NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (August 2019): Criterion transfer Bill Forsyth's fish-out-of-water comedy "Local Hero" to Blu-ray in an all new 2K digital restoration. The film is located on a dual-layered Blu-ray and the 1.78:1 1080p image has a high bitrate throughout the film's running time. A fairly robust contrast helps the image during darker moments, though perhaps a 4K restoration could have been slightly more impressive. Colors seem to be faithfully represented, with a decent amount of clarity to the image, showing a somewhat detailed picture, though at times a little soft.

Criterion have wisely included the film's original uncompressed mono audio track, in 24-bit linear PCM. The soundtrack is thanks to 'Dire Straits' own Mark Knopfler ("The Princess Bride"). Dialogue and the seaside sound-effects are intelligible and not too flat, for a mono track. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Criterion.

Criterion have brought a handful of extras to this new Blu-ray, starting with an audio commentary from 2018 featuring director Bill Forsyth and film critic Mark Kermode. Up next is "Bill Forsyth", a 16-minute conversation between Forsyth and film critic David Cairns. "Shooting From the Heart" is a 52-minute 1985 documentary about the work of cinematographer Chris Menges. "The South Bank Show" is a 52-minute 1983 episode of The South Bank Show from 1983 about the production of the film, which aired on Scottish Television. This covers the original story idea as well as the marketing for the film. This piece also features interviews with director Bill Forsyth and producer David Puttnam. "The Making of 'Local Hero'" is a 52-minute 1983 program for the broadcaster Scottish Television and goes behind the scenes on the production of the film, featuring interviews with actors Burt Lancaster and Peter Riegert. "I Thought Maybe I'd Get to Meet Alan Whicker" is a 26-minute program from 1983 featuring director Forsyth talking about his early career in documentary filmmaking, his first narrative features, and the success of "Local Hero". The film's trailer rounds out the disc. There is a booklet with an essay by film scholar Jonathan Murray and the Blu-ray cover art is thanks to Mark Thomas.

"Local Hero" is a light-hearted comedy that is surely beloved by many, though it did leave me a little cold. The silly take on the fish-out-of-water tale has by now become sort of rote with a slew of films in the 80 and 90s utilizing this narrative framework. Though in some ways this film is a progenitor of sorts, I can't help but feel a sense of 'been-there, done-that'. All of that being said, Criterion's Blu-ray transfer is typically bang-on, with a new 2K restoration and a handful of interesting extras, I intend to jump back into the commentary when I get more time. This Blu-ray is recommended to fans of the film... and the filmmaker. 

Colin Zavitz