Hoffa is a 1992 biographical film
directed by Danny DeVito and written
by David Mamet, based on the life of
Teamsters Union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
Jack Nicholson plays Hoffa, and Danny
DeVito plays Hoffa's fictional longtime
friend Robert "Bobby" Ciaro, an
amalgamation
of
several
Hoffa
associates over the years.
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Critical Response
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Hoffa earned two Oscar nominations for
Cinematography and Makeup. Nicholson's
performance sharply divided critics, with the actor
receiving both a Golden Globe nomination for Best
Actor and a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor.
DeVito also received a Razzie nomination for Worst
Director. Ultimately, none of the nominated awards
were won. The film was also nominated for the
Golden Bear at the 43rd Berlin International Film
Festival
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The story actually takes place in 1975, where
Hoffa and Ciaro are seen waiting in a parking
lot of a diner in 1975. They are waiting for
others to show up for a meeting.
The majority of the story is told in flashbacks;
the first being Hoffa jumping in Ciaro’s truck
uninvited, and telling him about the benefits of
joining the teamsters. A few days later Hoffa
costs him his job by pointing out that they had
talked.
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Ciaro later accosts Hoffa with a knife, but is
persuaded to drop it at gunpoint by Hoffa’s
associate Billy Flynn
Ciaro joins the pair in the arson bombing of a
laundry whose owner has refused to cooperate
with the Teamsters.
Explosion Clip
How would blowing up someone who is
opposed to the Teamsters business actually
help them?
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Another flashback shows a Teamsters strike
with strikers fighting non-union workers and
police.
Riot Clip
?
During the riot, Hoffa is taken to meet with the
Italian mob boss, Carol D’Allesandro, who
would become his closest mob ally.
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Hoffa is questioned by RFK regarding his
suspicious union activites, and tensions grow
between the two, especially after JFK is elected
president and RFK becomes Attorney General.
Hoffa vs. Kennedy Clip
?
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Hoffa is then betrayed by a junior associate,
and he and Ciaro are imprisoned.
Hoffa gets out of prison and expects to run the
Teamsters again, but finds out he is forbidden
to participate in union activites for 10 years.
He wants Frank Fitzsimmons (the new
Teamsters boss) dead.
Do What I Gotta Do Clip
?
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Since D’Allasandro believes killing
Fitzsimmons is too much for him, Hoffa and
Ciaro set up a meeting with and unidentified
mobster, which is who they are waiting for at
the diner.
Assassination Clip
How accurate do you think this depiction of
Hoffa’s assassination is?