Review of Hoffa (1992) by Mike C — 16 Jul 2010

Why put Hoffa on the cover if it's not going to be a legit biopic? I think Mamet and DeVito went terribly wrong but not making this more like a documentary. The story is interesting as they come. Why the need for extra drama?

I'm fairly undeducated on the matter but am learning. I've always been very pro labor and pro Kennedy, especially RFK. I've never liked Hoffa, but a recent show told how he once grabbed RFK, then AG of the US, by the throat for being late to a meeting. After one of the Kennedy assassinations, Hoffa pulls up to the office to see a flag at half-mast. He storms inside and fires the person who did it, then raises the flag. That's a hell of a story, even to a Kennedy fan. Experiencing more and more of the workforce (and reading some fabulous Steinbeck), and I want to know more about unions, etc.

This movie could really be shit. It's more a mob movie than a union/worker movie. I'm reading Hoffa's autobio and it's a great union book. I'm sure he skews some facts and leaves out others, but it seems like Mamet/DeVito really go the opposite direction for the movie.

Nicholson is pretty good, as can be expected. Half the time you can't even tell it's him. DeVito, on the other hand, should not have casted himself. I think this feeds into many of the wrongs of the movie. DeVito wanted to be a tough guy and had full license to do so as director. Problem is, it's just not believable, and is often annoying.

Movies often change facts. It always bothers me when they go ahead and put a real name or issue in the title and dramatically change facts. Even though it's still an okay movie, I think those in charge really missed the mark by handling it the way they did.