“The Hero”, Sam Elliott plays Lee Hayden, an aging western actor with an unforgettable voice. In this film we quickly find that Lee’s best performances are in the past, as we learn that he is dying of cancer. This truth is also reinforced by his current lifestyle, where Lee spends most days smoking it up with his buddy/drug dealer Jeremy, a fellow former-actor.
Through Jeremy we meet a fellow friend and client, Charlotte, a stand up comedian. Played by Laura Prepon, (known for her roles in That 70’s Show and Orange is the New Black.) Despite the obvious age difference, Lee and Charlotte spark a unique romance; likely due to their similar interests in smoking pot combined with their laid-back, ‘outlaw’ demeanors.
Throughout this film we watch our characters’ relationships evolve, knowing in the back of our mind that Lee’s sickness is looming. Personally, I’m not usually a huge fan of the cancer-plot films because I’ve seen it before, and it’s not always easy to watch. However, ‘The Hero’ did a good job of keeping my interest throughout the film, largely credited due to Sam Elliott’s performance.
Sam Elliott was the perfect character for this role. His deep, smokey, western voice paired with his thick mustache and distinguished, worn look made for a character I just kept trying to ‘figure-out’. Laura Prepon was also great in this film. In her role of Charlotte, she played a role we are used to seeing: the good-looking, intimidating, younger woman, who isn’t afraid to go against the grain.
Part of me felt like this film was missing something in its plot. With many films where the main character is dying, there are often some questions left unanswered. However, because the acting was top-notch in this film, ‘The Hero’ still deserves a good review, and I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys quality actors playing realistic characters. This film was highly regarded at both the 2017 SXSW Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival
Now available on Blu-Ray, The Hero, a New York Times Critics’ Pick comes with bonus features such as:
-Digital HD
-Audio Commentary featuring writer/director Brett Haley and Sam Elliott
-Photo gallery
