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
DVD features Without labels as presumptuous as "special edition" attached, this excellent disc has a wealth of extras; it's virtually a DVD version of the 1993 laser disc with a new sound remix. Director Danny DeVito fills up the disc with historical context (reminisces of real Teamsters, archival footage of the Hoffa-Kennedy hearing) plus interesting deleted scenes and lots of excellent behind-the-scenes material. Three are very special: a brief recorded conversion after the first read-through with the actors voicing their opinions (played over production photos); "Special Shots" is a fascinating peak at Hollywood magic on how trick shots are created; and "DeVito's 11 1/4," home movies from the set, is very amusing and one of the few candid glimpses of Jack Nicholson at work. The package shows us DeVito as an accomplished filmmaker and a kick to be around on his set. --Doug Thomas
2.
This powerful film recounts the life and times of Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa -- from his impassioned struggle to build his union into a powerful force on the American scene to his mysterious end. All the performances, especially Nicholson's, are outstanding. The letterbox laserdisc includes commentary by Danny De Vito, storyboards, behind-the-scenes footage, wardrobe design sketches and more. Academy Award Nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Makeup.
3.
Danny DeVito's portrait of Union leader James R. Hoffa, as seen through the eyes of his friend, Bobby Ciaro. The film follows Hoffa through his countless battles with the RTA and President Roosevelt all the way to a conclusion that negates the theory that he disappeared in 1975.
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