Hoffa

Starring:Kevin Anderson, Armand Assante, Don Brockett, Nicholas Giordano, Cliff Gorman, Joe Greco, Paul Guilfoyle (II), Joanne Neer, Jack Nicholson, Natalia Nogulich, Jim Ochs, Robert Prosky, Nicholas Pryor, Joe Quasarano, John C. Reilly, John P. Ryan, J.T. Walsh, Frank Whaley, Karen Young
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
A titanic performance by Jack Nicholson powers this fact-and-fiction biography of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. From the opening moment--Hoffa sitting alone in the back of a car--Nicholson's performance is one of his best, and a rare role as a historical person. The sweeping all-American story of a common worker who reaches the highest pinnacle in the world's most powerful union is sweepingly told with wondrous detail, in wardrobe, sets, and trucks. The better-documented facts of Hoffa's life, including his struggle against Attorney General Bobby Kennedy (Kevin Anderson), supply the backbone of the story. But the hope of what the Teamsters are to the American Dream is what makes the film glow (swept along by David Newman's score). The screenplay by David Mamet takes two wild and entertaining divergences from fact. The first is the character of Hoffa's ubiquitous sidekick Bobby Ciaro, played by the film's director, Danny DeVito. It's a fictitious role, a composite character that allows the story to be clearly told, as does the second--Mamet's explanation of Hoffa's famous disappearance. --Doug Thomas
Description
Screenwriter David Mamet's script combines real people with fictional characters in an attempt to portray the important people in Jimmy Hoffa's life. Danny DeVito's and Armand Assante's characters are actually composites of numerous Hoffa associates.

Amazon.com essential video

A titanic performance by Jack Nicholson powers this fact-and-fiction biography of Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. From the opening moment--Hoffa sitting alone in the back of a car--Nicholson's performance is one of his best, and a rare role as a historical person. The sweeping all-American story of a common worker who reaches the highest pinnacle in the world's most powerful union is sweepingly told with wondrous detail, in wardrobe, sets, and trucks. The better-documented facts of Hoffa's life, including his struggle against Attorney General Bobby Kennedy (Kevin Anderson), supply the backbone of the story. But the hope of what the Teamsters are to the American Dream is what makes the film glow (swept along by David Newman's score). The screenplay by David Mamet takes two wild and entertaining divergences from fact. The first is the character of Hoffa's ubiquitous sidekick Bobby Ciaro, played by the film's director, Danny DeVito. It's a fictitious role, a composite character that allows the story to be clearly told, as does the second--Mamet's explanation of Hoffa's famous disappearance. --Doug Thomas

Description

Screenwriter David Mamet's script combines real people with fictional characters in an attempt to portray the important people in Jimmy Hoffa's life. Danny DeVito's and Armand Assante's characters are actually composites of numerous Hoffa associates.

Customer Reviews:

Great Man.......2007-05-21

Being a Teamster I have heard that this movie is fairly true to the events it represents. But Mr. Hoffa did not use foul language as depicked in the movie. Do to lack of dialogue the writers do an injustice to the true character of a Great Man.

Nicholson gives a standout performance.......2007-02-01

Jack Nicholson's Hoffa is a Nicholson/Hoffa hybrid that plays very well on screen, though I don't know how much like the real man he really is. I've only seen brief news clips (including the extras in the special features section of the DVD). But Nicholson gives a moving and memorable performance as Jimmy Hoffa. The rest of the cast (a young John C. Reilly included) also give great performances.

I knew nothing about Jimmy Hoffa before this movie, so the nature of the film played well to me, giving an arc of events portraying Jimmy Hoffa's rise to President of the Teamsters from a young man concerned with union rights. It also dramatically covers his involvement with gangsters, the law, and Robert Kennedy.

Although Hoffa plays out like a sweeping epic (it IS 2 hours and 20 minutes long after all), there's something missing in its grandeur, and I really think it's as simple as an experienced director. Not that Danny DeVito does a bad job with the film and the actors, it's just every now and then something seems to miss the mark. A lot of the scenes look like they take place in obvious studios, which draws the audience away, and some of the scenes with bigger crowds lack that extra touch of humanity that needs to be given to remind the viewer of the individuals involved in the crowd.

Overall, though, the acting carries the movie through to the end, though, from what I've read, the ending is entirely fictionalized, which is a bit strange considering that it's somewhat of a biopic and not just a fictionalized account of a real man's life.

A Little Bit of Soul.......2006-06-28

Danny DeVito dreamed of making this movie. And the writing is impeccable. So, if the movie fails, why?

The evidence points inexorably to casting. Jack Nicholson can do rage better than almost anybody, but Hoffa's brand of anger was not the same as Nicholson's. Hoffa's rage was more or less continuous, based on his public presence, and as strange as this might seem, Nicholson is not up to it.

People feared Hoffa, and he feared no one, it seemed. DeVito understood that, but I don't think Jack N. does...

Hoffa, The Man and his Union.......2006-06-19

Hoffa is a surprising film which from time to time arises to keep alive the memory of the late Teamster president. Told in flash back form, the film ably describes the dramatic rise and fall of the popular labor leader. Indeed, with Nickleson's portrayal the viewer is convinced of the confrontational life of the man who became synonymous with the International union. Re-enacting the turbulent rise of Hoffa, viewers are treated to the fabulous talents of some of the giants of the silver screen. Few could argue that Jack Nicholson as James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa is nothing short of magical. In addition there is Danny DeVito who as Bobby Ciaro, in my opinion steals the show. Further enriching the cast is Armand Assante as Carol D'Allesandro, the mob boss who assured Jimmy's rise to power and then later is suspect in the teamster's mysterious disappearance. J.T. Walsh is excellent as Frank Fitzsimmons. The dramatic film superbly encapsulates the early violent trials, successful triumphs and eventual tragedy of the great, but troubled teamster president. ****

By far, the masterpiece of Danny De Vito!.......2005-08-26

De Vito played and bet hard with this script that securely must be tempted to more than one director and producer but that finally was relegated to the memory files. De Vito built a solid foundation assimilating the dark shadows of the underground ties of the power seen with Shakesperian glasses.
The rise and decay of this syndical leader perfectly starred by Nicholson. A bold tour de force that intends explain nothing but simply to reveal the nasty and very often forgotten alleys and labyrinths concerning to the power's nature, here there and everywhere.
This film joined to JFK (1991) and Malcom X (1992) constituted certainly -at those moments- the major evidence about the robust rebirth of new landscapes in the American Cinema.

Biography - Jimmy Hoffa (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

Biography - Jimmy Hoffa (A&E DVD Archives)
Starring: Jimmy Hoffa , and James Hoffa
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Hoffa
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Mafia - The History of the Mob in America

ASIN: B0009K7RZC
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Description

Portrait of the powerful Teamsters Union boss who did business with the mob, improved the lives of his workers, and feuded with Attorney-General Robert Kennedy. We look at how Hoffa loaned union pension money to mob front-men, and how his criminal connections led to his mysterious disappearance in 1975. On hand to talk about Hoffa's life and who may have killed him are biographer Arthur Sloane, son Jim P. Hoffa, daughter Barbara Crancer, and disappearance suspect Chuckie O'Brien.

Average customer rating:

Classic but no longer controversial
A Featureless Review of Marilyn's Last Days
Haunting, informative
Pass on this one!

Say Goodbye to the President
Starring: John Miner , Frank Saunders , Joan Greenson , Dean Funk , and Peter Summers
Director: Christopher Olgiati
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 1572523921
Release Date: 1998-12-22

Description

The true circumstances of the death of Marilyn Monroe and the cover up which followed for 25 years. Interactive Menus, Marilyn Monroe Filmography, Scene Access, Interactive Trivia Quiz

Customer Reviews:

Classic but no longer controversial.......2001-10-18

At the time this was produced in Great Britain, this material was considered very controversial. Some American TV stations refused to run this special because it confirmed that MM had affairs with both President Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy. Now this news is old hat so it doesn't have the same power it once did. After this special, 20/20 did another report that added to the story. The 20/20 report was canned and Geraldo Rivera was fired for protesting the censorship of the 20/20 report. Today viewing this DVD reveals many flaws, such as the dark lighting of the interviews and the confusing way the material is presented. Still, if you want to purchase this DVD before it goes out of print and becomes a collector's item, this would be the time.

A Featureless Review of Marilyn's Last Days.......2000-07-18

This documentary covers Marilyn Monroe's last days and focuses on her links to John and Bobby Kennedy. Unfortunately, with just one exception, the players in this story (particularly the narration) appear to be bored with the whole affair. The lighting is too dark and the music sounds like it came from a 1960's stag film. For the MM cognoscenti, very little new information is presented. The highlight of the film is the riveting testimony of Deborah Gould, who was the ex-wife of Peter Lawford. Even though she was probably just 10 years old in the early 1960's when all of this took place, she is as stunning as she is believable.

Haunting, informative.......2000-04-25

Though I believe Marilyn Monroe committed suicide, I found this video (which captures Marilyn's last days) very informative: it stands as a testament to how powerful men can take advantage of women (as JFK and RFK seem to have done with Marilyn). Sometimes angering, sometimes depressing, this video is essential to understanding the downfall of an American icon. Those critical to the premise that Marilyn had affairs with both Robert and John Kennedy will find it hard to deny the affairs in the face of the plentiful interviews and evidence in this movie.

Pass on this one!.......2000-03-22

This tape has actually very little footage of Marilyn, the rest is just more of the same old, tired murder conspiracy. I think this tape confuses things more than it clears up. People have to realize that a lot of money is being made writing books and stuff about all these different theories, very little can actually be backed up with facts. It is truly a shame. Don't bother with this one

La Cosa Nostra - The Mafia: An Expose, Vol. 3 - Vegas/Hoffa

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La Cosa Nostra - The Mafia: An Expose, Vol. 3 - Vegas/Hoffa
Starring: Mafia-An Expose
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
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ASIN: 6304870590
Release Date: 1997-12-09

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