Dustin Hoffman is one of the most distinguished actors in American cinema. Alongside some of the greats, like Al Pacino and Robert de Niro, he left a memorable cinematic trace at the end of the last century, and critics and fans will highly appreciate his movies.
Born in the summer of 1937, Dustin Hoffman gained fame with his role in The Graduate. He has won two Academy Awards, six Golden Globes, and an Emmy award during his lifetime. Suffice to say, Dustin Hoffman’s movie career is one for the ages. He has starred in dozens of movies, in most of which he plays a leading role, but here is our list of Top 7 Dustin Hoffman movies that will not leave you indifferent to the craft of cinema.
Lenny
The first movie that we would like to stop and appreciate is the American drama Lenny, directed by Bob Fosse. Lenny isn’t the best movie of the 20th century, but Dustin Hoffman’s acting is undoubtedly one of the best there is. Here he takes the role of a controversial Jewish comedian named Lenny Bruce. The movie is an adapted play by Julian Barry that succeeds in being both brutally honest and deeply romantic in the audience’s eyes. Thanks to Hoffman’s commendable efforts to completely embody Lenny Bruce, the movie receives raving reviews. His performance is so detailed and immersive that it can surely give you goosebumps. With Lenny, Hoffman’s fans are left with a story, framed in the black-and-white cinematic style, that can simultaneously disgust, shock, excite and overwhelm.
Midnight Cowboy
Our next pick is one of the greatest American movies of all time – Midnight Cowboy. This movie totally raised the bar at the 42nd Academy Awards ceremony with seven nominations, and three Oscar wins. Midnight Cowboy, directed by John Schlesinger, tells how a young Texan man Joe Buck, searching for a better life in New York City, meets the homeless Ratso Rizzo, whose big dream is to go to sunny Florida. Hoffman’s perfect portrayal of а disabled New York City con man is definitely one of his most memorable roles. It’s not too far-fetched to say that his flawless acting makes Midnight Cowboy an American classic that has shaped the history of cinema.
Tootsie
If you think that drama acting is Hoffman’s forte, you should check him out in the comedy Tootsie, directed by Sydney Pollack. The plot follows the story of a talented actor who, unfortunately, is born with a difficult temper. He is determined to do just about anything in his pursuit of a job. This is precisely why the actor Michael Dorsey must become a woman. The movie perfectly showcases just how flexible and open-minded Dustin Hoffman is in his field. Although he doesn’t win an Oscar for Best Actor, Tootsie becomes an instant American classic and is kept at the National Film Registry of the US Library of Congress.
The Graduate
The Graduate is the movie that gives Dustin Hoffman a real Hollywood boost at the beginning of his career. This psychological drama by Mike Nichols comments on the youth revolt during the 1960s, the sexual revolution, and general insecurity about the future. Here, a young Dustin Hoffman slips into the role of a college graduate named Benjamin Braddock. The 21-year-old man begins an affair with Mrs. Robinson – the wife of his father’s business partner. The life of the young Benjamin gets even more complicated when he falls in love with the Robinsons’ daughter Elaine. The Graduate is the first serious role that Hoffman takes on. Still, he demonstrates talent and professionalism so early in his career hence the tremendous success that follows him for decades on end.
All the President’s Men
The fifth movie on our list is an American biographical drama that investigates the Watergate scandal and the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. Dustin Hoffman partners with Robert Redford in All the President’s Men, tackling Bernstein and Woodward’s roles. Their screen presence is more than splendid as Hoffman’s Bernstein is more reserved and experienced, whereas Redford’s Woodward is more a novice in the field. Bernstein knows the system inside and out, but Woodward is driven and uncompromising in his pursuit of the truth, bringing new and insatiable energy to Berstein’s work routine. All the President’s Men has been nominated for numerous Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Baftas, and in 2010 it was moved to the National Film Registry of The US Library of Congress for preservation, as it is now regarded “of cultural and historical importance”.
Rain Man
Our second to the last pick is none other than the classic Rain Man – an American drama directed by Barry Levinson that garnered Dustin Hoffman his second Academy Award for Best Actor. Here Hoffman embodies the character of Raymond – an autistic student who has received a significant inheritance from his dead father. Hoffman’s on-screen partner is Tom Cruise, who plays his younger brother Charlie Babbitt. The level of acting skills is above the charts as Dustin Hoffman manages once again to deceive the audience that they aren’t watching one of Hollywood’s most famous movie stars.
Straw Dogs
Almost every movie in Dustin Hoffman’s filmography deserves attention, but our TOP list ends with Straw Dogs – a psychological thriller directed by Sam Peckinpah. Hoffman plays an American mathematician David Sumner who moves with his British wife Amy to an isolated town where she grew up. Their presence, however, stirs up some controversies among the townsmen, and the hostility the couple endures develops into the rape of David’s wife. He then discovers that his pacifistic attitude is no longer a game player in his life. When some locals attack his house, David is horrified by what he is actually capable of. Straw Dogs is definitely one of the most emotional roller coasters a movie can provide.
Each of these movies will leave you wanting more of Dustin Hoffman’s charm, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s most talented stars. His professionalism and love for the craft of acting is evident on the shelf filled with numerous awards the now 84-year-old actor must have in his home.
If you have missed one of these all-time classics, now is the time to catch up!