Watch The Last American Hero

The Last American Hero is a 1973 sports drama film based on the real-life story of American stock car racing driver Junior Johnson. The film stars Jeff Bridges as Junior Jackson, a young man from a small North Carolina town who dreams of becoming a professional race car driver. Alongside Bridges, the film also stars Valerie Perrine as Junior's love interest and Geraldine Fitzgerald as his mother.

The film opens with Junior working in his father's bootleg liquor business, which involves running moonshine through the backwoods of North Carolina. Despite the danger involved, Junior enjoys the challenge of outrunning the law, and he soon becomes known as one of the fastest drivers in the area.

However, when Junior's father is caught by the police and sent to prison, Junior decides to turn his attention to legal racing. With the help of his friend Wayne (played by Ned Beatty), Junior begins to enter competitions at the local race track, quickly gaining a reputation as a fearless and skilled driver.

As Junior's success grows, he attracts the attention of a wealthy businessman named Hackel (played by Art Lund), who offers to sponsor Junior's career and provide him with a car and equipment. Though Junior initially resists Hackel's attempts to control his racing style, he ultimately agrees to join his team.

As Junior rises through the ranks of professional racing, he is forced to confront the realities of the sport, including the danger and corruption that often come along with it. Along the way, he also wrestles with personal demons, including his complicated relationship with his mother and his own sense of identity.

The Last American Hero is a well-executed sports drama that effectively captures the excitement and danger of stock car racing. Jeff Bridges delivers a strong performance as Junior Jackson, bringing both charm and intensity to the role. Valerie Perrine and Geraldine Fitzgerald also shine in their supporting roles, providing a strong emotional center to the film.

At its core, the movie is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of ambition, family, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Despite some occasional narrative cliches, the film remains engaging throughout, thanks to its solid performances and thrilling racing sequences.

Overall, The Last American Hero is a classic sports drama that is sure to please fans of racing and coming-of-age stories alike.

The Last American Hero is a 1973 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 74.