Review of Little Big Man (1970) by Patrick L — 03 Feb 2008
A wonderful, little known masterpiece from Arthur Penn (most famous for 'Bonnie and Clyde'), the criminally unknown 'Little Big Man' is quite possibly the first of the 'revisionist' westerns, and it was a good 30 years before 'Dances With Wolves'!
Starring a young Dustin Hoffman in the lead as a 121-year old man relating his life story, 'Little Big Man' is an incredibly, funny, moving and above all human tale. Weaving in and out of 'wild west' mythology and fact, it paints a tragi-comic view of a dark time in American history.
Hoffman is fantastic, Dunaway smoulders in her slightly-sad character, and the support cast offer wonderful things. The pacing is perfect, and the film is accompanied by a lovely, understated score by John Hammond.
Do not miss this film, a great, humane 'western' (in the loosest sense of the term) which illustrates the great injustices bought against the Native American people.
This review of Little Big Man (1970) was written by Patrick L on 03 Feb 2008.
Little Big Man has generally received very positive reviews.
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