Customer Reviews

Lenny [VHS]

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I went into this film knowing nothing about the comic Lenny Bruce, and after watching this film I have already added two of his CDs to my Wish List. I am eager to hear more, to listen to his words, and be intrigued by how his thoughts are still relevant in today's society. This was a beautiful film made in 1974. The decision by director Bob Fosse to film it completely in black and white was brilliant. Hoffman and Perrine's chemistry is brilliant as well as their performances. The power of this man is vividly demonstrated through this film, leaving you with questions answered as well as a desire to hear more. This was such a captivating feature. From the opening sequence of words spewing from a mouth to the final shot of Lenny Bruce, I was glued to my seat.

To begin, the cinematography was better than most feature films. Fosse knew what he was doing and did it with the greatest of ease. His choice to film completely in black and white really helped me hear the words that Bruce spoke instead of just being involved in the colors that surrounded him. The black and white feature gave Hoffman the ability to create a human from his character and take us away from Hoffman and into the mind of comic Lenny Bruce. The shots that Fosse used also assisted with building this compelling story. Every shot is important in this film, and Fosse does a great job of demonstrating and explaining the "why" and "where" of a scene. This was his first and only nonmusical, and he was triumphant. The way that the story works in a pseudo-documentary style was impeccable. While you are never quite told who the person is behind the camera, you do get that raw emotion from the actors as if you were watching a real documentary. There was just so much emotion that Fosse pulled from his troupe in this film that you could only watch in amazement. It also left the door open to the question of who is behind the camera. With the words that Bruce said nightly in his show, I couldn't help but think of the possibility of government conspiracy. Maybe I am way off, but there was that aura of "cover-up" throughout this film. Even the final sequence gives off that sense.

BAM - Powerful cinematography is right in front of you, but whom do we have in the center of the camera? None other than a very young and fresh Dustin Hoffman. This film really showcased his talents. While he had several films before this one that brought him into the spotlight, I thought that he went above and beyond for this film. He really transformed himself into the character. Some of my favorite moments with Hoffman in Lenny was when he thinks about the nurse the first time, when Honey calls asking for money, and when he asks the Judge to sentence him now instead of going through the trial. The vision of defeat was spectacular. You see in this film why Hoffman is considered one of the greats of Hollywood. Valerie Perrine, also a young actress at the time, was immaculate. Her portrayal of Honey needs to go in the history books. Actresses today could take a moment or two to learn from this dramatic actress. These two actors really brought this film together. They took you deep into the life of this radical thinker and kept you nestled deeply inside of him. They shined greatly, and the Academy saw it too!

BAM - Cinematography, BAM - award winning acting, what can be the final BAM? How about Lenny Bruce? Born well after his death, I had never even heard of the man, but the words that I witnessed from this film from his mouth shocked me. Not so much because of the shock value that surrounded them, but just how relevant his work is still today. As homosexuality becomes a staple in our community and society, Lenny's comments on the teachers in this film seemed like topics we are still talking about today. He was way ahead of his time, and I think that is why people feared him. Living with an English teacher, I am constantly involved with the English language, but I am also shown information about those that have no interest because they do not see how it relates to "real" life. I am also aware of how little respect English gets as daily we hear of schools cutting back on their Literature studies to help support their sports program, or how the first way to cut back spending is to close libraries. These are sad days that we live in, and if only people could see how powerful words can be in defending yourself and explaining the world, I think we would see a rebirth. If I had the option to fight with a loaded gun or an aggressive dictionary, I think you can see which I would choose. Lenny Bruce did no harm to anyone, he spoke his mind, and for that he was convicted. What a sad day for America.

Grade: ***** out of *****

3 great films came out of 1974. The Godfather Part 2, Chinatown, and Lenny. The first two are remembered as masterpieces but the third, no one ever seems to talk about. Why? Lenny is a movie that is equal to Chinatown and Godfahter 2. If I was in the Academy, it would be tough to decide to give the Oscar to Pacino or Hoffman but it would be a scandal to vote for Art Carney. How Hoffman didn't get the oscar is beyond me. Some critics say Hoffman was miscast as Lenny Bruce because he isnt funny. I read material on the real Lenny Bruce saying he was not hilarious at all. Hoffman knew this. The critics didn't. Valerie Perrine acts so great. She should have gotten the Oscar. Fine direction from Bob Fosse. Great screenplay by Julian Barry. Some people might call me stupid but I think this is the best picture of 1974. What a great year that was. Im only 13 but sometimes I feel sad because I would like to go back to 1974 and by myself, go to the theater, sit down with popcorn and a coke, and watch Lenny. But I never will and that is very sad for me. They don't make great movies like they used to.

Bob Fosse was an amazing talent, and there is much to love about this movie from a cinematic and stylistic standpoint. As a history of Lenny Bruce, however, the picture is selective and over-dramatized. As, I suppose, any biopic has to be, but the selectiveness here seems imbalanced and the dramatization unnecessary. It's a decent introduction to the subject of Lenny Bruce, just don't take it as the whole and gospel truth. And Hoffman--amazingly gifted and one of my favorite actors though he may be--simply does not communicate the live presence that this man had.

Buy a few Lenny CD's (I would recommend Carnegie Hall and the Curran Theater), watch the documentary "Swear to Tell the Truth," watch "Lenny Bruce Without Tears," and if you really wanna get into the minutae then read the book "The Trials of Lenny Bruce" by Ronald Collins and David Skover. Then you'll begin to get the real picture of a brilliant, flawed, hilarious man and his relevance to the First Amendment and the social revolution of the 60's and 70's. Lenny was history. This is just a movie.

A powerful biography of the brilliant but doomed night-club comedian Lenny Bruce. Taking the form of a pseudo documentary, an unseen interviewer questions Bruce's wife, mother, and agent about his life. We are shown Bruce's early 50's beginnings as an unremarkable comic performing hackneyed material. He then meets Honey Harlow, the stripper who becomes his wife. Their marriage is happy at first. Then they get involved with drugs and swinging, which cause problems and they eventually divorce. This first half of the film uses the effective technique of frequently cutting to one of Bruce's later performances to illustrate how these experiences inspired some of his routines. Meanwhile, during a period working as an MC in strip joints, Bruce develops the improvisational style for which he became famous. He moves back to the nigh-clubs, wher his daring satire brings him acclaim and (initially) fortune. Eventually the authorities take notice, and he is subjected to a string of busts for obscenity and drugs, which make it increasingly difficult to get work. Bruce's legal and money problems pile up, and he finally dies of a drugs overdose. In some ways then, Lenny is a typical Hollywood rags-to-riches-to-rags biopic, but here spiced up with a liberal dose of 70's permissiveness. Its sparse Black and white photography effectively compliments Bruce's increasing despair. The supporting cast are all good, and Valerie Perrine is particularly strong as Bruce's wife. But it is Dustin Hoffman who dominates the film. His performance as Bruce is compelling, especially in the night-club scenes. Precious little film exists of the real Lenny Bruce in live performance. Watching Hoffman recreate his routines is the next best thing. For that alone, this film is to be commended.

For a film that's over 30 years old, this looks great. What helps matters is that it's black and white, which is easier to clean up in the post production process. Really though, it looks like it could have been filmed last year. Dustin Hoffman channels Lenny Bruce in a film directed by Bob Fosse. Yes it's a weird thing, there's no denying that. Bob Fosse, who was better known for his choreography (Chicago, Cabaret), turned to directing as another outlet of his creative forces. As for Hoffman, looking at his body of work makes this role in particular standout. I'm surprised that he chose to play Bruce, an outspoken, angry man. After all, Hoffman is usually more the weirdo or mealy-mouthed villain. Then again, what was Bruce if not a slightly weird guy, who ultimately was shy except when he inhabited the stage.

Lenny Bruce was the driving force behind making comedy into the socially challenging medium it is today. The structure is episodes of his life tied together with commentary from his agent, his wife (played by Valerie Perrine), and other important characters in his life. Lenny was one of the original dirty mouthed comedians, but with a point. He was taking on the establishment, and the hypocrisy of contemporary society. He was arrested and tried several times on obscenity charges, for things like using the word c**sucker during a public performance. He also had a problem with drug abuse, largely due to the influence of his addict wife. She was a headline stripper when they met, and he was a young comedian. Bruce died never really seeing the fruits of his passion.

Fosse was an accomplished director, managing to channel some mavericks of his own in the direction of this movie. With its loose cutting style and drifting camera, the film at points feels like a Cassavete's film and this style works perfectly with the subject matter. Because of this, Lenny has a pure authenticity that's impossible to shake. There never feels like a false moment and Hoffman is particularly great (he was nominated for this role.) All of Lenny's acts are performed nearly verbatim, and all the court and interview transcripts are pulled from his life. Given that Bruce was a man under constant surveillance while he performed, so that the recordings could be used against him in court, allowing these same words to redeem him is Lenny's greatest accomplishment. Even if he doesn't know it, Lenny was right all along. I honestly enjoyed this film and like to thank JoeyD. for recommend it to me.

This excellent portrayal of 60's comic icon Lenny Bruce is a tour de force for Dustin Hoffman even if the story is a little whitewashed. Fosse stays safe in presenting Lenny's persecution as being based on the profanity issue. In fact, the real issue was Lenny's condemnation of the Catholic Church which struck 60's America across the face with its bare contempt. Speaking against the Church wasn't prosecutable, but the profanity laws were still on the books at that time. Like Al Capone, the law figured out a way to bust Lenny. All in all, a very enjoyable film, especially for those unfamiliar with Lenny, who in the end got crucified for today's comics.

Hoffman fully inhabits the tortured genius of Lenny Bruce, a performer whose scathingly funny routines seem fairly tame by today's standards, but which, in the proper, conforming fifties and early sixties, offended the establishment sufficiently to prompt multiple arrests for obscenity. Valerie Perrine delivers vivid support as Bruce's cheesy stripper wife, Honey, as much a victim of the times--and drugs--as Bruce himself. "Lenny" is a rare non-musical triumph for director Fosse, who was Oscar-nominated, along with Hoffman and Perrine. This gritty picture still packs a wallop.

My first exposure to the world of Lenny Bruce was the Broadway show, Lenny. The film is (loosely) based on the play, which rather faithfully followed the life of Lenny Bruce (more or less) and told his story using entirely his own words. In the stage version, Lenny was played by Cliff Gorman, whose best known role was that of the wildly effeminate character Emory in both the film and original stage productions of Mart Crowley's play the Boys in the Band. At the time, I ran out and purchased everything I could find on Lenny Bruce, because Cliff Gorman was that funny. I laughed so hard in the theatre, I thought I'd die, and had trouble deciding what was more important, Lenny Bruce's status as one of the funniest comedians who ever lived, or the amazing social commentary woven throughout his routines. At the time, I remember thinking that Lenny Bruce was more of a philosopher or even a potential cult religious leader than a comedian. He had a knack of exposing hypocrisy, be it in politics, organized religion, race relations or whatever. I was convinced, at the tender age of 18, that Lenny Bruce had the keys, if not the answers, to all of the world's problems.

I went out and purchased the cast album of the Broadway show, which consisted of a 2 LP recording of a complete live performance of the play. I spent hours comparing Cliff Gorman to the real Lenny Bruce, and each time I listened to either, I memorized one of Lenny's hysterically funny bits. When I listened to records of the real Lenny Bruce, I marveled at how perfectly Cliff Gorman had reproduced his persona. The rapid-fire delivery, the inflection, even the tonal quality of his voice and the exact pauses in his speech were there. It was like Lenny Bruce had been reincarnated as Cliff Gorman. I had trouble deciding if this was great acting or just a good impersonation, and in the end decided it didn't matter, for the material in Lenny seemed to capture the real Lenny Bruce. That was good enough for me.

When the film was announced, and I'd heard that Dustin Hoffman had been chosen to play Lenny, I was thrilled. As a fan of Mr. Hoffman, I was sure he could do great justice to both the man and the material. By the time the picture was completed, I had learned almost as much about Lenny Bruce's life as I ever would, and was familiar with probably 80% of his most famous routines. The Masked Man, Christ and Moses, Las Vegas Tits and Ass, Airplane Glue, Ike and Nixon, Jackie Kennedy - I knew a lot of these by heart. Some of them I memorized cold, and found that when people mentioned his name at parties or family gatherings, and someone invariably asked who he was, rather than explain his life or what he died of, all I had to do was recite one of his bits. I never had a single person who was new to his material that didn't pronounce him awesome (as the kids say nowadays) on the spot.

I don't remember what film I was watching (it was 31 years ago) when I first saw a trailer for the film, but as soon as I saw a clip of Dustin Hoffman as Lenny I knew something was wrong. I had a sinking feeling that I wasn't going to like the movie bio of what was now my favorite comedian, but I went to see it anyway, as soon as it opened, hoping my gut instinct was wrong. The cinematography was stunning. The direction was first rate. The story was fairly faithful to the life and spirit of Lenny Bruce, and Dustin Hoffman did as good an acting job as I'd ever seen. All of the bits were there, and so was a fairly faithful rendering of his professional life. So what was the problem? The problem was simply that Dustin wasn't funny. Those were Lenny Bruce's words and Lenny Bruce's life, but the jokes fell flat. I came to the conclusion that no matter how skilled he is as an actor, Dustin Hoffman is no comedian. He certainly was no Lenny Bruce. Where was the lightning timing I was used to from the Cliff Gorman and Lenny Bruce recordings? Mr. Hoffman seemed very unsure of his material, and delivered all the routines at what seemed like half-speed. It was almost like he was a 45 RPM record being played at 33 1/3. I wanted to reach into his mouth and pull the words out, and shout at the screen, "You've got it all wrong! This is too somber and too slow and too...unfunny to be Lenny Bruce". Worse, Mr. Hoffman had the annoying habit (which Lenny never did) of laughing at his own jokes. Not loud guffaws mind you, just chuckles. Constant chuckles, almost to himself, which left me with the impression that he thought that he was the only one who got the material.

I bought the VHS when it came out several years later and watched it faithfully, hoping that as an older and wiser person, maybe I would find things in Mr. Hoffman's performance that I missed in 1974. I wanted it to click. No such luck. I then dutifully purchased the DVD, as I have always purchased "new" Lenny Bruce recording or, lately videos, never tiring of his delivery or his message. Again, I hoped that time had been kind to the portrayal I had so looked forward to in 1974. But I screened it recently, and the film still leaves me cold, despite the best of intentions, the flawless direction and the great production values. Icon, philosopher, cult leader or genius, if nothing else, Lenny Bruce was funny. And Dustin Hoffman was not.

about the life of the great lenny bruce who paved the way for so many great comedians to come.dustin hoffman plays bruce greatly and realistic,as well does valerie perrine as bruces stripper wife honey.the movie is slow going and could put anyone to sleep,especially to those unfamiliar with bruce.i suggest watching the documentary "lenny bruce:swear to tell the truth" first to get more acquainted with bruce the comedian.lenny bruce really is an important figure in our american history as he tried with all his might to beat the hypocritical system.unfortunately he lost but his work is some of the most important and fullfilling of any generation because he spoke the truth and informed all how screwed up it really is.i want to give this 5 stars because it is an important film but as i said most of the film drags,especially for the first half.but i do recommend it to those who want to see the great dustin hoffman at work and to those who want to familiarize themselves with bruce and all the hype surrounding him.bruce surrounded himself with strippers,sex and drugs and this film documents that side of him.so those looking for a comedy will be very disappointed as this is a full out drama, eventhough their are moments of bruces routine that are funny.those looking for a laugh should check out some of bruces work on disc.all in all i do recommend this for non-republicans(he he) and open-minds alike.

This biographical picture, of '60's comedian Lenny Bruce, features an outstanding; stellar, performance,by Dustin Hoffman (and people thought he could only play parts like in "The Graduate") as the controversial (for the time) Lenny Bruce. Valerie Perrine, as Honey, his stripper wife is gorgeous. His performance, judged as obscene, would be fairly tame today (but remember, this was the '60's). The authorities used this as a pretext to shut him up (much like they'd use the "Patriot Act" today) because his political comments hit too close to home. A great movie about a funny, controversial, but ultimately sad figure and the end leaves some speculation as to whether Mr. Bruce's death was a suicide or an overdose. Anyway, great movie, but not one for the younger kids (although probably they've already heard and seen enough on tv, in music; particularly rap, and in other media that [as stated earlier] to make anything in this movie seem tame). Also has Jan Miner [if the name's unfamiliar, think "Madge" the "Palmolive" lady in the commercials.]