"Local Hero" is a special movie. The plot is basically about a love affair between a man and a place. A Houston oil company executive named MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) is sent to Scotland to supervise the purchase of a remote coastal community so his company can tear it down and build an oil refinery. When he and his Scottish counterpart (Peter Capaldi) arrive they discover a quaint little fishing village with a quirky population, including a omnipresent speeding motorcyclist, a marine biologist with webbed feet, a Russian fisherman, and a baby of uncertain parentage. The local hotelier/lawyer/real estate agent/waiter (Denis Lawson) draws out the negotiations, hoping for a windfall for himself and his fellow citizens, giving the oil men a chance to develop a fondness for the remote seaside burg and it's eccentric residents. Reigert goes from button-downed businessman to seashell collector and star gazer (with each day he spends in the town MacIntyre sheds a piece of business attire - first his tie, then his coat, then his watch). He is seduced by the town and it's understated magic. The President of the company (Burt Lancaster) eventually flies in to help wrap up negotiations, albeit with a few major changes.
"Local Hero" moves at a leisurely pace which allows the audience to enjoy subtle character development and to simply observe everyday life. Director Forsythe injects a wry sense of humor and an unexpected sense of wonder into the film. One minute a man is doing his Jimmy Stewart impression, the next minute we're marveling at the beauty of the Aurora Borialas. The film works it's charms on us just as the town does with the oil men. As the movie winds down you'll find yourself wistfully sad that the experience is over, but much richer for having made the trip.
"Local Hero" moves at a leisurely pace which allows the audience to enjoy subtle character development and to simply observe everyday life. Director Forsythe injects a wry sense of humor and an unexpected sense of wonder into the film. One minute a man is doing his Jimmy Stewart impression, the next minute we're marveling at the beauty of the Aurora Borialas. The film works it's charms on us just as the town does with the oil men. As the movie winds down you'll find yourself wistfully sad that the experience is over, but much richer for having made the trip.