Search - The People vs. Larry Flynt

"If the First Amendment will protect a scumbag like me, then it'll protect all of you -- 'cause I'm the worst," declares Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt (as played by Woody Harrelson) in the midst of one of his many court cases. Milos Forman's film follows Flynt from his childhood in Kentucky, where he made extra money for his dirt-poor family by selling the moonshine his father brewed, into adulthood as he manages a strip club in Cincinnati. While the club does middling business, the experience changes Flynt's life in two ways: he meets Althea (Courtney Love), an exotic dancer who becomes the love of his life, and he gets the bright idea of starting a magazine to promote the club. Marketed as a crasser, less pretentious alternative to Playboy or Penthouse, Hustler becomes a huge success after Flynt runs a photo series of Jacqueline Onassis sunbathing nude. However, while plenty of people are buying Hustler, there are also plenty of people who don't care for it, including Charles Keating (James Cromwell), leader of a watchdog group called Citizens For Decent Literature. Keating spearheads the first of many legal attacks on the magazine, one of which reaches the Supreme Court as Alan Isaacman (Edward Norton), Flynt's lawyer, debates the finer legal points of bad taste with the justices of the highest court in the land. Meanwhile, Flynt makes a fortune, loses the use of his legs after an attack by a sniper, embraces and than abandons Christianity, and eventually loses Althea, who succumbs to AIDS after a long addiction to drugs. Woody Harrelson's brother Brett Harrelson is well cast as Larry Flynt's brother Jimmy; Larry Flynt appears briefly as a judge who hands down a judgment against Larry Flynt. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Woody Harrelson - Larry Flynt
Courtney Love - Althea Flynt
Edward Norton - Alan Isaacman
James Cromwell
Crispin Glover - Arlo
James Carville
Brett Harrelson - Jimmy Flint
Burt Neuborne
Richard Paul - Rev. Jerry Falwell

1996	Best Director (winner)	Golden Globe	Milos Forman
1996	Best Screenplay (winner)	Golden Globe	Scott Alexander
1996	Best Screenplay (winner)	Golden Globe	Larry Karaszewski
1996	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner)	Los Angeles Film Critics Association	Edward Norton
1996	Best Actor (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Woody Harrelson
1996	Best Director (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Milos Forman
1996	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (winner)	National Board of Review	Edward Norton
1996	Most Promising Actor (winner)	Chicago Film Critics Association	Edward Norton
1996	Most Promising Actress (winner)	Chicago Film Critics Association	Courtney Love
1996	Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up) (winner)	National Society of Film Critics	Edward Norton
1996	Best Actor (nominee)	Screen Actors Guild	Woody Harrelson
1996	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	New York Film Critics Circle	Courtney Love

Milos Forman's biopic of Hustler founder Larry Flynt is successful not only as an atmospheric portrayal of the '70s porn industry, but also as an intelligent exploration of censorship issues in America. Unfortunately, Columbia TriStar's bare-bones DVD edition is unworthy of such a fine film. The only saving grace is that the actual movie itself is delivered in style. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is faultless, and the anamorphic transfer helps to emphasize the lurid decor and showy clothing prevalent in the film. The special features are conspicuous by their total absence, with not a trailer or featurette in sight -- particularly disappointing given the talent involved in the film, and inexcusable when there is so much that could be said about the issues raised by the movie. Even some background material about Hustler itself would have been of interest, but sadly there is none. This disc is poor indeed, and a good example of how not to package an acclaimed film in DVD format. ~ Patrick Lee, All Movie Guide

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