SIFF Trailer: The Hero

USA | 2017 | 93 minutes | Brett Haley

Sam Elliott re-teams with director Brett Haley (I’ll See You in My Dreams) in a tailor-made showcase role as an aging Western actor and “sad old pothead” whose cancer diagnosis leads him to re-examine his past, contemplate his legacy, and maybe make a few new friends.

Lee Hayden is an actor in the twilight of his years, known for his run of Westerns, his gruff but warm voice, and his luxuriant mustache. This also perfectly describes Sam Elliott, who imbues The Hero's lead character with a lifetime of experience, passion, and regret. Now in his 70s, Lee's career is in a downswing, with only the occasional commercial voiceover work to tide him over. ("Lone Star Barbecue Sauce—the perfect pardner for your chicken.") He has no support network to speak of—his photographer ex-wife (Katharine Ross) and advertising-executive daughter (Krysten Ritter, "Jessica Jones") barely speak to him—and what free time he has is spent getting high with former TV co-star-turned-weed dealer Jeremy (Nick Offerman, "Parks & Recreation"). Worse, he is reeling from a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and a series of increasingly troubling nightmares. Just as Lee is ready to ride off into the sunset, he meets Charlotte (Laura Prepon, "Orange Is the New Black"), a comedian many years his junior, who catches his eye and attempts to revitalize his aging heart. Elliott and director/co-writer Brett Haley return to SIFF after wowing Seattle audiences with their 2015 romantic charmer I'll See You in My Dreams. Here, the pure essence of Elliott has never been better utilized; he offers a beautifully vulnerable performance in this thoughtful, bittersweet drama.

[HZRDVBZ]

I didn’t watch this but I remember “LONE STAR BBQ SAUCE”