The 80s Comedy Cameron Crowe Called the 'Holy Grail' of Filmmaking
When a director known for personal classics like *Almost Famous* names his favorite film, people listen. Cameron Crowe once singled out a quirky 1983 comedy, praising its unique approach to character and story that makes it a truly special movie.
Cameron Crowe is a filmmaker who understands intimate cinema because he has consistently poured his own life into his work. For his screenplay for the 1982 hit *Fast Times at Ridgemont High*, he famously went undercover at a high school, a level of dedication that goes beyond typical research. His 2000 picture, which drew directly from his experiences as a young journalist for Rolling Stone, was intimate in a different way. Yet, his work avoids self-indulgence, instead showing a remarkable empathy for its vibrant cast of individuals, from rock stars, to the fans who adore them.
A Director's Endorsement
Given that Crowe's own career has been more selective over the last two decades, suggesting a careful and deliberate process, it's clear he appreciates that same dedication in others. In a 2016 interview with Rotten Tomatoes where he listed his top five films, he showered praise on a 1983 picture from Bill Forsyth called *Local Hero*. “Bill Forsyth, come back!” Crowe declared, calling the film “the holy grail of personal filmmaking”.
More Than Just a Plot
Set in a small village in Northeast Scotland, the narrative follows an ambitious executive from a Houston oil company. His mission is to persuade the townspeople to sell their land for a new refinery. However, the executive, Mac (played by Peter Riegert), soon finds himself captivated by the villagers' unique lives and routines. It’s a familiar premise that could easily become overly sentimental, but as Crowe noted, Forsyth’s genius lies in weaving in small, seemingly random moments that have little to do with the main plot but become the film’s most enduring qualities.
The Magic of Authenticity
While *Local Hero* has a central storyline, it often feels secondary to the charming interactions between its inhabitants. These moments don't always push the narrative forward, but they stick with you. For instance, Mac develops a crush on a marine biologist who he suspects might be a mermaid and befriends a Soviet fisherman who sails over to see his accountant. The film is also filled with quiet scenes of people in cozy sweaters walking on the beach, collecting shells, and gazing at the sea. It sounds slow, but it's surprisingly captivating.
Forsyth, a Scottish filmmaker himself, confessed that he didn't build his movies around traditional plots. Instead, he focused on individuals and "incidents." He spent much of the production of *Local Hero* rewriting scenes on location, as the cast and crew experienced their own version of the events, which undoubtedly infused the final cut with a powerful sense of immediacy. Maybe the reason the movie remains so cherished is that, much like a great sitcom, it makes you feel like you're just hanging out with friends, and you're sad when it's over.