MovieChat Forums > Hoffman Discussion > A very divisive film.

A very divisive film.

posted 14 years ago by spamcity
4 replies | jump to latest

Hoffman has been one of my favourite movies, probably for the last 15 years or so, since I first saw it on British cable.
I've always felt a lot of sympathy for Mr Hoffman and although he comes across as quite sinister in the opening act, I understood exactly what he was trying to do, given that the final three weeks were ticking away, when Miss Smith would be lost to him forever.

However, I recently showed it to my wife and it disturbed her in a VERY profound way.
Her opinion of Hoffman never changed throughout the movie and she was actually quite perturbed as to how I could even like the film, let alone tell her that it was a love story with a happy ending!

Does the world divided up into:
A) Hoffmans
B) Everybody else.

Can't you read? It says SPOILERS!

[–] williesutt 13 years ago

This is probably my favourite film, but then I am a man and therefore can more easily identify with Hoffman than a female viewer could. On the face of it, this is a film about a middle aged loser trying his luck with the desirable young girl from the office, but it is much, much more than that. It's about unrequited love; about the last throw of the dice to find happiness before it's too late; about protecting and saving the desirable damsel of your childhood nursery tales: and WTH, all's fair in love and war.
Peter Sellers was brilliant - his best film IMO. Parts of Hoffman mirrored his own life, I am sure that is why he was so good. The script is outstanding, too: read this board for the one liners.
So, having said all that, I suppose viewers will divide into those who see the film as a story about a creepy guy on the make and those who can see it for what it is: a very moving, humour packed, love story.
BTW pay attention to the opening song by Matt Munro - the lyrics are significant.

[–] INTJewel 13 years ago

It's on my top ten list, and I'm a woman. A brilliant film. Yes, very divisive, and disturbing. I've shown it to all my friends and family and they all hate it

Sellers was brilliant in it and the score was perfect. Munro's lyrics are indeed a mirror of the film itself.

[–] Chief_Inspector_Clouseau 12 years ago

I am a 20 year old female and i love this movie. Agreed that it is divisive... It is not my friends or families type of movie at all but I think it is fantastic and as a Sellers fan it is one of his best :)

"A Beump."

[–] aws34 8 years ago

I am a middle aged woman and I liked and "got" this film. The saving graces are that Ben did not rape Janet nor murder her. As he admits toward the end, he was trying to woo her. Tom should marry his mother! What a weakling of a man! Ben Hoffman is not a loser and gave Janet the love and life she deserves.