Sam Elliott delivers a shining performance in The Hero as Lee Hayden.

In the newest film from writer/director Brett Haley, Elliott gives one of the strongest performances I have seen so far during this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival.  We all know his voice–it’s just as iconic as Morgan Freeman.  It’s one of two films that played in which

Hayden confronts his own mortality when he gets diagnosed with cancer.  He’s not getting much work and spends his time hanging out with his former television series co-star, Jeremy (Nick Offerman).  Jeremy is his drug dealer and the two smoke a lot of weed together.  Through Jeremy, he meets stand-up comedian Charlotte (Laura Prepon) and the two start a relationship together even though he’s old enough to be her father.After the diagnosis, Hayden works to fix his relationship with his daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter).

Througout all this, Hayden wants to find that one last role for his legacy.  This film is really a celebration of Sam Elliott’s life.

Written and directed by Brett Haley, The Hero stars Sam Elliott, Laura Prepon, Nick Offerman, Krysten Ritter, and Katharine Ross.

Selected for both Sundance and SXSW, The Orchard will distribute on June 9th.