Hoffa
Hoffa
R
6.3
·

1992

·

140m

Hoffa

Summary

A 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.

Director

Danny DeVito

Screenplay

David Mamet

Reviews

Geronimo1967

Geronimo1967

August 26, 2023

7

This is quite an interesting postulation about the internecine politics of the USA in the 1960s. Centring on the rise of the hugely charismatic Teamster's Union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Jack Nicholson) whom, aided by sidekick "Ciaro" (Danny DeVito), is determined to build his union into a formidable political force using whatever means necessary. To that end he hooks up with the mob (Armand Assante) before coming up against an equally focussed Bobby Kennedy (Kevin Anderson) bent on sending him to jail. The extent to which much of the detail in this interpretation of their lives is true is anyone's guess, but this depiction is a compelling one with two strong leading performances and a well paced feel to it. It also tracks the political scenario quite well too. We get a sense that, initially at any rate, Hoffa did want to improve the lot of his 1.8 million members before a degree of invincible megalomania set in. Director Danny DeVito offers us a potential conclusion too - as yet, nobody knows what actually happened to this powerhouse of a man, and though it is a bit too long, this is still a good watch.

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$35,000,000.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

gangster
1970s
trade union
disappearance
detroit, michigan
1960s
unassuming
jimmy hoffa
dreary
serious
understated
apathetic
frustrated