Hero (1992/I)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers (WGA):

Laura Ziskin (story) &
Alvin Sargent (story) ...

Release Date:

2 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

One selfless act of courage can really mess up your whole day.

Plot:

A not-so-nice man rescues passengers from a crashed airliner, only to see someone else take credit.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Airplane Accident | Chicago Illinois | Hero | Mistaken Identity

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Bernie Laplante
Geena Davis	...	Gale Gayley
Andy Garcia	...	John Bubber
Joan Cusack	...	Evelyn
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Chucky
Maury Chaykin	...	Winston
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Wallace
Christian Clemenson	...	Conklin
Tom Arnold	...	Chick
Warren Berlinger	...	Judge Goines
Cady Huffman	...	Flight Attendant Leslie
Susie Cusack	...	Donna O'Day
James Madio	...	Joey
Richard Riehle	...	Robinson
Daniel Baldwin	...	Fireman Denton (as Daniel Leroy Baldwin)

Also Known As:

Accidental Hero (UK)

Runtime:

117 min | Canada:75 min (Family Channel)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Bernard is talking to his son on the payphone, his son is watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Bernie and John are driving in stop and go traffic the car they are in doesn't move, all the cars around inch up and move in reverse through the entire conversation.

Quotes:

John Bubber: We're all heroes if you catch us at the right moment.

Movie Connections:

Features Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Soundtrack:

Hoping That Someday You'd Care

Fun, feel-good movie

I saw "Hero" when it first opened in theaters, and tonight was the first time I saw it in 10 years. It's one of those amiable films that is virtually impossible to dislike. It's not the funniest comedy, nor are there any "big" laughs, yet I can't find anything lousy about this movie. And as a big plus, Dustin Hoffman is the star! He's one of my favorite actors, and I'm eager to see him in anything. He gives a fine, underrated performance that's both funny and touching, in an unpretentious way. His character of Bernie Laplante is no angel. He's rude, cranky and selfish. But he loves his son very much, and simply has trouble expressing his true emotions. It's always fun to see a serious actor in a comic role. And the advantage of it is serious actors approach comic roles in the same way they do any other roles. Like Gene Wilder said, "I approach the role of Leo Bloom in 'The Producers' the same way Olivier would approach 'Hamlet.'" Hoffman doesn't act goofy or ham it up, but simply plays it straight and lets the laughs come to him with his natural delivery. Andy Garcia delivers an endearing performance, and Joan Cusack is amusing as Hoffman's ex-wife. The plot is predictable and some of the characters are cliched, but overall the film is entertaining and at times moving. Though it is basically a comedy, it has its human elements that add an earthy quality to the film.

My score: 7 (out of 10)