Local Hero

Anticipation was high back in 1983 when LOCAL HERO was hitting this side of the big pond. Bill Forsyth had wowed us a couple of years before with the charming GREGORY'S GIRL and we all wanted to see if he could match the magic with the new one and boy oh boy did he ever. LOCAL HERO was way ahead of it's time in a Faith Popcorn type of fashion, it shows what fast lane burnout can do to the soul and it's the type of film which will make you want to walk away from your world and start all over again. Nearly a quarter of a century later this film is just as fresh as an ocean breeze. The late great Burt Lancaster almost steals the film as the eccentric oil tycoon whose company sends Peter Riegert to the Scotland to buy up an entire village. What ensures from this is a mix of introspection and humor and the blend is such to make this one very special film. SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
The ending may bum a few people out but I've always liked to believe Mac (Riegert) is the one phoning the booth, more or less to say, I'm outta Houston and I'm coming back. Truly a heart warming experience this and required viewing in my books.