The final scene's unusual framing is more poignant after Hoffman's death but would have been striking even without it.
It's rare to see a film that humiliates its protagonist as the film's climax.
It forms a bit of a companion piece to Tinker, Tailor...; there the character's hatred of America forms the vague rationale for his betrayal.
Here we see the American's fucking over their allies with a smile, alienating them without concern now that there is no-one else offering an alternative.
It's a reminder of Hoffman's physical metamorphic abilities. It is like he able to rearrange his face to reflect the character.
The film has beautiful photography and the best parts of the film are where Hoffman's gruff German spy is manipulating the other characters into their various betrayals.