DVDCHIMP

When a plane crashes in a rainstorm, Bernie Laplante (Dustin Hoffman), a small time crook, anonymously risks his life and saves everyone. One of the passengers, Gayle Gayley (Geena Davis), a workaholic newscaster, sets out to find her hero with the help of a lost loafer. However, this hero won’t stand up under too bright a light in this delightful Capra-esque fable.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.