Lenny

 

 

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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.]

Bob Fosse was one the more brilliant minds in the story of the cinema . Gifted with that gaze of genius , left us several treasures Cabaret , Lenny , All that jazz , Star 80 , Sweet charity are undoubtly his better achievements.
But this movie became a reference issue. Lenny Bruce became a hard challenge for any actor. But what Hoffman got with this role still surpases , in my point of view all his next achievements.
Valerie Perrine never reached the highest peak as actress with this breathtaking performance. Her role deserved her the Prize as best actress in 1975 in the Cannes International Film Festival.
The film is deeply bitter and tolds the slow but progressive decadence of Bruce Lenny : in his private life and in his creative gifts as a stand-up comedian. Filmed in glorious black and white . this film is one my personal one of the major cult movies in any time.

If "dated" means that a movie is so much of its time that it does not resonate in form or content with people's present sensibilities and experiences, Lenny is anything BUT dated.I was having a conversation with a man several decades younger than me when the life and work of Lenny Bruce came to mind. I gave my friend my copy of Lenny Bruce's biography to read but then I remembered as well the movie, which I must have seen for the first time in 1974 when the film was released. I wondered why, in all the years of reruns that have intervened, I have never seen Lenny listed on TV schedules or in review theatres. So I looked on line to see if it was available and lo and behold, I found it easily on Amazon's website. I purchased it and took it over to the mother of the younger man to whom I gave the biography and we watched it, in black and white. We were immediately captivated by it, as I remember being the first time I saw it. The acting, not only by Dustin Hoffman and Valerie Perrine in the leading roles but also by the supporting cast, is superb. The characters ring true in ways that rarely happen in contemporary mainstream movies. I think a professional movie critic would use the word "realist" to describe the film maker's approach, especially about the shots of audiences during Lenny's performances. It is not over the top like the hyper-realism of many movies that claim that label. The camera creates for the viewer a sense that he/she is out there in that audience, looking for a seat. But most important to me is the "message" of the movie. In one poignant scene, a usually cocky and somewhat arrogant but now desperate and obsessed Lenny begs a judge, "don't take away my words!" as he is being hauled out of the courtroom because he insisted on speaking when we was ordered to be silent. Through his cutting and "offensive" humour, Bruce tried to remove barriers between people by taking the sting out of the words that were being used to construct them: barriers prominent in the U.S. of the 1950s and 60s between black people, white people, jewish people, italian people, polish people, male people, female people. Repressed speech represses the soul. What could have more relevance in today's world? There is, however, a sense in which this film IS dated. Today in mainstream and to some extent alternative venues, movies like this are rare. It brings the viewer inside a moment and allows her/him to see the not perfect lives of not perfect people as, at the same time, flawed and courageous attempts to redeem the world from the bottom up.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Lenny Bruce was not only first, but he was different
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. Read more

Published on Nov 13 2007 by Jenny J.J.I.

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Awesome.
'Lenny' is a really awesome film about a comedian named Lenny Bruce. I normally don't like Dustin Hoffman, but this has to be his best role and performance. Read more

Published on April 8 2004 by Dhaval Vyas

5.0 out of 5 stars Dustin Hoffman convincingly plays late comedian Lenny Bruce
Dustin Hoffman convincingly plays the late comedian Lenny Bruce. Lenny Bruce may have been funny to some people, but others thought he was very foul and cruel with his humor... Read more

Published on Nov 5 2003 by James McDonald

5.0 out of 5 stars The rise and fall of free-speech
Quality- filmed in black and white, the print is awesome- clear with great sound. Excellent production.
Acting- first-rate: Hoffman and Perrine are awesome. Read more

Published on Aug 30 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bruce you thought you knew
Dustin Hoffman is Lenny Bruce - controversial loudmouth, frequent defendant and doomed icon. By now, we all know that Lenny Bruce was famous for making people laugh at hearing... Read more

Published on Jan 16 2003 by Rottenberg's rotten book review

5.0 out of 5 stars Fosse's Genius Shines Through. Absolutely Brillant
For starters, I don't necessarily subscribe to the theory that Lenny Bruce was this ultra hip social satirist. Nor did I find him funny back in my college years, ('68-'72). Read more

Published on Aug 29 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars truth will get you in jail
This is more or less the practical lesson that shows this movie. Truly, the obscene words and actuations of Lenny Bruce as seen in the screen could hardly scandalize nobody today,... Read more

Published on Aug 20 2002 by Carlos Vazquez Quintana

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST FILM OF 1974!
Dustin Hoffman gives a brilliant Oscar nominated performance as the controversial comic, Lenny Bruce. Read more

Published on July 27 2002 by ryan cole

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Overlooked Film
I saw this Movie the Other night on Cable&I felt the Story was done really well.Dustin Hoffman did a Good Job though I don't think He fully captured all of the Energy&Edge that... Read more

Published on July 18 2002 by A customer

5.0 out of 5 stars The best overlooked film ever!
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? Read more

Published on Jun 24 2002

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