The film of the week this time is LITTLE BIG MAN.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065988/

Little Big Man is one of the most underrated Westerns. It got very good reviews when it came out, but I never see it mentioned among the great Westerns. What sets it apart from other films is it's sense of humor. The story is played out more like a tragic comedy. The film is about an old man, Jack Crabb, looking back on his life. Crabb is played very well by Dustin Hoffman, whose accent does border on ridiculous at times but it fits the film's tone. Jack Crabb is a very interesting character. We learn that he was raised by Indians, and eventually fought with General Custer. I think this is a much better film than Arthur Penn's most famous film Bonnie and Clyde. While that film has a memorable ending, Little Big Man is filled with memorable moments.

The film manages to balance comic moments that parody Western cliches, and more emotional moments with ease. I never felt that the tone of the film was inconsistent. Some films that try to balance comedy and drama end up lessening the impact of both by not doing either well enough. One of the reasons I like this film so much is the recurring characters. Crabb meets a few people who show up throughout the film. Each time we see how their lives have changed and how he is affected by them. I highly recommend this film to people who love a good Western. It might become a favorite of mine eventually.