Little Big Man

Little Big Man is delightfully over-the-top as a comedy, immensely engaging as a human drama, and truly extraordinary as an adventure western. That alone testifies to the uniqueness of this beautiful story, which hasn't aged a day in 42 years and would clearly deserve to be in the top 200 for its premise and idea. Dustin Hoffman is amazing, giving probably his best performance after Rain Man, and it would be hard to imagine the fate of the elusive Jack Crabb today without his innocent and determined face. But just as much he shines in front of the camera, Arthur Penn gives a great directorial performance and manages to inject such a range of feelings, colours and emotions into the narrative that even the 140 minutes seem short. Where are all the Oscar nominations, at least for the director and Hoffman...? (15/10/2012)

Director Arthur Penn became famous mainly thanks to the film "Bonnie and Clyde", but he is also known for the film "Little Big Man". It's the story of a white boy who was raised by Indians, but his life definitely did not bring him an easy fate. We first meet Jack Crabb when he is around 120 years old and he begins to tell his story to a reporter. It doesn't seem like a significant story at first glance, but that's not the case. Jack Crabb immediately finds himself in the clutches of fate and is dragged by them for the rest of his allotted time. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/02/maly-velky-muz-1970-80.html (21/03/2013)

One of the few westerns that shatters the conventional view of the conquest of the Wild West as a heroic period in American history (the slaughter of an Indian village by ruthless American soldiers, General Custer as a psychopathic despot, etc.), and it also has many funny situations. Dustin Hoffman as a shy young man, a drunkard, an Indian, a bearded drifter or a centenarian old man – he is extremely convincing in all these roles. I think its his best film role. (01/06/2002)

A classic revisionist anti-western. In its time, it was an important undertaking, being an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Thomas Berger. Fortunately, there is no longer any need to tolerate the shortcomings of the time: Unbelievable masks, the illogical connection of individual chapters, and some absolutely terrible acting performances. The exaggeration and lightness with which this contemporary Forrest Gump crossed with The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared weaves through the American West are far from as charming, as it is only straightforward and self-serving. I am glad that the sequel "The Return of Little Big Man" (1999) was released only as a book. (07/03/2024)

For a long time, I claimed that I didn't have a positive relationship with the western genre. I was bothered by its clichés, heroism, and black-and-white characters. Later, I had the privilege to get acquainted with films that significantly revitalized the classic western and disproved my prejudices that the western genre is dead. Little Big Man, in my opinion, belongs to the best creations in this genre. It's not a parody, but Arthur Penn looks at the conquest of the Wild West and the famous figures of that era through a comedic lens. Jack Crabb, as the film's protagonist, represents the absolute opposite of the beloved western heroes. He is actually a nobody who navigates on the border between white and Native American civilization. He doesn't really belong anywhere and changes his ethnic affiliation and life role several times. Penn cunningly satirizes the myth of the Wild West and legends of that era. General Custer is an excellent narcissistic psychopath, and the devout pastor's wife, played by Faye Dunaway, is a perfect example of hypocrisy and rightfully meets a tragic fate. The film depicts the inevitable decline of the Native American civilization and the massacres that accompanied the settlers' westward expansion. The director alternates between humorous moments and scenes of violence and tragic death. Penn handles this uncommon and quite demanding combination of genres excellently, while authentically portraying the receding Native American culture without succumbing to sentimentality and fascination. The presence of the always-excellent Dustin Hoffman definitively tips the scale in favor of five stars. Overall impression: 90%. (12/09/2014)