Hoffa (1992)

Hoffa (1992) – Jack Nicholson stars as the dynamic and controversial American labor leader, Jimmy Hoffa.  Following his career from his earliest days through making the Teamsters Union a powerhouse to his final mysterious disappearance.

Directed by Danny DeVito                         Starring – Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Armand Assante

I almost didn’t recognize Nicholson when he first appeared on the screen.  They didn’t use a lot of prosthetics but the actor manages to stay away from his patented Nicholson stock moves.  While “Jack being Jack” can be a lot of fun, It feels like some movies become nothing more than star vehicles for him.  Here’s a reminder that Nicholson has the ability to be one of our great actors.

The problem here is that the story is a hard sell.  Bio-pics can be a hard sell.  A bio-pic that involves as much talk as this one does is even harder.  Screenwriter David Mamet brings his considerable skills to the storytelling but it just never quite takes off.  Even the climax, which explores one of the possible answers to “What happened to Hoffa?”, is a long drawn out affair that left me feeling unsatisfied.  That is part of the mystery of Hoffa’s disappearance, of course, but you want more from your investment of two plus hours.

The upside is that the cast is filled with quality performers.  In addition to the names above, there is J.T. Walsh, John C. Reilly, Robert Proskey and Paul Guilfoyle.  Unfortunately the story never really feels like comes together.

Why I Liked It – Nicholson, and a nuanced look at a pivotal figure in modern labor history in the U.S.

Why You Will Like It – Nicholson’s performance is an actor disappearing into a role.

Rating –