Rating: 
Summary: Inspirational
Review: This movie has got to be one of my favorites. Its just incredibly interesting. Vincet D'Onofrio is an incredible actor and i recommend this movie along with another one of his greats The Cell.
Rating: 
Summary: "Steal This Book" Recalls the Nihilism of the Yippies
Review: Vincent D'Onofrio portrays Abbie Hoffman as a physically courageous but confused individual who took himself far too seriously. Abbie declared himself to be a fighter for freedom and justice. Regrettably, though, the enunciated premises of Hoffman's political theories inadvertently lead to Nihilism. Our protagonist was unable to realize that a certain degree of dispassionate objectivity towards the faults and weaknesses of both your enemies and friends is mandatory if one desires to avoid slipping into madness. Hoffman's writings were banal and immature. He did not possess the ability to make distinctions and comprehend the nuances required of a insightful political philosopher. Advocating shoplifting in stores, for example, hardly sustains a viable social order. Did D'Onofrio indulge in histrionic overkill? I was a politically disinterested teenager during the Sixties, but if my memory can be trusted it seemed that Hoffman had a more comedic side to him which is not reflected in the film.Janeane Garofalo deserved consideration for an Academy Award nomination for her interpretation of Hoffman's wife Anita. Garofalo's appearance in this movie alone could justify its viewing for those who merely want to see a fine actress at her best. She is believable as the wife who cooperates with her husband's mistress in keeping Abbie out of harm's way. Garofalo's Anita is not bitter or envious of Abbie's new love relationship. My gut instincts tempt me to conclude that this is likely the way the real Anita responded to her predicament. The roles of Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale and other notable Yippies are too shallowly drawn to be of value. This movie needed to be limited to a ninety minutes TV drama. The last hour of "Steal This Book" especially could have been cut to fifteen minutes. Hoffman achieved his place in the sun during the anti-Vietnam War years. The period when Hoffman was on the run is not germane. Historians will have only a mild interest in the Chicago Seven trial (There was no miscarriage of justice in this particular instance. Hoffman and his cronies acted like jerks, and the judge merely performed his duty). The violations of their civil rights by the FBI and other police agencies are alas another matter. This aspect of the story deserves its own full length movie. Nonetheless, it is also imperative not to overlook the cold fact that while we must condemn the disgusting actions of these government officials--in a truly totalitarian society, Abbie Hoffman and his cohorts would have been exterminated. The Yippie leader thankfully never acquired any real power. Our political system and institutions acted as a brake on Hoffman's baser inclinations. "Steal This Book" is recommended for those interested in understanding a bit more about the radical Yippies. It is not a great movie, but it helps to fill in some of the gaps. I give it three stars.
Rating:
Summary: I'm saving 5 stars for DESIRE!!
Review: Vinny was great as Abby...the movie itself was o.k....like I said before....VD saves many of these.... if you want bigger reviews, read the others....mine are quick....worth seeing of course.
Rating:
Summary: "STEAL THIS MOVIE"
Review: Well-made biographical film on the left-wing activist Abbie Hoffman. Vincent D'Onofrio turns in an outstanding performance as the troubled Hoffman and Janeane Garofalo delivers one of her finest as his first wife. The supporting cast, including Jeanne Tripplehorn, is also very impressive and maintains interest even when the film begins to falter about midway through. The filmmakers decided to cram so many incidents into the film, that after a while it becomes a series of "Abbie does something unamerican and gets beat up by 'the law'...again" episodes which cause more unintended giggles than sympathy. Real emotional involvement begins to waver at this point as well. Also, whilst Hoffman and his cohorts speak believably and realistically about their plights against the war, racism, sexism, etc.; the conventional thinkers in the film are the same generic stereotypes you'd find in any commercial Hollywood film. Although a tad preachy, STEAL THIS MOVIE gets its points across loud and clear and it's good to know that someone as dedicated to their cause as Hoffman can still inspire younger, less focused individuals through literature and film.
Rating:
Summary: D'Onofrio is amazing...
Review: While it would have been nice if this movie had been a little less obvious, the total lack of subtlety does seem to fit in with Abbie's methods and philosophies. If he had made this movie, he probably would have used the same voiceovers and "surveillance photos". He would not have wanted to leave even a shadow of a doubt that the Government was really after him, spying on his most intimate moments and sparing no effort to disgrace and defuse him and his movement. Vincent D'Onofrio is becoming one of my favorite actors, after seeing him in "The Velocity of Gary" and a few others. His performance in "Steal this Movie" is nothing short of a transformation. He is amazing. All the actors do good jobs here, really bringing the characters to life. Altogether, the movie does lack some depth and subtlety, but it is great entertainment as well as a good introduction to Hoffman's life. It certainly aroused my curiosity. Videotape this movie - Abbie would have wanted that.
Rating: 
Summary: The 60's as a Saturday morning cartoon.
Review: You can't blame Vincent D'Onofrio or Janeane Garofalo for giving this one the good ol' Kent State College try. However, when you're working with a script from the Acme Screenplay Co. that portrays Abbie Hoffman as the Roadrunner and the U.S. Government as Wile E. Coyote, your credibility goes sailing right over that cliff. D'Onofrio, who can be brilliant with the right script or director ("Full Metal Jacket", "The Whole Wide World") might want to shop around for a new agent. He projects obvious enthusiasm for the character, but the lack of attention to other details of the production provides little support for his earnestness. Garofalo is convincingly down to earth as Anita Hoffman, but ultimately isn't given much to do beyond the cliche Concerned Wife routines. Like the theatrical release "Panther" and the TV miniseries "The 60's", "Steal This Movie" is yet one more case of slapping a melange of tired 60's tunes onto a soundtrack for "atmosphere", with little else added that would sucessfully evoke the era of radical politics in America. Meep! Meep!
Rating:
Summary: Good biography of a great man
Review: `Steal This Movie' is a well-thought, well-written well-acted, well-made dramatization of the life of left-wing activist Abbie Hoffman, probably the most famous of the Chicago Seven. (The title is a play on the title of Hoffman's autobiography, `Steal This Book', though it certainly doesn't have the poignancy of that title.) `Steal This Movie' made some bold casting choices. The lead role was given to Vincent D'Onofrio: not an obvious choice, because Vincent looks very little like Abbie, which caused many die-hard history aficionados to bash the decision. However, Vincent fills the role wonderful, brilliantly, expressing all the conflicting sides of Hoffman's personality, his sense of humor, his dead seriousness, strict political consciousness, bi-polar disorder, having to live in hiding and away from his wife and son. He makes the character come alive much more than someone else could have by simply looking and talking like him. Abbie's wife Anita is played wonderfully by SNL's Janeane Garofalo, accomplished comedian but not so as a dramatic actress.
Though it doesn't have that much cinematic value by its own right, `Steal This Movie' does a fantastic job of getting through both the spirit of the time and the greatness and difficulties of Hoffman's activities and his character - a great and fascinating person whose impact has long been overlooked. It's also a wonderful document of an important period that is practically ignored (relatively, of course). For those interested in the late 60s, in the hippie movements, Black Panthers and other left wing political movements of the time, and of course in Hoffman himself - it's invaluable, on top of being both touching and entertaining. A good watch.
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