Hoffa ** (1992, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Armand Assante, Kevin Anderson, J T Walsh, Frank Whaley, Robert Prosky) – Classic Movie Review 10,953

Director Danny DeVito’s 1992 film Hoffa stars Jack Nicholson, who gives a committed and powerful but one-note performance as Jimmy Hoffa, the notorious president of the all-powerful American teamsters’ union. DeVito’s old-fashioned biopic is as stylised as the Thirties big film studio equivalents that are surely its model, going for drama rather than mere facts.

It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Cinematography (Stephen H Burum) and Best Makeup. Burum won the American Society of Cinematographers award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases. Nicholson was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.

David Mamet’s time-jumping screenplay, seen in flashbacks through the eyes of Hoffa’s friend Bobby Ciaro (DeVito) first met in 1975, struggles for coherence as the story runs through several decades marked only by the stars’ wig changes (the make-up was Oscar nominated). However, the confused narrative could be through pre-release cutting rather than the script.

Nevertheless, there is a surprisingly flat handling of the major dramatic events – Hoffa’s meeting with his loyal helper Bobby Ciaro, buying favours from the Mafia, in court against attorney general Robert Kennedy (Kevin Anderson), in jail for corruption, and trying to re-establish himself after release.

As director, DeVito handles the set pieces impressively, particularly some large crowd scenes, but these are all relentlessly gloomy, monotonous and strident like the star’s performance. The film does look good thanks to Burum’s Panavision cinematography and Ida Random’s production design.

Lack of humour really sinks this film, oddly since both Nicholson and DeVito can be truly funny men. There is no lack of intelligence or ambition, just lack of subtlety and of light and shade, and there is not too much entertainment value either in a long 140 minute epic film.

Also in the cast are Armand Assante, Kevin Anderson, J T Walsh, Frank Whaley, Robert Prosky, Cliff Gorman, John C Reilly, John P Ryan, Nicholas Pryor, Natalija Nogulich, Paul Guilfoyle and Karen Young.

It was fairly costly at $35,000,000 and not too popular, taking  $24,276,506 at the US box office.

There are no opening credits or title at the beginning.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,953

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