HERO (DVD/P&S/DSS/ENG-PO-CH-KO-SUB/SP-BOTH/HOFFMAN) DVD

Hero
Stephen Frears' Hero is a contemporary re-working of a Frank Capra-styled fable about a two-bit criminal named Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) who saves several passengers from a plane crash and leaves the scene without being identified, leaving only a lost shoe for identification. One of the passengers happens to be news-reporter Gale (Geena Davis) who is intent on finding her savior, and offers a million dollars to the "hero" of the crashed flight. Bernie has since given his remaining shoe to a homeless man named John (Andy Garcia) who decides to cash in on the offer. A handsome, charming man, John wins the hearts of the entire city. Soon, Bernie realizes that he's been cheated out of a million dollars, and he begins an effort to get his proper recognition--and his money. Hero manages to be quite funny and satirical while sticking to a story that is essentially a Hollywood fable. That is to the credit of director Frears and the cast, who turn in uniformly excellent performances. Nevertheless, Hoffman is superb as a bitterly comic and spiteful variation on his classic Ratso Rizzo character. By the way, be on the lookout for Chevy Chase in a very funny cameo. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Cast Dustin Hoffman as Bernie Laplante Geena Davis as Gale Gayley Andy Garcia as John Bubber Joan Cusack as Evelyn Kevin J. O'Connor as Chucky Maury Chaykin as Winston Stephen Tobolowsky as Wallace Christian Clemenson as Conklin Tom Arnold as Chick James Madio as Joey Fisher Stevens as

Crew Leslie McDonald - Art Director Juliet Taylor - Casting Howard Feuer - Casting Richard Hornung - Costume Designer Louis D'Esposito - First Assistant Director Stephen Frears - Director Mick Audsley - Editor Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr. - Executive Producer George Fenton - Composer (Music Score) Christina Smith - Makeup Monty Westmore - Makeup Dennis Gassner - Production Designer Oliver Stapleton - Cinematographer Laura Ziskin - Producer Gina B. Cranham - Set Designer Lawrence Hubbs - Set Designer Nancy Haigh - Set Designer Keith Shartle - Special Effects Steve Maslow - Sound/Sound Designer Ray Saniger - Stunts Jimmy Lewis - Stunts Doug Coleman - Stunts Kenny Bates - Stunts Simone Boisseree - Stunts Hank Calia - Stunts Donna Evans - Stunts Tony Cecere - Stunts Billy Bates - Stunts Christine Baur - Stunts Dennis Madalone - Stunts Mickey Gilbert - Stunts Troy M. Gilbert - Stunts John Gillespie - Stunts Michael Carr - Stunts Gene Hartline - Stunts Laura Ziskin - Screenwriter Eric Edson - Screenwriter David Peoples - Screenwriter Alvin Sargent - Screenwriter

Hero
Stephen Frears' fusion of Capra fantasy and Sturges satire is often as sharply hilarious as its models, but veers off the track with an inflated finish. Dustin Hoffman stars as a petty thief who pulls 54 people out of a downed plane, but must allow an attractive homeless man (Andy Garcia) to accept the hefty reward, due to his understandable need to "keep a low profile." The film sets up the grimy reality of the character's life, playing it humorously off his nearly paranoid delusions, while establishing his love for his wife and child. It rolls along beautifully in this mode until the plot forces him to make a bid to get the reward money that he thinks would solve his problems. Instead of wrapping this up quickly (like Sturges et al.), the filmmakers drag out the ending with a fulsomely operatic coda awash in sentimentality. Its Capraesque ending is out of tune with this dark, decidedly non-Capra character. Yet the script is rarely less than smart and entertaining, satirically noting heroism's easy association with looks and charm in a media-saturated age. Until his final few scenes, which he stretches out interminably, Hoffman gives a brilliant performance in the kind of "little man" role that has become his specialty. Andy Garcia is appropriately charismatic as the public's hero, and Geena Davis gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as a tough reporter with a soft heart. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English, Spanish, Por Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish, Por, KO, TH Sound Processing: Additional Features: Interactive Menus Theatrical Trailers Scene Selections DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: DVD Sides: DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 118 min