Little Big Man
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Movie Reviews of Little Big Man
Movie Review: ***** My All Time Favorite So I Had To Add Five More Stars
Summary: 5 Stars
Years after its release, there just aren't many films that even approach this masterpiece. My all time favorite movie. This adaptation of the Thomas Berger novel, stands on its own quite well. Not as raw as the novel, but every bit as satisfying. Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of the 121 year old Jack Crabb, stands out as one of his, and filmdom's great screen performances. Even if one doesn't care much for Westerns, this film is more than just a Western; its an American epic. One of Hollywood's better portrayals of a more sympathetic and human side to the Native-American plight.
From the tragic loss of most of his family at the hands of renegade Indians, to his being raised into his adolescent years by the Cheyenne, this story is both compelling, and at times extremely funny. Raised during his teen years with the strictly religious Pendrakes, Jack enters a new phase of life, and an end-to-innocence, after discovering the infidelity of Mrs. Pendrake(Faye Dunnaway), who never looked lovelier on the big screen. Experiencing life as a Medicine Man, Gunslinger, General Store owner, and taking on his first wife Olga, who he loses to the Indians, after taking the advice of General George Armstrong Custer(Richard Mulligan in his finest role)to "go west."
Returning to his Cheyenne family, he takes his second wife Sunshine. Watching this film in the theater after its initial release, it was love-at-first-sight seeing the actress playing this young woman. It was also one of the most gut-wrenching moments in film history, to watch the brutal murder of Sunshine, and the newborn baby of Jack Crabb, gunned-down by the U.S. Calvary as she flees with baby-in-arm, during the cruel massacre of the Indian Nation. The entire audience was in total shocked silence. But he does manage to rescue his Grandfather, Old Lodge Skins, played by the Oscar nominated Chief Dan George. He then turns Hermit and nearly goes mad. He even manages the impossible, of being the "sole white survivor of the Little Bighorn." From beginning-to-end, a can't miss buy that was long overdue on DVD. Infectious viewing at its best.
Movie Review: A TALL tale with a moral lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
"Jack Crabb was either the most neglected hero in history or a liar of insane proportion!" That's an apt summation used to promote the film in 1970. Cinematic exaggeration or not, it doesn't really matter too much.
"Little Big Man" offers something for every one. It's a masterpiece of absurdity and dark humour. It's a satirical film on revisionist history. It's a social commentary on the plight of the American Indian. Regardless of one's perspective, "Little Big Man" is comedy at its best. The (mis)adventures and lessons of Jack Crabb a.k.a. Little Big Man (Dustin Hoffman) in the old west will have you roaring with laughter, yet at the same time celebrating his triumphs as an underdog who overcame the challenges faced in his supposed 121 years.
Dustin Hoffman shows off his versatility and depth as an actor by portraying Jack Crabb the Cheyenne brave, the storekeeper, the army scout, the born-again religionist, the travelling medicine man, the drunk, the hermit and the gunfighter. Robert Mulligan as an egotistical General George Armstrong Custer is equally good in his role and just as hilarious. Chief Dan George (Crabb's adopted grandfather - Old Lodge Skins) and Faye Dunaway (the minister's wife and fallen flower - Mrs. Pendrake) deliver fine performances and are a delight to watch too.
To add authenticity to the old west, part of "Little Big Man" was filmed around Bighorn National Park, Montana. The sound track features some nice blues guitar.
As a footnote to the film, a factual Little Big Man did exist. He lived in the period represented in the film, but all similarity ends there. He was an Oglala Lakota who fought alongside Crazy Horse against Bear Coat Miles. He opposed the treaty and the commission that wanted to take the Black Hills from the Sioux. Later, the white man made him an agency policeman.
Movie Review: A superbly entertaining western!
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the 2003 Paramount DVD.
Dustin Hoffman stars as Jack Crabb, a 121-year-old man who has a lot of stories to tell about his life as a boy and a young man in the Wild West. He flashes back to when he was 10 years old and tells how he and his older sister were the only survivors of a hostile Indian attack, and was later rescued and taken in by a different Indian tribe. From that point on, Crabb launches a long narrative story of incredible proportions with tales about living with Indians, western pioneers and even famous historical figures like General George Custer and Wild Bill Hickok.
This film was made in 1970 and it's clearly more "contemporary" than westerns of the `40's and `50's. First, there's clearly more sexual discussion and activity but none of it is graphic. Also, it gives a lot more insight to the Indian tribal culture than I can ever recall seeing in a movie of this genre - far better than 'Dances With Wolves'. Also, there's clearly more of a comedy element in this film compared to the westerns of years past. I've never been a big fan of Dustin Hoffman, but I will say this is by far his best role and best movie. The film does seem to have some political/social commentary such as typically portraying whites as the oppressors and Indians as the victims (I'm part native American - so I'm not biased either way). But in spite of these minor criticisms, it's a terrific film and I strongly recommend it. The cinematography of rural Montana and Western Canada is stunning!
The DVD quality is great. The widescreen picture is sharp, colorful and clean and the sound is excellent for a movie made in 1970. There are no extra bonuses, which is a major shame for a film of this quality.
Movie: A-
DVD Quality: A
Movie Review: Tragicomic Tour of the Old West
Summary: 5 Stars
A happy/sad movie slash history lesson in the guise of an old man recalling his younger days growing up in the old west. The scenes between Jack Crabb (Hoffman) and Gen Custer were my favorite. The actor who played Custer was hilarious and perfectly cast for the part. Actually all the acting and scenes in this movie were well-done. I thought it started out kind of slow at first but found I was getting right into it after a little while. This movie could probably be most appreciated by anyone familiar with the famous/infamous figures of the the American old west, and the movie is something of a marvel in that it seems to bring the old stories alive through the (tall?) tale of the narrator (Jack Crabb) who at one time or another seemed to have crossed paths with all of them. As a testament to the rape of Native American culture this film is very moving, as the on-screen recreation of genocide usually is. It is a humorous picture overall, though while cheerful, retains a tragi-comic edge throughout. Lots of off the cuff unintentional hilarity in lines like "We are even now - I paid you the life I owe you and the next time we meet I can kill you without becoming an evil person."
The scope is epic and the movie runs at 139 minutes. Besides the Jack Crabb/Custer scenes ("Muleskinner!"), also bigger than life is the tale of Jack's taking on 3 other wives at the request of his first ("I knew you were a good man."). I read the book before I saw the movie and the book was excellent. I was happy to find that the story also worked well as a film.
Movie Review: A tall tale that resonates with truth
Summary: 5 Stars
This amazing film begins by interrupting the conversation of a wizen old man and a stock liberal professor who is conducting research into the old west. As the pompous scholar begins to explain to his elderly interviewee about the `real' American West, the man becomes indignant and begins telling a fascinating tale. It is a very human story that he shares and unlike the professor's close-minded, simplistic view of the conflict between the American Indians and white men (a popular modern viewpoint that anything Indian was numinous and good and anything white was evil), it is a revealing of the fact that there was good and bad on both sides.
Thankfully this was produced before the forces of political correctness could bowdlerize it. Today this would be watered down to avoid the epithets and stereotypes that add color and authenticity to this wonderful film. It is a obvious precursor to `Dances With Wolves', but also to a movie where the influence is less patent like `Forrest Gump' where famous persons are infused into a historical comic-drama. Numerous interesting characters infuse the picture: the epicene (though lustful) sister, the wise, yet pixilated Indian grandfather (played brilliantly by Chief Dan George), the unconscionable General Custer, the libertine Mrs. Pendrake (Faye Dunaway may possibly be the sexiest woman to ever appear on screen) and of course Dustin Hoffman's own character.
A funny and sad study of a wild time in history mixed with modern sentiments. A tall tale that resonates with truth.