Today I started the day with a viewing of the Warren Beatty epic 1981 drama Reds. It’s over three hours long. And it has nothing to do with today’s star – Dustin Hoffman. I just wanted to show that I really am not making these final Summer Under the Stars days easy for myself. Anyway, here’s Dustin Hoffman.
Little Big Man (1970)
This film begins with Dustin Hoffman’s character being one hundred and twenty one years old. Let that sink in. He is a white man who was raised by a Native American tribe. Sounds weird? It is.
I feel like I am missing something because I truly cannot comprehend Dustin’s performance in this. I have no idea what he was doing. And his weird „personality” (which just seems like he was phoning it in), his character feels „empty”. And the thing is, this is a comedy but it’s not funny at all and it’s not even clever in what it’s presenting, supposedly satirizing. But it’s so… off it’s hard to even say what exactly doesn’t work
At one point in the film Dustin is adopted by Faye Dunaway. He has a crush on her and she seems weird around him as well. He is supposed to be a kid but he is clearly not and the whole thing is just bizarre to watch.
I guess the film is sympathetic to Native Americans but in such a convoluted way I can’t even say how to read all that. My anthropology professor used to talk about this movie a lot – he loves it. Take it as you will.
Lenny (1974)
That’s more like it. Bob Fosse-directed biopic of Lenny Bruce is a film I vibe with much more than with Little Big Man.
The thing is, I do not know much about Lenny Bruce and after seeing the film and hearing some of his routines, I do not think I will become a fan of his comedy. But the way Lenny is filmed is just so g-ddamn interesting. Oddly enough, you can see the Bob Fosse influence even though there really is not that much dancing going on. But the film has some rhythmical quality to it that kind of makes it feel choreographed.
It’s shot in black and white and includes cuts and transitions and camera angles that make it seem like a documentary/cinema vérité. It’s a very interesting, minimalistic approach to biopics (similar style in another film I can think of was used in a biopic of a polish poet Wojaczek, but this one is more straight-to-the-point).
All of that helps you really feel the „sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll” that is the cliche that makes the story what it is.
Marathon Man (1976)
And this is when I realized was time for bed.
Dustin’s father was prosecuted during the McCarthy era (Summer Under the Stars throwback – Tender Comrade, starring Ruth Hussey, written by Dalton Trumbo). Dustin wants to clear his name. He also has a brother who is a secret agent.
Oh, and Dustin is also dating a girl who turns out to be a secret agent as well. And there are diamonds all over New York. And Hitler sympathizers
Dustin is a „marathon man” because he has to run constantly – because of all the secret agents and Nazis around him he needs to keep on trying to get away almost non-stop. And this actually works for an action film because you need to see if he is saved by the end.
I just could not deal with this story. I’m sorry.
Swingin' at the Seance 