Movie Review: The People Vs. Larry Flynt

8/10

Mikos Forman, director of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's nest and Amadeus, only makes films when he REALLY likes the script. This film concerns the exploits of the eponymous head of the Hustler empire, played with considerable skill by Woody Harrelson.

It's a film about whether boundaries can be put on free speech and also a ilm that debates the question of whose responsibility it is to make decisions about being exposed to extreme viewpoints (in this case, that a full shot of a lady's reproductive system is an important contribution to the newstands).

Whatever your views on pornography, the issues the film deals with are very much wider than simple censorship - should there be boundaries on free speech? Is avoiding felt emotional distress more important than the right to satirise major public figures? Or should those public figures roll with the punches since being in public office has satire in the job description?

All the relationships in the movie revolve around one - the love (genuine love, one feels) between Flynt and his wife, Althea (played with surprising skill by Courtney Love, of all people) and, despite the polygamous set-up of their marriage, sticks with him through thick and thin, even after he loses the use of his legs.

It also provides another run out for Ed Norton (rapidly and unintentionally becoming a regular featured artist in my reviews) who once again is excellent in the role of Flynt's lawyer. This role is actually representative of three lawyers in the true story, but movies are forced to blend characters together to get some through line.

It's a fascinating story, and with performances like those in it, it knocks on the door of becoming a classic picture. That it doesn't is primarily to do with the playing of several bits for broad laughs (movie fact: they considered Bill Murray for the lead) - it's fair enough since Flynt was by all accounts totally over the top and silly in all his court appearances, but it is genuinely tough to sympathise at times with the spoilt millionaires playing up in court and stuff. This coupled with occasional blunders from Love's performance just keep it from being as good as it could have been for me.

That being said, it's a really fine film and one that I believe may grow in my estimation with time - this was my second viewing and I was pleased to see it was as good as I remembered.

So see it, and think about the issues - is it right to say that you don't have to like porn to believe in the right to publish it?

Until next time!

A