Great performance by Dustin Hoffman; undoubtedly one of his best. However, just as an observation, I've noticed a lot of Keaton mannerisms, especially in the beginning -- the befuddlement, the "stone face", the dependence on a "happy accident" to get him through. Watch the scene where he has been tarred and feathered -- the look is pure Keaton. Given the film's Odyssey-like plot, this was a wise decision.
shareI got the exact same vibe. Hoffman definitely had some silent comedy mannerisms in the first hour or so in this film. It's a shame he never played Keaton during his peak in the '70s. Given their similar physical appearance (stature and build more than face, but Hoffman does had a distinctive profile like Buster) and Hoffman's Method commitment to his roles, he seems like one of the only movie stars who actually could have done justice to Keaton's genius. Too late now.
"One must never go for a stroll in a film. It's forbidden." -Jean-Pierre Melville
To me, he's often like Keaton in this film.... to pick a small scene, when he first meets Dunaway. He reacts with the same underplayed deadpan that Keaton used when a woman absolutely stunned him. The long-nosed profile and shock of dark hair help too, of course. Another bit: the straight face and quick, slight shake of the head when he apologizes for almost shooting someone in the Wild Bill scene. There are so many.
I think Hoffman's work shows a Keaton influence -- the way he shuffles around with his arms hanging loosely at his sides in The Graduate, for instance.
in that scene, yes...
🌴"I'm not making art, I'm making sushi." Masaharu Morimoto🌴