Simply Dustin Hoffman

 First here's a short list of movies that are not on this list, which are movies you should obviously see that have Dustin in them even if the movie is bad: (These are usually his most popular ones) Rain Man, Marathon Man, Midnight Cowboy, The Graduate, Kramer vs. Kramer, All The President's Men, Lenny, Tootsie, Wag The Dog.

I also have done commentaries by the way. You can view them in Miscellaneous and then Referances.

Madigan's Millions (1969)

  The very first movie where Dustin played a lead, we see him as a detective from the US trying to find a mobster's large sum of money.

Skip or see: Skip it

Why: While Dustin is very young and good looking in this role, the film itself goes very slowly and Dustin's acting isn't really at it's tops. I would think fans of the Pink Panther series would see this film in a very negative light as we see Dustin try to act somewhat like a Detective Clouseau. The films comedy isn't too well either, so unless you're a woman willing to see a young Dustin Hoffman for 86 minutes (Who isn't!?!) or if you're a fan of slapstick detective movies, I would say this isn't worth watching too much

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Climb out of a window
• Shoot a gun from outside a car
• Act like Detective Clouseau
• Do push ups
• Growl at a dog
• Do Kung Fu moves
• Pretend to talk in chinese
• Get punched and shot at

 John and Mary (1969)

 In this movie, Dustin plays a man who has a one night stand with Mia Farrow but gets to know her the next day in this love story

Skip or see: Skip it

Why: Not only does this movie basically take place in one...well, place, but it's also the lack of Dustin even getting to do anything that's also pretty sad. Yes, he is the lead, but most of the time we just get to see him talk in really unemotional scenes, so if you can pull through that, than maybe this is worth seeing. It's a lot like All the President's Men, where he's in it but...then again, he doesn't do anything

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Play tennis
• Sing in the shower (Very short scene)
• Walk around without his shirt
• Shave
• Hear his thoughts
• Be very...affectionate???

 Straw Dogs (1971)           

                                                                                                                                                  This is said to be one of the violent and controversial  movies of the 70's. Dustin plays an American who lives in England with his wife whose marriage is slowly to it's breaking point and ends with his wife getting raped and Dustin becoming a killing machine

Skip or see: Various (See why)

Why: While Dustin plays the lead and is very interesting to watch, this film also is very disturbing. It's rape scene is said to have been the worst when it came out and upon seeing it, I even felt disgusted. This is not a family film so I would suggest younger viewers to skip it until they become possibly older. Some parts are also a little boring, but I think the whole movie is worth seeing for Dustin. I would say if you want to see this movie only for him then go see it

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Fight with a fire poker, and other various things
• Kill a lot of Brits

 Papillon (1973)

 Movie where Dustin plays the friend of Steve McQueen, who tried over and over again to escape a French prison.

Skip or see: See It

Why: If you're a fan of movies, this one is worth watching. In a way it's a lot like The Shawshank Redemption and Escape from Alcatraz twisted together. It has a good story and Dustin plays a very interesting character, in which I haven't seen him act like in other movies. Though he is not the lead, he holds the movie and it's theme together

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Climb over a wall
• Sleep in a hammock
• Tried to get killed by other prisoners
• Wrestle a crocodile (Whether this was him or a double, I'm not sure)
• Try to capture butterflies
• Get kicked by a guard
• Serve drinks at a party
• Hit a guard
• Get his neck snapped (only to unconsciousness)
• Ride on a boat
• Feed pigs
• Hug Steve McQueen

 Ishtar (1987)  

 This movie stars Dustin and Warren Beatty as two songwriters looking for work in Morocco and get into a Cold War standoff. This is said to be one of the worst films ever made as critics say it's story is pointless and the comedy is sour.

Skip or see: See it

Why: I don't care what ANYONE says, if you want to see a Dustin Hoffman movie and you've already seen the best, this is worth viewing!!! It's seriously not as bad as critics make it out to be and the story isn't that boring. Plus, just to see Dustin in this movie is awesome. He does many cool things a Dustin Hoffman fan might want to see and his chemistry with Warren Beatty is cute

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• TRY to commit suicide from jumping off a building
• Sing with and without Warren Beatty
• Walk into the desert
• Try to speak Arabic
• Shot a HUGE gun at airplanes (It's totally like a Scarface scene)
• Scream in "Arabic."

 Family Buisness (1989)

    This movie stars Matthew Broderick and Sean Connery as Dustin Hoffman's son and father as the trio scheme a burglary and drama comes between the three

Skip or see: See it

Why: While the film in itself is somewhat slow and pointless, (and received TONS of bad reviews and was more or so...a flop when it came out) Dustin makes it important. His character is sympatheic and it seems the film is more about him than Connery or Broderick, as he is really the thing in the middle that keeps the story together. His acting is beyond average in this film and is better (In my opinion) than Connery's. His character is very interesting, not to mention he is very good looking in the movie

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Slap Matthew Broderick
• Punch Sean Connery (Yeah, this isn't a close trio)
• Cry
• Get felt by Sean Connery (This scene is VERY hot)
• Get his head hit by Sean Connery
• See him in one scene without a shirt
• See him in a Jewish hat

 Billy Bathgate (1991)

 The movie more or so follows the steps of a young boy involved with the mob. Dustin's character, a very vicious gangster, takes up to be the mentor of this kid as choas and violence being to rule his life

Skip or See: Various (See why)

Why: I'm a big fan of mobster films but when they fail, they fail hard. Maybe I'm very biased on this movie only because I found Dustin extremely attractive in this, but he overall does get to do quite a few things. It's somewhat like what Michael Corleone would be like if Dustin had gotten that part in The Godfather. His characters pretty interesting but the movie does go pretty slow and I can see how someone can be quickly bored by it

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Beat up a guy
• Shot a guy in the face
• Act by Steve Buscemi (I don't care what you think, I think that's a big deal!)
• Act like a gangster/mobster
• Lose his temper pretty often...

Hook (1991)

Dustin plays Captain Hook in this tale about what would happen if Peter Pan grew up and returned to Neverland to rescue his children and the innr child within himself

Skip or see: Various (See why)

Why: This is actually a very hard movie (if not the hardest) to review...you know, I've met so many people who only LOVE Dustin Hoffman just for this movie. They more or so love his character than him, but that's gotta mean this role still means something. This is also a huge cult classic. But then again, I'm a bigger Dustin Hoffman fan (seen more movies than those Hook fans) and I didn't think too much of this. A lot of other big Dustin fans don't either. Also, don't get fooled by the name. The movie is more about Peter Pan than Hook. I don't even know why they called it this in the first place, since he has the amount of scenes the average movie villain has. At the end of the day though, this was the first Dustin Hoffman movie I saw, and I feel I should get it some credit. Dustin plays a character you have never seen in this movie. His acting is great and his character is very interesting. The only thing I'm afraid of though is if you'd actually like the movie, which was overall okay. But then again, I saw it when I was a kid and I know a lot of people who thought this film sucked. At the end of the day, it's your decision.

Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Fences with Robin Williams
• Try to commit suicide
• Talk with a British accent

Hero (1992)

 In this movie, Dustin plays a somewhat self-centered scumbag who saves a vast amount of people on a plane and is his idenity is unknown to the public as the news media search to find who he is

Skip or see: See it

Why: If you loved Dustin in Midnight Cowboy, you may love him in this seeing as he plays a sort of Rico Ratso re-encarnated. Unlike his other movies where he plays the all American working class man, in this one he plays a very low life patheic man who only thinks and cares about himself. The movie itself is average in entertainment, but it keeps you watching

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Climb onto a building to rescue a suicidal Andy Garcia
• Rescue people on a plane
• Fall into a muddy lake
• Again, act very Rico Ratso like in stealing
• Almost fall off a building (Pretty cool scene)

Outbreak (1995)        

A deadly virus has breaken out, causing the sickness of millions of people. Dustin is the main character that helps to find a cure and stop the virus

Skip or see: Skip it

Why: I'm not the kind of person that even really likes these kind of movies in the first place, but if you're interested in movies that involve the death of millions because of a disease, this ones pretty slow. I have heard loads of people give great reviews of it, which is odd to me since, again, the movie wasn't all that brilliant. Dustin doesn't get to do much, we basically only see him VIEW others having intense things happening to them while he tried to come up with a solution

Cool things you get to see Dustin do: 

• Ride a Helicopter   
• Act besides Morgan Freeman
• Jump from a plane onto a boat   
• Be dressed in an army suit    

American Buffalo (1996)

 This movie stars Dustin as one of the leads. It is based on the classic play, where three men plants a bany robbery

Skip or see: Skip it

Why: I had never seen the play, but you can be sure that maybe this would be more interesting acted out right in front of you and you'd possibly forgive it more for some of the cons. One con is we never really get to see these characters ANY place else except a junk shop (or whatever that house or place is) For two whole hours it's in the same boring setting. Another thing is there is only talk. We never SEE what happens when they actually do things they conspire to do. So if you're a patient, visual person, you may like this. But another thing is Dustin's character. I guess I shouldn't have too much of a problem with it since in the past he's played a LOAD of scumbags, but this one is the possibly the top. We hear him only bitch and moan and say the "f" work in every sentence. So if you like "those kind of characters" than by all means go see it. For the rest of us though, he may simply just be annoying.

Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Hit a kid with a phone
• That's pretty much it 

Sleepers (1996) 

    This movie centers around four young boys who, due to their rough housing and self-centered-ness (Is that a word?) get sent to a jail for boys. In the jail these boys are subject to the worst abuse and, as they grow up, we see how they come to terms with it

Skip or see: See it

Why: The thing that's true is that Dustin is not in this movie very much. I don't think he even gets in it until the second part. But the movie itself is very entertaining and worth watching. Only until a court room scene and other little clips we see Dustin, which more or so seems like a cherry on top of the movie. Though, if the movie does NOT sound interesting to you (Which really, I thought it was) then skip it. I guess I should also mention that the director of Rain Man also directed this movie.

Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• We get to see the lawyer side of him
• Interrogate Robert Deniro

Mad City (1997)

 Dustin Hoffman plays a reporter who only cares about getting the next big story. He soons uses John Travolta as a pawn as Travolta takes kids in a museum hostage

Skip or see: Skip It

Why: Somewhat like John and Mary, we really don't get to see Dustin do a range of things instead of just talking. The story is pretty entertaining none the less, so probably if you are a big fan of Hoffman and Travolta you should see it, but even I am and I didn't find it too interesting

 Cool things you get to Dustin do:

• Break down on a national TV segment (See the Mad City Clip in the video section)
• Have something blown up behind him
• Talk about his...awww.....I'll let you figure that out
• Talk on Larry King Live
• Fall down some stairs (This is, again, possibly a double)

 Sphere (1998)

 Dustin joins a small team who investigates a spacecraft which has been left for 300 years under the ocean. During the mission, drama and tragedy slowly follow after discovering a sphere like object. (Hence the title Sphere).

Skip or see: See it

Why: Upon seeing this film I had the idea it might have a very slow and boring plotline, but I was wrong. I don't usually go for movies like these (Sci-fi like) but it was much more entertaining than I thought and it's fun to see Dustin in such an important role as this. He gets to do a whole lot and the film makes you sit on the edge of your seat only because you won't know what will happen to him in the end. He gets to do a whole lot, and it's totally worth seeing him in

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Talk in a chipmunk voice
• Get attacked by sea snakes and freak OUT
• Wear a Scuba suit
• Swim

The Messenger: The Story of Joan Arc (1999) 

Dustin plays Joan of Arc's conscience in this 1999 movie about...well, Joan of Arc.

Skip or see: Various (See why)

Why: I'm not much of a history buff...or a Joan of Arc buff, whatever you call it...this movie though was overall okay. I don't really go for movies like this but it was pretty much entertaining. The thing is though Dustin isn't in it that long and you MAY not like the movie. But when he does make his appearance it really is something. His acting is top notch and it's interesting seeing him in a role like this. If you really wish to not see this movie, at least Youtube his scenes, since they are worth watching.

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Slap Milla Jovovich

Moonlight Mile (2002)

Dustin plays the grieving father of a deceased woman who's fiance comes to visit her hometown and (hopefully) overcome her death.

Skip or see: Various (See why)

Why: Even though the movie has received loads of positive reviews, and (I will admit) is deep on loads of levels, the characters and complete boringness of this movie ruins it for me. I've heard both good and bad reviews on Dustin's acting. I personally thought he was very good, which is the only reason why I gave this movie the "various," thing instead of skip it. Other wise, this movie is, again, extremely boring and pointless at parts. I know it's about life and the meaning of it and death but...you really don't seem to care. Skip over to all of Dustin's parts, otherwise leave the movie.

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

•  Cry (I think it's one of the most famous scenes)
• Smoke a cigar
• Slap a phone

Runaway Jury (2003)

Skip it. Trash it. Burn it. That's all I'll say.

I Heart Huckabees (2004)

  In this movie, Dustin plays a detective trailing after Jason Schwartzman who thinks someone is following him but instead comedy follows

Ship or see: Skip It

Why: To start of with, I love this movie. It's one of my favorites. But I think I'd be biased in saying go see it or various seeing as most people didn't like this at all. Unless you love cookie movies that are hard to understand on first viewing, this movie isn't really worth seeing for Dustin. He's not in the movie for that long, although some scenes are worth watching just for him and his acting is great. If you don't want to waste your time, Youtube the clips. Hopefully you won't see those Lily Tomlin freak out ones...

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Spy
• Be Lily Tomlin husband
• Have a bowl haircut
• Act "Cookie."
• Have breast??? (This is something I've seen pictures and such from but the actual movie doesn't show him with this. I'm thinking maybe it's a deleted scene on the extras, but if you look in the gallery section of the movie, if you DARE, you can see such a...thing)

  Meet The Fockers (2004)

 A follow up to the earlier comedy, Ben Stiller takes his future wife and parents-in-law to his parents house, where his father Dustin Hoffman and Barbra (S.) go to great lengths embarressing him.

Skip or see: See it

Why: This is perhaps one of my favorite roles of Dustin. His character is an absolute riot and getting to see him act next to Robert Deniro is definitely worth seeing. The humor itself is much funnier than in it's previous movie (Meet the Parents) and Dustin has a very big role in this movie. His chemisty as Ben Stiller's father and Barbra Streisand's husband is very good. Totally a movie worth seeing

 Cool things you get to see Dustin do:

• Play football against Deniro and Stiller
• Do kung fu movies (Or something similar)
• Kiss Robert Deniro
• Try to fight Robert Deniro (Very funny scene)
• Bust open a toliet
• Have his face covered in cream
• Tackle Robert Deniro
• Dance

 Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

      Will Ferrell plays a man who thinks the events of his life is being narrated by a woman who then goes to lengths telling him he will soon die. Whether it's true or all just in his head is for you to see and decide.

Skip or see: Skip it

Why: Though Dustin does have a good amount of scenes in this movie, he again doesn't get to do much besides play therapist to Ferrell. The movie itself sound interesting enough, but you've got to have a great deal of patience to deal with scenes that are sometimes very slow and seem somewhat pointless to the overall plot

 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)