Bill Forsyth’s Local Hero follows an American oil executive (Peter Riegert) who is sent to a secluded Scottish village with the goal of acquiring it for a refinery project. Instead, he encounters a tight-knit community resistant to his efforts, individuals who bargain in unusual ways, and a lifestyle that exposes the emptiness of his business goals. This represents exceptionally well-crafted, understated, and comp…

The film’s slow pace, uninteresting characters, rambling conversations, and fragmented script fail to live up to the praise surrounding it. It seems like one of those independent productions that has gathered a devoted following. People speak about this movie with such reverence, as if it were an undeniable triumph. I went in without preconceived notions, which was fortunate; while I did see some positive qualitie…

The film centers around Burt Lancaster portraying Felix Happer, an extremely wealthy oilman who sends an employee (Peter Riegert) to Scotland with the goal of acquiring a village for use as an oil refinery site. Upon arrival, he finds himself being manipulated by the clever residents attempting to extract as much money as possible from him. Prior to the existence of mobile phones, Happer must use a public telephone t…