Film Review: 'Hero'

Actor Sam Elliott is in the midst of a career renaissance. And his latest role as a fading Western movie star in "The Hero" is his finest performance to date.

Lee Hayden (Elliott) has been relegated to doing commercial voice-overs at age 72. His less-than-illustrious résumé does include one particular film that he's proud of, entitled "The Hero." As he spends his life smoking weed (or as Lee likes to call it, "the devil's lettuce") with stoner friend, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), Lee dreams of the good old days. But when given a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, his priorities begin to radically shift. 

Out of the blue, he's offered a Lifetime Achievement Award, which Lee reluctantly agrees to accept. A new, younger woman, Charlotte (Laura Prepon), has unexpectedly entered into his life and she's more than excited to attend the ceremony with Lee. His acceptance speech is a knockout (somewhat drug induced) and goes viral, big time ... 2 million hits in one day. His agent informs him that offers are pouring in. Lee's back in the saddle again. Or is he?

Those closest to Lee always seem to be waxing poetic about success, destinies and past mistakes. When he finally reveals he has cancer to his estranged daughter (Krysten Ritter), ex-wife (Katharine Ross, Elliott's real-life wife) and friends, they're all devastated but ready to step up to the plate, encouraging him to get treatment. This is where the film sinks into sentimentality, but it's not overly gushy.

Writer-director Brett Haley ("I'll See You in My Dreams," also starring Elliott) has created a script that somewhat mirrors Elliott's career (sans drugs, assumably). But Elliott pulls off what his character cannot. Haley's camera catches every iconic nuance we've all come to love about this gifted actor. The swagger, the head slightly cocked to one side and that look of having swallowed the canary are captured in nearly every frame. 

Sam Elliott owns this lovely film. It's virtually impossible to take your eyes off of him. His performance is raw and incredibly touching. At times, it's difficult to separate the star from his character, because they seem to embody one another. And, oh, that voice. I smell an Oscar nod.

During a Q&A at the Sundance Film Festival, where "The Hero" premiered, director Haley stated that if Sam refused for whatever reason to do this role, there wouldn't be this film. That would have been a downright shame. Thanks, Sam.