Hoffa (1992)

The story of the notorious American labor union figure Jimmy Hoffa, who organizes a bitter strike, makes deals with members of the organized crime syndicate and mysteriously disappears in 1975.

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writer:

David Mamet

Stars:

Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Armand Assante

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Nicholson	...	James R. Hoffa
Danny DeVito	...	Bobby Ciaro
Armand Assante	...	Carol D'Allesandro
J.T. Walsh	...	Fitzsimmons
John C. Reilly	...	Pete Connelly
Frank Whaley	...	Young Kid
Kevin Anderson	...	Robert Kennedy
John P. Ryan	...	Red Bennett
Robert Prosky	...	Billy Flynn
Natalija Nogulich	...	Jo Hoffa
Nicholas Pryor	...	Hoffa's Attorney
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Ted Harmon
Karen Young	...	Young Woman at RTA
Cliff Gorman	...	Solly Stein
Joanne Neer	...	Soignee Woman

Storyline

Jack Nicholson's portrait of Teamsters Union leader Jimmy Hoffa, as seen through the eyes of his friend Bobby Ciaro (Danny DeVito). This film follows Hoffa's struggle to shape America's most influential labor union through his countless battles with the RTA. As he fights for workers' rights, Hoffa locks horns with industry management, organized crime and Attorney General Robert Kennedy. In 1975, four years after serving his prison term, Hoffa disappears, in one of America's most fascinating unsolved crime mysteries.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | title spoken by character | no opening credits | no title at beginning | watching tv | 

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Taglines:

His name was James R. Hoffa. Some had a reason to love him. Some had a reason to fear him. He did what he had to do.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Latin

Release Date:

25 December 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hoffa

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,406,012, 27 December 1992

Gross USA:

$24,276,506

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,302,121

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Jersey Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tim Burton: One of the corpses in the Teamsters' funeral scene.

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Goofs

In addition to Billy Flynn having a revolver that is constantly cocked-uncocked, as the revolver is brought to a vertical position as Billy is uncocking it for the final time it somehow changes from a modern (for the time) double action revolver to a single action Colt. All of this happening within the 90 degree sweep from horizontal to vertical.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bobby Ciaro: Want me to go call him up?
Jimmy Hoffa: Uh-unh.
Bobby Ciaro: Want a cup of coffee?
Jimmy Hoffa: No.
Bobby Ciaro: Want to go?
[Hoffa gives him a scornful glance]
Bobby Ciaro: You okay?
Jimmy Hoffa: Yeah.

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Crazy Credits

there are no opening credits and the title of the film at the beginning.

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Alternate Versions

On a special laserdisc edition, Danny DeVito hosts a supplemental portion of the disc with outtakes, including a scene where Hoffa perfectly shoots a beer bottle with a rifle.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Holiday Video Gift Guide (1993)

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Soundtracks

Let's Make Love Tonight
Written, Produced and Performed by Nicky Addeo

User Reviews

Hoffa: What have we Gained what have we lost!

Before I had seen Hoffa I was aware of the Union leader mainly for his disappearance and the jokes made about his last resting spot. My dad had always considered Hoffa a hero simply because he didn't buckle under to the big boys he fought them. Hoffa The movie captures the Essence of James R Hoffa perfectly. This is Nicholson's Finest role forget the Joker in Batman or Jack Torrence in THE SHINING. This is pure acting 100% You cannot tell where Hoffa the part and Nicholson the actor leave off. The movie moves from Flashbacks to Hoffa's last day on Earth and it makes you wonder about What happened to him. During the flashbacks we See Hoffa slowly emerging as a force within the Teamsters Union slowly gathering influence and power from the ranks of the working man. The Film fits the various Eras portrayed perfectly. It's like looking thru a window. The Corruption of Hoffa if you can call it that is slow and gradual and Hoffa's War With Bobby Kennedy is simply fantastic film making Devito didn't want to spoil the scene with words so he used the actual Hoffa Kennedy exchanges word by word word for word. And Nicholson must've studied that footage intently as he captures Hoffa's Every movement and even his eyes down to the rapid movements that Hoffa did. Devito knows his stuff and Proves it here. Great Film that deserves to be remembered as a true original CLASSIC! Just like the original James R. Hoffa a original classic.