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The People vs. Larry Flynt (Special Edition)

The People vs. Larry Flynt (Special Edition)

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $22.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: UNDERRATED
Review: this is one of the best movies i have ever seen, and yet i never see it on anybody's great movies lists. it's by milos forman, one of the best directors ever, and i can assure you it's not any less good than one flew... or amadeus, also by him but much more aprriciated. it's also woody harrelson's best performance in my opinion. and remember that this movie is not about porn, it's about free speech. watch it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Modern Classic
Review: P VS L.F. was a thoroughly entertaining movie,that i'd recommend to anyone who isn't offended easily (strong christians, people scared of the naked human body), it was very funny, sad at times, especially dealing with flint's wife. Has good replay value, you'll won't get bored of this movie. It Deals alot with protection of unpopular speech, which is relevent today too, with people like eminem and other musicians who are targeted for what they say.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow!
Review: This movie was positively incredible! I wouldn't change a thing (maybe). And the fact that the actor who played Arlo was hot didn't hurt.;)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great movie finally gets solid bonus material
Review: "The People vs. Larry Flynt" has long languished in a no-frill, barebone widescreen edition. Now Columbia has finally released a Special Edition that includes bonus material that fans of the film can appreciate: two full-length commentary tracks (both free of the excessive "back-patting" that other commentary tracks devolve into), a pair of interesting deleted scenes (though they are very brief, they include commentary), and some other bells and whistles.

The featurettes deserve a special kudos as they're actually quite good, not the normal fluff studios usually put in DVDs. Both were produced in 2003 for the Special Edition and allow the interviewees to reflect on the entire production and theatrical life of the movie and the backlash it recieved from the Left. The interviewees include Foreman, Flynt, Harrelson, the producers, screenwriters, and as a commendable surprise, Rev. Jerry Falwell himself. The featurette on Larry Flynt's life (narrated by Dennis Hopper) gives a brief synopsis of Flynt's entire life -filling in areas that the movie did not cover (like his service in the Army and Navy) and putting the events of the movie in actual chronological order -making it interesting to compare to how the movie interprets the truth.

As for the movie itself, I would recommend that you rent a movie before buying a more expensive "special edition." I personally enjoyed it a lot when it was theaters. Milos Forman's style is very visual, and he's able to keep his subject at enough distance to allow the audience to make up their own minds about him. Harrelson's performance is top notch (he recieved an Oscar nomination) and the rest of the cast definitely fits the bill. It stands alongside Forman's Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Just be forewarned, it is quite graphic -so if sexual situations bother you, it may not be something you'll enjoy.

As a final note, the DVD is actually contained within a jacket (the stripes you can see in the picture), when you pull the DVD case from the jacket you get to see the original "People vs. Larry Flynt" film poster that wasn't released due to it's parody of religion, sex, and patriotism -a good synopsis of the film indeed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Movie Gets A Well-Deserved Treatment On New DVD
Review: So I wrote a review a while back for the original DVD stating that while the movie was excellent, the DVD (lacking any special features whatsoever) was highly inadequate. Thankfully, Columbia recently decided to put out a long overdue special edition that includes just the right amount of interesting & satisfying extras.
For starters, the cover is obviously different. The new special edition features a red, white & blue image of Larry, but when you pull the actual case out of sleeve, you get to see the artwork for the original poster concept- a controversial image that mixes images of religion, sex, censorship, etc. There are also some other great promo shots from the studio included on the back of the case, on the inside, etc. They're great & they've rarely been seen before.
Along with the film (which doesn't need commenting- great acting, great writing, all based on real people/events) the DVD contains 2 documentaries: one about the making of the film, & one about the life of Larry Flynt (narrated by Dennis Hopper). Both are excellent, introspective, & don't run too long. They cover such topics as the original casting ideas, the scandal that hit around Oscar campaigning season, Larry running for president, etc. They even feature interviews with Jerry Fawell (amongst others), made especially for the 2003 DVD!
There are 2 interesting deleted scenes (was hoping for more, but it's better than nothing) & 2 commentary tracks. There are also a few Easter eggs on the main page, the audio set-up page, the subtitles page, & the special features page that let you view Larry's real (hilarious & insightful) TV spots from his presidential campaign!
So if you're at all interested in this movie, the extras on the 2003 special edition will enhance your enjoyment. And if you have the old, outdated DVD from 1997, then for God's sake get rid of it & upgrade to this special edition! You'll be glad you did!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: the best modern film I have ever seen
Review: This is a great film, excellently directed - & acted, beautifully photographed, having to do with the freedom of the individual to express his or her ideas, & how extremely important this is, in a free, civilized society. It is also about the triumph of a human spirit, fighting against all odds for this right. It is one of the greatest modern films ever made, & should be treasured by everyone who loves freedom.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: From Cheers to Nirvana
Review: I'm voting for excellent performances from all three of the lead cast. Courtney Love really surprised me - I had always thought of her as a hanger-on, especially after Cobain, but my wife and I both thought she gave a great performance. It's funny to me so see Woody in a lead role and really carrying the show. I always think of him as the dopey kid-bartender from Cheers, but as many of the other reviewers have noted, his post-shooting scenes are truly excellent.

This film actually helped restore my faith in the US justice system. I didn't know anything about this man or the case, although I'd read Hustler and enjoyed it. Wow, the Supreme Court is actually capable of sensible decisions - it kind of surprised me. I don't say this to offend anyone, just that they seem to be a fairly unresponsive and unapproachable group.

I hope every American (over 18 years of age) will see this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Best Films Ever Made on Free Speech
Review: One of the best films ever made on the personal right of free speech and civil liberties. If you are a supporter of our first amendment rights this is a must see film. You may not like the people portrayed in this film or what they have to say, but they do have a right to say it. If you don't like it don't listen and don't watch. They may offend you. Great performances by Woody Harrelson (way over-the-top) and Edward Norton (very tolerant) are an asset.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The People Rest Their Case...
Review: I was dissappointed by this film. I should have seen it coming, though. I suppose we, the viewers are supposed to be made to pity poor Larry Flynt while we watch him defend his rights to make lots of cash peddling porn. The story is punctuated by a series of sex scenes featuring drug abuse, alcohol, and so on. Poor Larry Flynt. For technical aspects, Woody Harrelson was great, and so was the rest of the cast.

Some documentaries are best left to A&E.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A thoroughly enGROSSing Film.
Review: WOW!! Here's a film that takes completely unsympathetic characters, and yet, makes us care about them. No small task for Milos Forman as director, but casting this film with Woody Harrelson and Courtney Love as Larry and Althea Flynt respectively, was sheer brilliance. .............. Woody Harrelson gives a knockout performance as formidable pornographer and publisher of the controversial "Hustler" Magazine. We meet him as a little backwoods boy selling moonshine with his brother, then a grown-up Larry selling a peek at bare-naked ladies, first in the flesh, and later in print, as he starts his publishing empire with his brother. I thought that casting Woody's REAL life brother, Brett Harrelson, as his brother in the movie, was a terrific touch. ............. Speaking of authenticity, a role has never been so perfect for anyone like the role of Althea Flynt was for actress/musician Courtney Love. I think she is a fascinating dynamic personality, and that works for her extraordinarily well on the screen here. From the moment she saunters out onto the stage to strip for Larry in the beginning, and for every moment she appears on screen through the end, she is truly mesmerizing and captivating. Love accurately captures the innate self-destructiveness of Althea that comes to fruition once Larry is paralyzed. When he recieves heavy narcotic pain killers by injection, she decides to partake as well, while injecting him. We have to assume she was seeking a substitute for the physical pleasures she and a paralyzed Larry, could no longer share. A little timeline shows us how several years go by. When the bedroom vault they've been holed up in opens, Althea is a stumbling, drug addicted, disheveled, punk caricature of her former attractive strong self. Love is SO great in her portrayal of this tragic figure, it is a crime she didn't win an award. She certainly deserves one for this outstanding performance. It's particularly funny, when Larry has the Delorean tapes, and an FBI agent comes to the door to see them. Althea opens up, bedraggled and wasted. When she tells the agent SHES Mrs. Flynt, the look of disbelief on his face is hilarious. We all know how the story ends, but in the film, the details are tactfully left out. Viewers can easily draw their own conclusions anyway. ................. Donna Hanover, ex-wife of ex-NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani, gives a brief yet sincere performance as Ruth Carter Stapleton, evangelistic sister of former president Jimmy Carter. She gets Larry interested in rebirth through religion, but the "epiphany" he experiences, is shattered by a snipers bullet. ............Edward Norton turns in a convincing portrayal of Larry's long suffering lawyer. Particularly amusing are the scenes where Larry at his most ornery, goes up against Jerry Falwell, or, as he unfondly and hilariously refers to him "Fartwell." You find yourself cheering for Larry as Norton fights for his clients ammendment rights. ...............There is no doubt that this film is not for the prudish, or the devout. There is much to be offended by when a story is based on a man such as Larry Flynt. If you are a person who might find this story, or its contents offensive, then you know who you are, and you know it's not for you. ..............For the rest of us, whether we like Flynt or not, there are parts of this film that will make you want to cheer, or even cry in sympathy when Larry loses what matters the most to him. When a film can make you CARE about unsympathetic characters, you KNOW you've experienced quality filmaking. ............... At the very least, I am sure you WILL be entertained by this excellent and highly fascinating biopic.


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