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Local Hero
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 1983
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 11, 2019
The only reason I rate this only 4 our of 5 is that I wish it was longer. Barely a hundred pages of the most delicate, most massively ponderous and important light comedy.
July 30, 2025
Local Hero, written and directed by Bill Forsyth
This film has been included on the New York Times list of Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made
And Local Hero is indeed an interesting, enjoyable production.
It has the God of Cinema, Burt Lancaster in one of the important roles.
This was not a challenge on a par with what the artist had to portray in Atlantic City, Elmer Gantry, The Leopard or any of the major roles of Burt Lancaster, but it is still memorable.
We have here a powerful man, with a top position in a Big Company, but who is past his prime.
At least in some ways.
The beginning of the movie finds him snoring in a key meeting.
Since this man is controlling the corporation, nobody says anything.
In fact, they try not to bother him.
There is something strange with this protagonist.
He is actually seeing a sort of therapist.
The latter is more outre than his client.
In order to solve problems, this analyst thinks he must provoke reactions, responses by any means...
No matter how outrageous.
When his client throws him out, the therapist is actually...happy!
He has provoked a determined response.
And so he climbs the top of this sky scraper where the headquarters of the client are and he gets in front of the windows of the client's office.
He posts on these windows the message:
You are a mother fuck**
Now that provokes again a reaction...
The protagonist calls his secretary and says
Call the police
There is a lunatic on the building
Tell them to shoot to kill...
and the film is only starting...
The hero, who is a younger man than the boss of this company, is sent to Scotland.
In a small village, on the coast, the big corporation intends to build a massive facility for oil tankers.
The main character is sent down to negotiate a deal.
He meets first with the owner of the small motel.
The owner is also the waiter, the financial consultant and a man of paramount importance for this place.
In fact, I am in two minds regarding the Local Hero.
Is he the American or this local negotiator?
The villagers are ready to sell and quickly.
The wiser, cannier motel owner knows that they should not hurry.
Evidently, when the buyer sees that you are so willing to sell, he is not tempted to think a lot of money is needed.
Nevertheless, the American begins to like the small place on the coast.
One night, granted, aft he had too many drinks, he proposes that the hotel owner trades places with him...
I have a nice place in Boston, money in the bank, fast car...anything you want.
You go in my place, I will stay here.
Local Hero is a very good comedy, with many important themes:
How relative and ultimately less important money is...
Life in the country, or better said, on the coast versus life in the big city.
Watching the sky as more rewarding that accumulating wealth...
This film has been included on the New York Times list of Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made
And Local Hero is indeed an interesting, enjoyable production.
It has the God of Cinema, Burt Lancaster in one of the important roles.
This was not a challenge on a par with what the artist had to portray in Atlantic City, Elmer Gantry, The Leopard or any of the major roles of Burt Lancaster, but it is still memorable.
We have here a powerful man, with a top position in a Big Company, but who is past his prime.
At least in some ways.
The beginning of the movie finds him snoring in a key meeting.
Since this man is controlling the corporation, nobody says anything.
In fact, they try not to bother him.
There is something strange with this protagonist.
He is actually seeing a sort of therapist.
The latter is more outre than his client.
In order to solve problems, this analyst thinks he must provoke reactions, responses by any means...
No matter how outrageous.
When his client throws him out, the therapist is actually...happy!
He has provoked a determined response.
And so he climbs the top of this sky scraper where the headquarters of the client are and he gets in front of the windows of the client's office.
He posts on these windows the message:
You are a mother fuck**
Now that provokes again a reaction...
The protagonist calls his secretary and says
Call the police
There is a lunatic on the building
Tell them to shoot to kill...
and the film is only starting...
The hero, who is a younger man than the boss of this company, is sent to Scotland.
In a small village, on the coast, the big corporation intends to build a massive facility for oil tankers.
The main character is sent down to negotiate a deal.
He meets first with the owner of the small motel.
The owner is also the waiter, the financial consultant and a man of paramount importance for this place.
In fact, I am in two minds regarding the Local Hero.
Is he the American or this local negotiator?
The villagers are ready to sell and quickly.
The wiser, cannier motel owner knows that they should not hurry.
Evidently, when the buyer sees that you are so willing to sell, he is not tempted to think a lot of money is needed.
Nevertheless, the American begins to like the small place on the coast.
One night, granted, aft he had too many drinks, he proposes that the hotel owner trades places with him...
I have a nice place in Boston, money in the bank, fast car...anything you want.
You go in my place, I will stay here.
Local Hero is a very good comedy, with many important themes:
How relative and ultimately less important money is...
Life in the country, or better said, on the coast versus life in the big city.
Watching the sky as more rewarding that accumulating wealth...
October 27, 2025
This is the second time I have read this book as the first time was shortly after the movie was released in the 1980s. The story reads very much like a movie script that unfortunately ends too soon. The movie takes place in Dallas, Texas and in Scotland. The soundtrack by Mark Knopfler and the cinematography make the movie very enjoyable. The book allows one to slowly go through the movie and enjoy it in the reader's imagination.
November 20, 2014
What a disappointment. I was hoping the novelization would give me a little more insight/background some tidbits you don't pick up watching the movie (a dozen or two times). But no, a ugh school student could have written this book by transcribing the movie. no imagination. no fun.
December 29, 2023
Bought on the strength of either the film or Mark Knopler's "Going home" and re-read today because it was short, this was only mildly entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews