How can anyone not like Sam Elliott? Looking back at the
films he’s done (forget about TV series there are too many to list) and
remembering him in movies like FROGS, THE SHADOW RIDERS, MASK, ROADHOUSE,
PRANCER, TOMBSTONE, THE BIG LEBOWSKI and more I kept thinking what an amazing
career the man has had. In addition to that he’s been with the love of his
life, Katherine Ross, for 39 years now, ever since they met on the film THE
LEGACY. Known for his good looks, wiry frame and classic moustache he’s never
won an Oscar but that’s never stopped him from giving great performances.
THE HERO may be his best yet and if it isn’t nominated for
an Oscar I’ll be disappointed. Elliott stars as Lee Hayden, a character actor
at the end of his game, hitting 70 years of age, relegated to voice overs in
commercials and known mostly for a TV western he made decades ago called THE
HERO. He now spends most of his time sitting and watching old movies with his
friend and dealer Jeremy (Nick Offerman) while they get stoned. Divorced,
distant from his daughter and beaten by Hollywood that’s all about to change.
To begin with Lee has just been diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer. Bad news but then he meets Charlotte Dylan (Laura Prepon) at Jeremy’s
house and the two hit it off. When he learns he is being presented with a
lifetime achievement award, he invites Charlotte to be his guest when his
daughter turns him down. A little stoned at the award he gives his acceptance
speech, stating that he is not the only hero there, that all of them are heroes
in their own way. An online video of the speech makes him a viral sensation and
suddenly offers come his way.
But how does one deal with sudden fame thrust upon them at
age 70? Lee has no clue what going viral means even but Charlotte helps him
through it. A moment with Charlotte on stage makes him face the reality of
where he is in life right now at this moment. With so many bridges burned in
his past, will he be able to make up for lost time? And will he have the time
to do so?
The story may seem simple and in truth it is, but it’s a
center post on which to layer the meat of the movie. That is the performance by
first off Elliott and then by his co-stars. This role was written with Elliott
in mind and it’s not a dissection of his own life as he grows older but gives a
picture of what most actors reaching this age go through. No one hires you but
people still remember your face, at least the older ones do.
Offerman has been mostly associated with the comedy series
PARKS AND RECREATION but he’s displayed some acting chops in movies lately that
will change that forever. Prepon has left behind the girl next door so many
recall her as in the series THAT 70’S SHOW and grown into a mature actress with
more depth than that series prepared us for. Why she’s not getting more
noticeable roles is beyond me. The May-December romance between her and Elliott
allows her room to show what she can do and she does it well.
The movie never received a wide release when it came to
theaters and I think locally it played at a Cinema Center rather than the usual
theater. That’s sad. With so many bad movies hitting the screens (and more
often than not several at the same time in a multiplex) you would think a
public looking for options would have enjoyed discovering this one. Thankfully
that will happen with its release on DVD.
This movie will not only make you recall all of those
wonderful Sam Elliott films of the past and have you running for your
collection to watch them all again, it will make you think back to other stars
who have gone the route of Lee in this film but in real life. Consider stars
not too much from the distant past who seem to have disappeared, receive little
credit or who are forgotten. Is it too much to take a moment and remember the
enjoyment they provided for us all? Elliott is one of those, who fortunately
never left us to retire. Would that more stars had that opportunity as well.
Perhaps this movie will provide the impetus for that to happen.
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