Friday Film: Hoffa
 Hoffa (1992) |
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| Directed by: | Danny DeVito |
| Produced by: | Caldecot Chubb Danny DeVito Edward R. Pressman |
| Starring: | Jack Nicholson Danny DeVito Armand Assante |
| Distributed by: | 20th Century Fox |
| All Movie Guide IMDb Amazon.com |
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One of pop culture's most talked about mysteries is the disappearance of James Riddle 'Jimmy' Hoffa. This labor leader and criminal convict wielded incredible influence as the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in the '50s and '60s. After serving a (commuted) sentence of 15 years for attempted bribery of a grand juror, he planned on reclaiming his power over the Teamsters. However, he disappeared from the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomingfield Hills, Michigan on July 30, 1975. And while authorities are pretty clear on who killed him and why, no one has ever been able to find his body. Theories of all levels of absurdity have emerged, but none have panned out.
In 1992, Danny DeVito directed and starred in the semi-biographical film Hoffa, portions of which were filmed just west of Chicago's Chinatown. The film recounts important events in the life of Hoffa, played by Jack Nicholson, via a series of flashbacks. While the movie effectively dramatizes many of his public battles (especially with the Kennedy brothers), I feel it over-fictionalizes much of his life. The director, in hopes of playing up the mystery that surrounds this legend's life, seems to pay very little attention to the facts we do know. Without giving too much away, the portrayal of Hoffa's death and disappearance left me feeling cheated, as it has absolutely no resemblance to the actual events. (Imagine how you'd feel if a movie about John F. Kennedy ended with him dying as the result of a skiing accident.) Finally, many critics disapproved of DeVito's decision to cast himself as Robert 'Bobby' Ciaro, Hoffa's fictional right-hand man and the other main protagonist of the film. Despite the criticism, Hoffa received two Oscar nominations: Best Cinematography and Best Make-up.
Photo description: original movie poster
source: www.movieposter.com
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POSTED IN: Filmed in Chicago, Entertainment
2 opinions for Friday Film: Hoffa
Alex-Sirened
Nov 16, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I like the urban legend that Hoffa is buried under the Meadowlands in NY, the same place Giants fans will like to bury Eli Manning if he can’t win a playoff game this year.
Matt B
Nov 16, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Hoffa’s probably chillin’ with Elvis.
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