Hoffman
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Movie Reviews of Hoffman
Movie Review: Stellar Sellers - A Curious Delight
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a shame that one of the greatest actors ever to grace the screen is best remembered for such complete and utter buffoonery as the Clouseau character; one which Sellers himself loathed. Anyone unfamiliar with Peter's dramatic performances has no idea of the depths of this man's talents, and Hoffman is one of his best.
Terrifying, creepy, but ultimately touching, this film is deliciously reminiscent of not only Anthony Hopkins' brilliant interpretation of Hannibal Lecter, but also of his Stevens the Butler in The Remains of the Day. So much so, in fact, that one must wonder if Hopkins had not gained some inspiration for his performances from Sellers' "Hoffman." In the same vein, it makes one wonder what Peter would have done with the Lecter and Stevens characters, had he the opportunity to sink his teeth into them. Perhaps no one else, living or dead, could improve upon the existing status quo, much to Hopkins' credit.
Hoffman is purely a character study, of no interest whatever to those who gravitate towards explosions and car crashes in their movie fare.
Comparable to a freshly dug onion-dirty on the surface, then strong and offensive as the skin is removed, there seems to be no likable aspect to Benjamin Hoffman at all. He presents himself a predator, an emotional vampire, an antagonistic misogynist with the filthiest of minds, unapologetically intent on utterly humiliating his prey (brilliantly portrayed by Sinead Cusack)...
"I want to eat you. I want to consume you. I want to lick your knees."
And...
"You must never become a person, Miss Smith. That would be unendurable."
As the layers peel away, however, we are presented with a diamond mine of emotional cat-and-mouse, longing and repression. Eventually, subtle cracks begin to appear in the facade; slowly giving way to a final, last-ditch, desperate tearing down of the defenses Benjamin Hoffman has meticulously constructed to insulate himself from the risks and horrors of true intimacy. What emerges is a touching and heartwarming love story from a very different time, with one of the sweetest ending scenes ever.
A brilliant, unforgettable film.
Movie Review: Life Lessons for Every Man
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw Hoffman when I was about 20 years old. It made enough of an impression on me even then, that I made a mental note of it and filed it away in my mind for future reference. Now I'm in my fifties and the things I learned from Hoffman over 30 years ago still ring true. Despite what might be considered a "corny" plot, the film deals with how middle-aged men are perceived by society and how they perceive themselves when they find themselves to be losers in the game of love. Hoffman decides to change the rules of the game. Any man who has ever felt that his chance at love in life had passed him by needs to see Hoffman. While I wouldn't advocate using Hoffman's precise strategy, I would say Hoffman proves that the game isn't over as long as there is breath in our bodies and we can still come out as 'winners.' As Hoffman (Peter Sellers) tells the young love interest, Miss Smith, regarding "middle aged men with hound dog faces," - "It's our time!"Movie Review: Perverse intelligence ; innocent beauty!
Summary: 5 Stars
A lonely man, terribly disappointed since his last amorous failure, decides to make a long and complicated journey to win the favor of a young lady who could be his own daughter. She will blackmail her and the pact is to spent a week with him.
The smart script is enriched with bitter and caustic dialogues; scented with that discrete charm where you immediately tie up with Vladimir Nabokov ` s Lolita. If you notice carefully the amazing resembling between Sinead Cussack and Sue Lyon you will coincide with me. It's an intimate chamber work that depicts three fundamental characters: the man in question, our candide girl and her naive boyfriend. A clever and modern fable that shows us nobody is absolutely out of game in what love concerns. When you have talent, imagination and good taste the door is open.
A mature film that will let you thinking for a long, long time.
Movie Review: Romantic, quirky and wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite movies, and I agree wholeheartedly with the previous review. I ordered it in PAL format years ago from a British website because I HAD to have it. I wanted to add that Peter Sellers plays it straight here, the film is unpredictable, moving, touching and uplifting, and VERY romantic. I wanted to add my two cents for women in particular- I loved Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice and I love this too, somehow it seems cut from the same cloth (it's the wit and the marvelous dialogue). Sort of an English Murphy's Romance with twists and turns and more depth. Lovely young Sinead Cusack (spelling?) played Demi Moore's mother in Passion of Mind and I believe she's been married to Jeremy Irons since the 60's- she is wonderful as Miss Smith. This is about who holds power in relationships, generosity, giving, and longing. Highly, highly recommended!Movie Review: A Master Stroke from the Actors and Director ~ Sellers finest hour~
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a masterpiece, there is no denying it! Sellers never showed us this side outside of a few glimpes in "Being There". This is his most honest and touching work. I was terribly moved by the performances. The music and title song are perfect in every way. The piano work in select scenes is superb.
Many of sellers comments are so true. "Reality betray's us all" so true so true my friends! The opening with Matt Monroe singing in the background the Sinead driving to Sellers flat in the taxi....oh my goodness this is great stuff. I wish we could just go back to this time period...I truly do. A time when you could almost take for granted films like this one, there was so much amazing going in 1970. Now today it's a rare treasure in the midst of a sea of hollywood refuse.
GET THIS FILM!