The People vs. Larry Flynt

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The People vs. Larry Flynt ★★★ 1996 (R)

Controversy surrounded director Forman's look at unrepentant pornographer and Hustler Magazine publisher, Larry Flynt (Harrelson). While feminists decried what they saw as a whitewash of Flynt's career, Forman insisted his movie was about Flynt's legal battles concerning the First Amendment and freedom of speech. If you can set aside your prejudices, you'll find a master storyteller at work and some great performances from Harrelson as Flynt, Love as his drug-addicted and ultimately tragic wife Althea, and Norton as Flynt's sometimes impatient attorney, Alan Isaacman, who does get his big moment before the U.S. Supreme Court (his speeches are taken from actual court transcripts). 130m/ C VHS, DVD . Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton, James Cromwell, Crispin Glover, Brett Harrelson, James Carville, Vincent Schiavelli, Richard Paul, Donna Hanover, Norm MacDonald, Miles Chapin, Jan Triska; Cameos: Larry Flynt; D: Milos Forman; W: Larry Karaszewski, Scott M. Alexander; C: Philippe Rousselot; M: Thomas Newman. Golden Globes ‘97: Director (Forman), Screenplay; L.A. Film Critics ‘96: Support. Actor (Norton); Natl. Bd. of Review ‘96: Support. Actor (Norton); N.Y. Film Critics ‘96: Support. Actress (Love).

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The People vs. Larry Flynt