greedy. Riegert's role reminds me of what most of us go through when we're young and trying to be loyal employees, and climbing that ladder of success. We forget what is really important in life. Even Lancaster, the oil baron-mogul, tries to alert him to this, but Riegert's character doesn't 'get it' until it's too late. There's really not much more I can say. A very enjoyable movie -- and a keeper. Reminds me of the movie MAGIC TOWN with Jimmy Stewart and Jayne Wyman.