Amazon.com

This sad and quirky movie by Bill Forsyth (Local Hero), set in the 1950s, is a faithful adaptation of Marilynne Robinson's luminous book. Two orphaned girls (newcomers Sara Walker and Andrea Burchill) fall in love with their happy-go-lucky Aunt Sylvie (Christine Lahti) when she comes to live with them. However, the girls discover their quintessentially eccentric aunt is more crazy than idiosyncratic. She has a lifetime supply of newspapers and tin cans, and she doesn't like to turn the lights on in the house. As all crazy aunts are likely to have, she also adopts a large collection of stray cats. She carries crackers in her pocket for the imaginary children in the woods and disappears into the mountains for days on end.

This shunning of responsibility has a profound effect on the sisters' own relationship. Ruthie (the eldest and narrator of the story) is a tall and gangly teenager, never fitting in at school, and badly wanting to emulate Sylvie's free-spiritedness. But the younger Lucille longs for stability and the need to belong. She tries to help her older sister, but is met with strong opposition from Ruthie. Lucille decides to go it alone and Ruthie, at last, finds her Aunt Sylvie both literally and emotionally.

Unfortunately the townspeople of Fingerbone (a fictitious town beautifully filmed in British Columbia) decide it's time Aunt Sylvie got her act together. But Ruthie and Sylvie cannot conform, and so they escape the grasp of Fingerbone in a surprising and delightful manner. It's in this climax that Forsyth's unique eye for capturing strangely beautiful details opens wide. What Robinson does with language in her book Forsyth mirrors with poetic images. Lahti is simply wonderful as Aunt Sylvie, as are Walker and Burchill as Ruthie and Lucille. A graceful film and offbeat story. --Samantha Allen Storey ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Haunting.
I first saw this movie, or rather the last third of it, on a movie station at three in the morning while I was snowed in at my apartment with nothing but beer and popcorn and the roommates thankfully gone. The problem was that after it was over I had no idea what I had just watched. (I missed the part in the credits where they tell you) It wasn't until later, when I described what I had seen of the movie to a friend, that he said he had read a book just like it in college: Housekeeping. And sure enough, that was it. It has now become one of my favorite films. It is a quite and beautiful experience that captures the novel exquisitely: Thoughtful and haunting.

A quirky, sensitive, and charming film
I saw this film on television very recently and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Two young girls meet their mother's sister after the death of their Grandmother. Played ably by Christine Lahti, the girl's Aunt Sylvie is no run of the mill relative who has come to care for her nieces. She is free spirited, eccentric and totally crazy in the most delightful and offbeat way. Her nieces Ruthie and Lucille deal with her differently. Lucille is horrified by Sylvie's unconventionality, whilst Ruthie is drawn to her fey Aunt who sees the spirits of children in the wood, and likes to ride freight trains, and go sailing on the nearby lake in a rickety old boat and listen to the trains go over the town's old railway bridge. Eventually Sylvie's odd ways gets too much for Lucille to cope with and she goes to live with one of her teachers from school. Ruthie however grows to love her Aunt more and more each day, because in Sylvie the gawky and plain teenager sees something of her own nature that she can now express freely without fear of condemnation. However it is the 1950's, a time of family values coupled with conformity to the accepted norm and therefore the town of Fingerbone does not approve of Sylvie's way of raising her dead sister's child. Soon the interference begins with the arrival of the local Sheriff and then do-gooders from the local church. Sylvie tries to change for the sake of her niece but no matter how hard she tries she cannot fit in and soon the threat of loosing Ruthie becomes a terrifying reality. The scene were Aunt and niece hide in the closet together in order to avoid the do-gooders is poignant and touching. Sylvie will never fit into the Fingerbone community and both Aunt and niece know that if they stay they will eventually be separated so they decide to run away together, heading across the old railway bridge, something that no one has ever done before. The ending is surprising because of its abruptness but you are left with a sense of satisfaction. This is a great movie if want something slow, intelligent and thoughtful. Well worth buying or renting if you get the chance.

Poetic ode to nonconformity
Housekeeping is a low key film with a fascinating theme --how people on the fringes of society must sometimes choose whether to conform or hold on to their differences. The central character in this film, Sylvie (Christine Lahti), is really beyond the bounds of conventionality. She is a very interesting and original character --highly eccentric in a believable rather than romanticized way. In a conservative small town in what appears to be the 1950s, Sylvie is a drifter who falls into the role of guardian for her two nieces Ruthie and Lucille. It is the two girls' responses to their aunt that determines the course of the tale. At first, they are both happy to have Sylvie around, but gradually their basic difference in tempermant becomes apparent. Lucille (Andrea Burchill) soon tires of the isolated existence with her sister and aunt in a disorderly house where newspapers are piled to the ceiling and countless cats have the run of the place. She prefers the company of her schoolmates and longs for acceptance in society. Ruthie (Sara Walker), on the other hand, is introverted and more of a dreamer. She and Sylvie grow closer while Lucille drifts away, eventually getting adopted by a teacher. The town begins to pressure Sylvie to conform and raise Ruthie in a conventional manner. At first, she tries to comply, but her attempts are futile; she obviously is not suited for domestic life. When she takes Ruthie on an overnight trip that includes riding a freight train with tramps, the whole town finds out and things come to a head. What is brilliant about Housekeeping is the way it honestly explores the price people must pay to retain their individuality. A more superficial approach would have made Sylvie a charming eccentric whom the whole town eventually loves. Instead, we get a harsher and more realistic truth --that the life Sylvie chooses cannot be reconciled with the demands of everyday life. Sylvie and Ruthie are not portrayed as inherently superior to the conventional townsfolk, although they are, it must be admitted, more sympathetic. We can, however, also see things from the locals' point of view. They believe, with some justification, that Sylvie is an irresponsible guardian. Housekeeping has many lyrical scenes that showcase the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. There is a melancholy, nostalgic feeling to the film, which is consistent with the novel (by Marilynne Robinson) on which it is based. This is a very thoughtful, poetic and original film, one of my favorites.

Housekeeping the DEEP Movie.
This movie is a deep movie, not a "A Tidy Comedy" as stated on the cover. Part tragedy, this film focuses on people who can't mind their own business. The ending is fantastic, with visual and time elements that allow the watcher to THINK. Wonderfully acted, wonderfully made. But this wasn't a hilarious movie as I thought it would be from the cover.

Best movie ever!
This movie is my absolute favorite movie of all time. It is haunting and yet nostalgic--the commonplace events of childhood are contrasted with the growing distance between the two sisters, Ruthie and Lucille, and between Sylvie and Ruth, both introverted and socially awkward, and the rest of the town. The movie focuses on the sisters' Aunt Sylvie, who comes to live with them after their most recent caregivers leave. Their high expectations of her as a mother replacement give way to--in Lucille's case--disgust with her oddities and inability to act as others do. The scenery in the movie is breathtaking and the natural world plays a large role in this movie. The Aunt's belief in forest children who whisper "it is better to have nothing", and her total disdain for material possessions, offer a view of the world that is unique and compelling. The interaction between the two sisters is also a main attraction here. If you see the movie, read the book! One is not better then the other, they each offer something that the other medium cannot. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Oft Overlooked Christmas Gem
A real crime that this isn't available on DVD, as this is my all time favorite christmas movie. Quietly funny, sad and sweet, and the perfect antidote for a lonely christmas. Nice soundtrack by Mark Knoffler, full of quirky oddball performances, and a hilarious "Mr. Bunny" jingle that will stick in your mind whether you want it to or not ("hello folks!").

Sweet, funny and intelligent film
This is a thoroughly enjoyable film that I remember seeing on cable in the mid-1980's, wondering why it never got the attention that other films from the UK get. In the same vein as Bill Forsyth's "Local Hero," this film doesn't star any American actors, just good, Scottish character players. Bill Paterson, (probably best known to American audiences for his bit roles in "Crush" and "Witches") portrays morning drive DJ Alan "Dickie" Bird, whom we meet a week before Christmas--the day his girlfriend leaves him. Depressed and lonely, Alan looks for meaning in his life. Along the way, he stumbles upon a nasty turf war over ice cream (between the "Mr. Bunnys" and the Mr. McCools") and gets sucked in the middle. Set in modern Glasgow at a popular radio station (by the way, the radio station scenes are realistic) this film includes a lot of light, matter-of-fact ironies and funny moments (check out Alan's precious BMW at the beginning of the film and at the end; the xylophone player and the vocalist at the ice cream plant; and the shirts Alan's audio engineer wears). Enjoyable any time, but a shame this film will probably never be available on DVD. My favorite Christmas movie of all time.

FORSYTH DOCUMENTS THE ICE CREAM WARS
With his usual tongue-in-cheek, director Bill Forsyth sets out to document the 1980s ice-cream wars in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Abandoned at Christmas by his long-time livein and kleptomaniac Maddy (Eleanor David), Edinburgh disc jockey Alan (Bill Paterson)seeks 'comfort and joy' in the company of his friend Colin and family, only to feel lonelier than ever. His ensuing involvement with feuding gangs of ice-cream vendors provides a fine comedic counterpoint to his sense of loss.

Probably the best scene in the film is a confrontation between ice-cream mafioso Mr. MacCool (Roberto Bernardi) and his wayward offspring. The mix of lowland Scots and Italian accents may be too much for most American audiences, but it had me rolling on the floor. Alan's obvious interest in the mafioso's daughter (the much-underseen C.P. Grogan) points up his sense of futility - she's gorgeous, mysterious, and obviously a tease, and he's middle-aged, balding, potbellied, and trying to hang on to vestiges of youth by owning 'the ultimate driving machine.'

Not as entrancing as 'Local Hero,' nor as sincere as 'Gregory's Girl,' 'Comfort and Joy' is just right for those who want to see a non-sappy Christmas movie.

Joyously Comforting
As a native Glaswegian I actually saw some of this film being made! (outside my Grandfather's house in fact - you know, the bit with the ice-cream assault....but that's another story....)

This is a great movie and well worth seeing - the humour and characters are typical Forsyth...even if the plot does get a bit daft from time to time.

All in all a superb film to warm the heart and split the sides!

enjoyable--but not up to Forsyth's best work
Come on, guys. From any other director, "Comfort and Joy" would seem pretty darn fine--however, IMHO, it falls short of Forsyth's best work. The character development is much weaker than that in "Local Hero" or "Gregory's Girl," and the situation set up (popular morning dj trying to expose the gritty heart of Glasgow ice-cream wars) is not nearly as universal. Plus there are serious plot weaknesses--I was never convinced that the ice-cream gangsters would try to get Dickie Bird to mediate their 'war."

That aside, the soundtrack is very enjoyable and much of Forsyth's skill is in evidence here. It's much better than most of the sludge trotted out by the film industry, especially for the holidays. Worth buying--but don't pass up "Local Hero" for this one. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Burt Reynolds Rules!!
Burt Reynolds rules of his portrayal of an aging safecracker in this overlooked movie.It's a must see film!! ... Read more

Reviews (125)

Personal Best -robthenob@hotmail.com
In 1995 I was up in Scotland with five of my best friends whom had literally come from the four corners of the earth for the occasion. We travelled around the beautiful country, camping where we could and generally enjoying our freedom and youth. One particular spot that we stayed at was on the North West coast of Scotland, on a small, remote peninsula next to a white sanded beach with a view towards the Isles of Muck and Rum. After being there for a couple of days, we were told by a passing local that the beach was the very one that Local Hero was filmed on, and the peninsula where we had been camped for the past two days is where the church in the film was situated (it was apparently a set, made around an old house that still exists). At this point I had not seen the movie but knew the soundtrack by Mark Knopfler very well. The holiday I had that year was without a doubt one of the best I've ever had. Two years later on returning to NZ, I watched Local Hero with tears in my eyes, I couldn't believe that my favourite place in all the world was captured on an exceptionally beautiful, quirky, strangely romantic, and intelligent film. Overall I think that the general gist of the film is one of awakening our senses to the simple things in life, just like MacIntyre did on arriving at that small coastal village. We all need, at some point in our lives, to escape the hum-drum of every day life and awaken ourselves to the real life outside of our own. It is a wonderful, gentle film that will always be a part of me. P.S. I have omitted the exact name and location so that it is not overrun with tourists, but if you really want to know, send me an E-mail.

One of my all-time favorites!
I am dating myself woefully, but I remember seeing this film when it came out in theatres. I trekked some distance (via bus) down to some theatre in Hollywood (I'm from another part of L.A.) because it wasn't showing anywhere nearby. I wanted to see it *that* bad. And I certainly wasn't disappointed.

When I finally got a DVD player, one of the first DVDs I got was "Local Hero". It's definitely on my "must-have" list.

The story is simple -- materialistic Peter Reigert is sent to a small Scottish village to try to negotiate a land deal for his rich, eccentric boss (Burt Lancaster, who is outstanding). He arrives in Scotland as a guy who is only obsessed with business deals, his car, and his posessions back in Texas, but soon he learns there are more important things in life. The townsfolk are absolutely wonderful, all in their own unique, eclectic way. Denis Lawson particularly shines as "jack of all trades" who holds several positions in the community, including innkeeper.

The oddness and beauty of this film takes time to unfold, and it is best just to sit back and watch it happen. Everyone seems to have a story, everyone is eccentric in some way. I especially loved Burt Lancaster and his interaction with his "therapist", who takes the job *far* too seriously. Lancaster plays one of the most likeable and unique characters onscreen. Reigert too, is endearing. He so wants to be "normal" that he can't even admit that he might use a shampoo for dry or greasy hair. "Normal. EXTRA normal.", he says, when asked what kind of shampoo he needs. What an uptight guy he seems at first, but he soon mends his ways.

The score by Mark Knopfler is among one of my favorites too. I can play it and it brings back the whole atmosphere and mood of this film. The musical piece played at the end of the movie is heart-wrenching and brings back the sweetness of the end of this fine movie every time I hear it.

Director Bill Forsythe created an absolute gem in this movie. A must-have in *every* film collection. Absolutely first-rate.

difference of opinion
This is one of those movies that you watch and finally when the credits roll you kick yourself for wasting the time and effort to do so.
The bomb dropping jets? The guy on the motorcycle? The briefly hit on relationship between Mac and the other guy's wife? The marine biologist turning into a mermaid? Please, some one explain the relivance.
The ending seemed as though the writer needed a quick way out of a poorly written movie. I'll bet Burt Lancaster turns in his grave (is he dead?-if he isn't he should be after making this dud) every time some one waist their time trying to watch this movie.
The main reason I watched the movie was because of the soundtrack that was written by Marc Knopfler-great music, terrible movie.

Where's Bill Forsythe when we need him?
This movie really did inspire me. I got up the nerve to make a solo trip around Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

The scenes, characters and sounds of this movie are simply unforgettable. For sure, it's a cold heart that won't come out speakin' with a Scots accent with a touch of Russia.

You can go home again.
A very charming movie that bears up well under repeated viewings. Bill Forsyth has done so many good movies over the years, but I think this remains his best. Certainly, it is the closest to home, as he beautifully plays off the American-Scotland theme and the sense of misplaced identity.

Peter Riegert is great as Mac, a representative of a large Houston oil company who has been chosen to close a deal on a harbor village in the north of Scotland, because of his presumed Scottish ancestry. Turns out Mac is of Hungarian, not Scottish descent, as his parents thought MacIntyre was an American name. Nevertheless, Mac soon finds himself adapting to the rugged North Sea coast, picking seashells from the tidal pools and adopting a rabbit his driver had inadvertantly hit on the road.

Forsyth introduces the viewer to a wonderfully eccentric cast of characters in the small village, led by the amicable Gordon Urquhart, mayor, innkeeper, accountant and jack of all trades. Mac finds himself falling in love with Gordon's wife, but the playful romance is treated more in jest than in an attempt to foil the plot. It is in a grizzled beachcomber that we find the perfect foil to the land deal, which eventually brings the head of the oil commpany, Mr. Knox (played to perfection by Burt Lancaster) to Scotland.

You will fall in love with this movie, as I did, carried along by its charm and beautifully poignant moments. Forsyth doesn't miss a beat in this playful movie. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anyone having high hopes for the artistic collaboration between Robin Williams and director Bill Forsyth (who made Local Hero, perhaps the most enjoyable film of the 1980s) probably left this movie disappointed. Forsyth is attempting nothing less than The Ages of Man, using Williams as his representative of humanity through history. Cast as a kind of Everyman, Williams plays a guy who can't seem to get his family situation straightened out to his satisfaction, whether he's trying to protect his family from Vikings in prehistoric times, being a nomad in the Middle Ages, or showing up as an unhappy divorced guy in contemporary times who's trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter. It's worth a look, if only for the opportunity to see how a big idea can go decidedly wrong and to observe what happens when a director gets a hold of an unworkable concept that he believes in completely. Williams wears a pained expression through most of the film. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (14)

under rated
"Being Human" is one of those movies you either hate or you love. For some it is slow and the historical vignettes uninteresting. I, personally, find the storytelling thread does an excellent job of interconnecting the five time periods covered (pre-history, ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Age of Discovery and modern America). Robin Williams is a good actor who brings depth to each man he plays Frankly I would have preferred more time in Ancient Rome and seeing the Middle Ages man return to his family but those aren't a slam on the movie. No, there are no heroic battles or monsters; this is the story of the average guy who is actually what most students in history course would love to learn more about.

A beautiful, sweeping human experience
Being Human is easily the most well crafted and intelligent film that I have ever seen as it truly does capture the unfathomable human experience.

Robin Williams transcends time as he is continuously "reborn" throughout the expanse of human history--beginning with an early European civilization and ending in what is the modern age. In each era, he depicts an average human being experiencing the trials of life particular to that time period. As a proto-neolithic, European man he witnesses the destruction of his way of life and the capture of his family by a marauding band from perhaps another clan or tribe. In this he experiences loss and pain, and likewise he drifts from life to life, immersed in the sorrows and joys of the human condition. From a slave to a shipwrecked noble, he spans time in order to bring us a vignette of humanity.

The movie is powerful and is one that leaves the viewer with that profound sense of depth that all universal, surreal movie experiences seem to convey. It is truly ashame that some critics claim that this movie was a good idea gone bad. I concur that most people more comfortable with exploding buildings and glittery special effects probably just didn't get this one.

Not bad, just not actively good
I've watched this movie twice and I can say I do enjoy it. It is a very interesting but somewhat slow. You'll need to watch it more than once, and you'll need to do it when you won't be interrupted over and over. It's one of those movies you actually have to "watch" to understand.

The Soul of Being Human
This delightful film is a thoughtful study of the incarnations in our lives which bring us to where we are right now. It is comprised of four past lessons and a current incarnation of the Robin William's character. In each of these we see strands which make up the fiber of the modern man. Insecurities, a lack of his sense of "place", inability to communicate emotions and a real talent for regret are the studies here. The story is sometimes choppy and muddied, but it is one of William's best performances.

A good movie
I found this to be an easy movie to watch and yet quite enlightening. I particularly enjoyed Robin Williams and his antics. He blendes his comic talents with a very interesting subject matter of past lives and what that might represent to a person living today. The movie runs a little slow at times, but there is depth of meaning in this simple story that can only be explored with a light hearted fun and spiritual overtones. Robin Williams is a master of our time in this unique way of comedy acting while telling a story.

I have found there are movies that are absolutely great but only if you see them when you are really bored. This movie could easily fall in to this category. Don't build an evening around it, but when you fall in to this movie, it can rock your world. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There is something so utterly captivating about this Bill Forsyth film--whether it's thequaintness of authentic Scottish accents (softened for its U.S. release) or the wholly universal story ofyoung love. But what really gives Gregory's Girl its evergreen appeal is the enchantingperformance of young Gordon John Sinclair as the eponymous gangly lead. With his shock of red hair, he'sall arms and legs--and inexperience. Gregory becomes infatuated with Dorothy (a lovely Dee Hepburn),who proves a heartier and better athlete than he is. Gregory's so clueless, he relies on advice from hiswee sister. The story may be familiar, but Forsyth's astute and affectionate rendering gives the film itsmomentum (the film won best screenplayat the British Academy Awards). If American viewers at first struggle tounderstand the well-written banter, it is worth the effortbecause there's charm in nearly every line. It's curious that both Sinclair and Hepburn, seemingly poised on the brink of stardom here, either chose not to take advantage of the possible opportunity or weren't ever offered roles as wonderful as these. (Sinclair had a small role in Forsyth's Local Hero and starred in 1986's The Girl in the Picture and other small films. Hepburn appears tohave worked only once post-Gregory, a brief stint in the British series Crossroads.) Forsyth completed a 1998 sequel, with Sinclair and Ever After's Dougray Scott. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Charming
Gregory's Girl is a sweet, graceful little coming of age movie. It's as quirkily funny as anything you'll see, and it totally lacks the crassness of Hollywood products that try to use the same young crush material. (I saw G.G., originally, in the theater, and I remember the American equivalent at the time was a series of John Hughes movies. Next to this, "Sixteen Candles" is predictable and pretty mean.)

Bill Forsyth as a director had (has?)a really special way with character. The plots of his movies go off in unexpected directions, and you get the sense that he's really letting the characters decide how things work out. That works really well with the young teenagers in this movie. The plot's being driven along by the decisions, by the logic, of high school students; you really get into their heads, and it's SUCH a funny, awkward-smiling, self-deprecating place to be... Gregory's pining for his soccer darling, Dorothy, isn't going where you think it will, and it's just flawless the way the viewer figures that out along with the character. It's perfectly timed.

If you love this movie, if you remember lines about Caracas and numbers of Elephants and that sort of thing afterward, you should try Local Hero. They make a great double feature. (You'll speak whatever accent you have with a burr after seeing them together, too.)

How Come High School wasn't This Charming?
Remember high school? Don't worry - neither does Bill Forsythe. Instead, he's made a terribly charming and even touching movie. It's boy meets girl, for sure - but all the kids are clever and smart, and life in this Scottish town is imbued with a kind of magic. Clare Grogan as Susan is the all time charmer, and Gordon John Sinclair as Gregory transcends adolescence itself and comes off kind of cool. Forget high school and buy this film instead.

Did I miss something?
I rented this DVD. It took me three nights to watch it because I kept falling asleep. After finally getting through the movie, I thought I'd check Amazon to see what the reviews were like. I'm very surprised they are all so positive. I thought the movie was slow and silly. I usually like "coming of age" type movies, but this one was really tough to get through.

Funny movie
Gregory (Gordon John Sinclair) is an awkward teenager living in Scotland. He likes to play the drums, spend time with his friends and play football (otherwise known as soccer in the United States). He lives with his parents and younger sister in a modest house.

His football couch approaches him and tells him that they need new blood in the team, and hints of the idea of kicking him off the team. Gregory, who is in the midst of puberty, is now gangly and can't play the sport as well as before, is nervous about his potential ousting of the team. At the football trials, in walks in their latest team member, Dorothy (Dee Hepburn). What starts with fear and frustration about possibly being bumped from the football team, turns into love at first sight.

This movie depicts secondary school life where teenagers are awkward, and unsure of themselves in most aspects of their lives. We see glimpses of Gregory's fellow schoolmates as they too try to catch girls' attentions, by trying to impress them with their vast intelligence, "it's a well-known fact that when you sneeze, it comes out of your nose at 100 miles an hour...". The movie is humorous and light-hearted as it shows us how Gregory tries to catch the girl of his dreams, Dorothy, the one with "the hair, the teeth and the smell".

There is another humorous interaction between Gregory and his father, who is a driving instructor. Gregory is crossing the street, without looking both ways, when his father is trying to teach a man how to drive. In the process, his father has to tell the driver to swerve to the left and right and do an emergency stop to avoid hitting Gregory, who has his hand on the hood of the car running backwards trying to avoid getting hit! Gregory's father asks Gregory if he remembers his mother and tells him how she had been asking about him. Playfully, he asks Gregory if they can make a date for breakfast in the kitchen on Friday at 8! This scene brought back memories as a teenager where I spent most of my time in my room daydreaming about life, and never seeing my parents too. But they way Gregory's father handles Gregory was wonderful.

Another hilarious moment, is when Gregory is in the changing room getting dressed from his football practice, when Dorothy comes into the changing room. Gregory has no shirt on, so he uses his index fingers to cover his nipples!

Gregory's 10-year old sister, Madeline, appears and tries to help Gregory make the change from awkward teenager, to young man in love. She teaches him how to spend more time thinking of the color of his clothes. She gives him advice on how to ask her out. It is very funny to watch Gregory listen intently to her as his younger sister advises him when she clearly is still a child, yet very wise beyond her years.

The movie has an interesting ending when Dorothy stands him up and he sees Carol, then Margo, then Susan, who actually has had a crush on him from the start.

If you would like to see a cheerful, entertaining movie without a lot of profanity, drugs, sex or violence, then this is the movie for you.

A small interesting factoid is, Clare Grogan (the actress who plays Susan in this film) used to be the lead singer to a New Wave band in the 80's called Altered Images.

Need something to lift your spirits & make you feel good?
Then buy this movie! Gotta be the best "feel good" movie ever and it proves that movies can be extraordinarily good without violence, crude humor and graphic sex. Definitely in my top ten list! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

under rated
"Being Human" is one of those movies you either hate or you love. For some it is slow and the historical vignettes uninteresting. I, personally, find the storytelling thread does an excellent job of interconnecting the five time periods covered (pre-history, ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Age of Discovery and modern America). Robin Williams is a good actor who brings depth to each man he plays Frankly I would have preferred more time in Ancient Rome and seeing the Middle Ages man return to his family but those aren't a slam on the movie. No, there are no heroic battles or monsters; this is the story of the average guy who is actually what most students in history course would love to learn more about.

A beautiful, sweeping human experience
Being Human is easily the most well crafted and intelligent film that I have ever seen as it truly does capture the unfathomable human experience.

Robin Williams transcends time as he is continuously "reborn" throughout the expanse of human history--beginning with an early European civilization and ending in what is the modern age. In each era, he depicts an average human being experiencing the trials of life particular to that time period. As a proto-neolithic, European man he witnesses the destruction of his way of life and the capture of his family by a marauding band from perhaps another clan or tribe. In this he experiences loss and pain, and likewise he drifts from life to life, immersed in the sorrows and joys of the human condition. From a slave to a shipwrecked noble, he spans time in order to bring us a vignette of humanity.

The movie is powerful and is one that leaves the viewer with that profound sense of depth that all universal, surreal movie experiences seem to convey. It is truly ashame that some critics claim that this movie was a good idea gone bad. I concur that most people more comfortable with exploding buildings and glittery special effects probably just didn't get this one.

Not bad, just not actively good
I've watched this movie twice and I can say I do enjoy it. It is a very interesting but somewhat slow. You'll need to watch it more than once, and you'll need to do it when you won't be interrupted over and over. It's one of those movies you actually have to "watch" to understand.

The Soul of Being Human
This delightful film is a thoughtful study of the incarnations in our lives which bring us to where we are right now. It is comprised of four past lessons and a current incarnation of the Robin William's character. In each of these we see strands which make up the fiber of the modern man. Insecurities, a lack of his sense of "place", inability to communicate emotions and a real talent for regret are the studies here. The story is sometimes choppy and muddied, but it is one of William's best performances.

A good movie
I found this to be an easy movie to watch and yet quite enlightening. I particularly enjoyed Robin Williams and his antics. He blendes his comic talents with a very interesting subject matter of past lives and what that might represent to a person living today. The movie runs a little slow at times, but there is depth of meaning in this simple story that can only be explored with a light hearted fun and spiritual overtones. Robin Williams is a master of our time in this unique way of comedy acting while telling a story.

I have found there are movies that are absolutely great but only if you see them when you are really bored. This movie could easily fall in to this category. Don't build an evening around it, but when you fall in to this movie, it can rock your world. ... Read more

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When Mac MacIntyre (played with deadpan perfection by Peter Riegert) is sent by his star-gazing, slightly insane Knox Oil and Gas boss (Burt Lancaster) to Scotland's West Coast to buy the rights to a seaside town slated to be the site of an oil refinery, Mac embarks on his journey reluctantly. "Why do I have to go to all the way to Scotland?" Mac complains to a coworker. "I'm really more of a Telex man." But on the way to closing the deal, a funny thing happens: the place takes root in Mac. The town's eccentric inhabitants, eventful night sky, and stunning scenery soak into his psyche and combine to bring a very different Mac to the surface, a Mac who collects seashells, walks on the beach in his jeans instead of his suit, and throws his calendar watch, beeping "meeting time in Houston," into the sea.

Mac eventually vies to switch places with Gordon Urquhart--accountant, bartender, innkeeper, and community representative in the land deal. After an evening spent drinking 42-year-old scotch ("old enough to be out on its own," Mac chirps, and then laughs smugly at his own joke) and negotiating the real estate deal, Mac tries to negotiate a deal for himself--to trade his high-rise Houston apartment, Porsche, and oil-company job for Urquhart's less traditional, but more fulfilling, life.

The plot runs along almost as if behind the scenes, and the characters are intriguing, but the real appeal here is the incisive yet gentle humor. During a visit to a Knox Oil lab, Mac is shown into a room that contains a miniature of the town he has been sent to purchase. The head of the lab says, "Welcome to our little world," and then gives Mac the plastic replica of the town as a souvenir. "Dream large," he intones. The irony's easy to miss and is just one example of the intelligent presence--in the form of writer and director Bill Forsyth--working behind the scenes here.

Mark Knopfler's delicate, haunting soundtrack complements the sometimes melancholy, sometimes hilarious currents of Local Hero to perfection.--Stefanie Durbin ... Read more

Reviews (125)

Personal Best -robthenob@hotmail.com
In 1995 I was up in Scotland with five of my best friends whom had literally come from the four corners of the earth for the occasion. We travelled around the beautiful country, camping where we could and generally enjoying our freedom and youth. One particular spot that we stayed at was on the North West coast of Scotland, on a small, remote peninsula next to a white sanded beach with a view towards the Isles of Muck and Rum. After being there for a couple of days, we were told by a passing local that the beach was the very one that Local Hero was filmed on, and the peninsula where we had been camped for the past two days is where the church in the film was situated (it was apparently a set, made around an old house that still exists). At this point I had not seen the movie but knew the soundtrack by Mark Knopfler very well. The holiday I had that year was without a doubt one of the best I've ever had. Two years later on returning to NZ, I watched Local Hero with tears in my eyes, I couldn't believe that my favourite place in all the world was captured on an exceptionally beautiful, quirky, strangely romantic, and intelligent film. Overall I think that the general gist of the film is one of awakening our senses to the simple things in life, just like MacIntyre did on arriving at that small coastal village. We all need, at some point in our lives, to escape the hum-drum of every day life and awaken ourselves to the real life outside of our own. It is a wonderful, gentle film that will always be a part of me. P.S. I have omitted the exact name and location so that it is not overrun with tourists, but if you really want to know, send me an E-mail.

One of my all-time favorites!
I am dating myself woefully, but I remember seeing this film when it came out in theatres. I trekked some distance (via bus) down to some theatre in Hollywood (I'm from another part of L.A.) because it wasn't showing anywhere nearby. I wanted to see it *that* bad. And I certainly wasn't disappointed.

When I finally got a DVD player, one of the first DVDs I got was "Local Hero". It's definitely on my "must-have" list.

The story is simple -- materialistic Peter Reigert is sent to a small Scottish village to try to negotiate a land deal for his rich, eccentric boss (Burt Lancaster, who is outstanding). He arrives in Scotland as a guy who is only obsessed with business deals, his car, and his posessions back in Texas, but soon he learns there are more important things in life. The townsfolk are absolutely wonderful, all in their own unique, eclectic way. Denis Lawson particularly shines as "jack of all trades" who holds several positions in the community, including innkeeper.

The oddness and beauty of this film takes time to unfold, and it is best just to sit back and watch it happen. Everyone seems to have a story, everyone is eccentric in some way. I especially loved Burt Lancaster and his interaction with his "therapist", who takes the job *far* too seriously. Lancaster plays one of the most likeable and unique characters onscreen. Reigert too, is endearing. He so wants to be "normal" that he can't even admit that he might use a shampoo for dry or greasy hair. "Normal. EXTRA normal.", he says, when asked what kind of shampoo he needs. What an uptight guy he seems at first, but he soon mends his ways.

The score by Mark Knopfler is among one of my favorites too. I can play it and it brings back the whole atmosphere and mood of this film. The musical piece played at the end of the movie is heart-wrenching and brings back the sweetness of the end of this fine movie every time I hear it.

Director Bill Forsythe created an absolute gem in this movie. A must-have in *every* film collection. Absolutely first-rate.

difference of opinion
This is one of those movies that you watch and finally when the credits roll you kick yourself for wasting the time and effort to do so.
The bomb dropping jets? The guy on the motorcycle? The briefly hit on relationship between Mac and the other guy's wife? The marine biologist turning into a mermaid? Please, some one explain the relivance.
The ending seemed as though the writer needed a quick way out of a poorly written movie. I'll bet Burt Lancaster turns in his grave (is he dead?-if he isn't he should be after making this dud) every time some one waist their time trying to watch this movie.
The main reason I watched the movie was because of the soundtrack that was written by Marc Knopfler-great music, terrible movie.

Where's Bill Forsythe when we need him?
This movie really did inspire me. I got up the nerve to make a solo trip around Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

The scenes, characters and sounds of this movie are simply unforgettable. For sure, it's a cold heart that won't come out speakin' with a Scots accent with a touch of Russia.

You can go home again.
A very charming movie that bears up well under repeated viewings. Bill Forsyth has done so many good movies over the years, but I think this remains his best. Certainly, it is the closest to home, as he beautifully plays off the American-Scotland theme and the sense of misplaced identity.

Peter Riegert is great as Mac, a representative of a large Houston oil company who has been chosen to close a deal on a harbor village in the north of Scotland, because of his presumed Scottish ancestry. Turns out Mac is of Hungarian, not Scottish descent, as his parents thought MacIntyre was an American name. Nevertheless, Mac soon finds himself adapting to the rugged North Sea coast, picking seashells from the tidal pools and adopting a rabbit his driver had inadvertantly hit on the road.

Forsyth introduces the viewer to a wonderfully eccentric cast of characters in the small village, led by the amicable Gordon Urquhart, mayor, innkeeper, accountant and jack of all trades. Mac finds himself falling in love with Gordon's wife, but the playful romance is treated more in jest than in an attempt to foil the plot. It is in a grizzled beachcomber that we find the perfect foil to the land deal, which eventually brings the head of the oil commpany, Mr. Knox (played to perfection by Burt Lancaster) to Scotland.

You will fall in love with this movie, as I did, carried along by its charm and beautifully poignant moments. Forsyth doesn't miss a beat in this playful movie. ... Read more