#REVIEW The Hero
The Hero, directed by Brett Haley, stars Sam Elliott, Laura Prepon, Krysten Ritter, and Nick Offerman. The film also stars Elliott’s wife, Katharine Ross, who played the bride in the iconic film ‘The Graduate’. She plays Valerie, his ex-wife in the film.
It is a dramatic film with comedic touches about an aging Western icon whose cancer diagnosis shakes him out of his lethargy and off the couch on a journey of self-redemption, to set things right with the people who really matter in his life. On his journey, he becomes romantically involved with Charlotte, a stand-up comic, played by the talented Laura Prepon, who much to his dismay finds the silver fox irresistible. Ritter plays his daughter Lucy, and Offerman plays Jeremy, his friend and drug dealer. Does he get to redeem himself with the clock ticking away? Well, if you want to find out, then, you’re going to have to see the film.
Does art imitate life? Perhaps, it does here, and it seems Sam Elliott’s fictional character is real. For much of his Hollywood career, Elliott has been typecast as a Western icon, the American cowboy, a figure idealized and fantasized in Hollywood films. And Elliott is the ideal actor to play the role of Lee Hayden given his pedigree and his exemplification of the manly masculinity popularized in American westerns. He has the physical, emotional and social attributes – the lanky physique, the full head of hair, the thick moustache, the deep baritone voice, the aloofness, and the self-assured and calm demeanor.
I loved this character driven drama and I was pleased to see Elliott play the lead in a film. Age has only enhanced his attributes and made him more appealing. If he ain’t nominated for an Academy Award, well, I’ll be damned. Elliott’s performance is outstanding and worthy of an Oscar. There are many dramatic moments in the film, so, you’ve been forewarned to bring some kleenex with you. The three that stand out for me are Hayden’s acceptance speech and his reading the lines for a role with Jeremy and at the studio. Prepon is beautiful to watch in her supporting role, and is she funny. There is a real chemistry between their characters, and her parody of her relationship on stage is a hoot. She is FANTASTIC. I will confess that I am a fan of Brett Haley and Sam Elliott’s work. By the way, Elliott played the romantic lead opposite Blythe Danner’s character in Haley’s film “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” one of my favourite films.
The Hero is a visually appealing film. The film is beautifully shot, and acted with a compelling storyline and great dialogue. The motif of running out of time sets up the dramatic tension in the film. Haley weaves together many visual elements to create a fascinating and meaningful film. You visually sense the divide and separation between father and daughter when they meet. Hayden is on one side of the fence and Lucy on the other. Tight close ups of Elliott are juxtaposed against medium and wide angle shots. Hayden’s aspirations are contextualized in dream sequences and interwoven in the narrative of the film which provides a depth and richness and adds a layer of complexity. The film is beautifully written and one of my favourite lines is “films are other people’s dreams.” The story is set against the majestic cityscape of Los Angeles, and its coastline. I loved the aerial shots of LA at night and during the day. And I absolutely loved the inclusion of the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay in the storyline and Prepon’s rendition of Millay’s poems.
There are so many things to love about The Hero. I highly recommend this film. Do see it for you won’t be disappointed for it is an uplifting and meaningful film. It will make you laugh, cry, and cheer!
The Orchard releases The Hero on Friday, June 23, 2017
