The Last American Hero is a 1973 film starring Jeff Bridges and is a fictionalized version of NASCAR legend Junior Johnson's entry into stock car racing. Best when it sticks to character drama and Jeff Bridges' classic Bridges-esque performance, the film only sags, ironically, when the racing begins.
Here the character is called Junior Jackson. The youthful Jackson (Bridges was 23 at the time) runs moonshine for his dad. Eventually, his father is sent to prison. Unwilling to do anything other than drive, Jackson enters himself into some small-time races and is instantly the best driver in the area. He tries his hand at the big-time, but soon learns the dark side of the track and that he can’t stay independent forever.
The family melodrama is interesting, although there are not many big moments. The crux is the relationship between Junior and his father - who encourages Junior's racing as a way out of bootlegging. Perhaps the best material involves Junior's attempts to woo a driver groupie (Valerie Perrine). There's an excellent scene where Perrine's character explains the source of her insecurity. There's also a great scene where a heartbroken Junior, alone in the big city, records a message to his family - it's a good showcase for Bridges. The movie is at its worst when director Lamont Johnson heads to the track. The film abruptly abandons the human stories and heads for a lengthy climax at the track. Out of the blue the film cuts off the human stories and dives into a second-rate racing movie. The races, especially the climactic one, are mis-shot, confusing, and lacking in drama. Nonetheless, there's still enough here in the first hour or so and in Bridges' and Perrine's performances to merit a watch.
Screened on Amazon Prime Instant.
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