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Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton, James Cromwell, Crispin Glover ... see more see more... , Donna Hanover , James Carville , Brett Harrelson , Burt Neuborne , Richard Paul

"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 mi... read more read more...dst 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, Rovi

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74% liked it

42,023 ratings

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87% liked it

53 critics

R, 2 hr. 9 min.

Directed by: Milos Forman

Release Date: December 25, 1996

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DVD Release Date: January 1, 1998

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Stats: 1,355 reviews

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Woody Harrelson in The People vs. Larry Flynt Woody Harrelson in The People vs. Larry Flynt Edward Norton & Woody Harrellson Woody Harrelson in The People vs. Larry Flynt The People vs. Larry Flynt The People Vs. Larry Flynt The People Vs. Larry Flynt The People Vs. Larry Flynt
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Flixster Reviews (1,355)

  • CloudStrife84
    November 22, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Highly engrossing biopic about the life and career of controversial porn mogul Larry Flynt. Besides the man in focus, it's also a story that depicts the struggle for one of the most fundamental corner stones in any given democracy: the right to free speech and publication. We fol... read morelow Larry through his successes and failures, and the playboy (or rather to say Hustler) lifestyle that ultimately drives him into some serious conflicts with both his inner circle and official opponents. Superlative performance by Woody Harrelson, who does the title role so well, you'd think he was born for the job. I was also pleasantly surprised by Courtney Love, who is exceptional as his devil-may-care girlfriend. Granted that she pretty much plays herself, what with the drug addictions and all, but she still deserves an eulogy for her impressive acting. There's a lot of sex and nudity in the film, as can be expected, but nothing I'd label as gratuitous or redundant in any way. Rather, it serves a motivated purpose, while simultaneously treating us to some R-rated delights. Be sure to keep your eyes open for a cameo by the real Larry Flynt, who ironically plays a judge who is anything but dispositioned on letting his fictional self off the hook.
  • yona71
    November 12, 2011
    yona71
    Quite a powerful film in regards to the First Amendment which gives us the right of free speech and press which is exactly what this film revolves around.
    It is the story of Larry Flynt's pornographic films and magazines; most notably Hustler which really made him the entrepreneu... read morer he is. Flynt loses the use of his legs due to an assassination attempt confining him to a wheelchair.
    Woody Harrelson stars as Larry Flynt and turns in a fine piece of character work. The brilliant Edward Norton portrays his lawyer Alan Isaacman which allows for first rate acting on both counts. And I must mention Courtney Love's brilliant portrayal of Flynt's drug addicted wife Althea.
    I think one thing that gives this film it's strength is that it proves the point of the industry that is often frowned upon, but is within the rights of every citizen should they wish to be involved in it.
    "If the First Amendment will protect a scumbag like me, it'll protect all of you- 'cause I'm the worst." Larry Flynt
  • cosmo313
    October 25, 2011
    cosmo313
    Thios is a biopic about the life, career, and mostly, the legal troubles of Hustler Magazine publisher :Larry Flynt. Say what you will about the man's personal life, antics, and the business that he is a part of. You don't have to like the man or what he does (even his attorney a... read moredmits he doesn't care for pornography), but you cannot deny that he made some important contributions to American spciety by giving people jobs, but more importantly fighting for basic constitutional rights.

    Like everything, there is a bias here that favors Flynt, and makes him out to be a rather sympathetic guy. The film also takes liberties as expected, but overall, this is more about ideas, concepts, and principles, than the story of a man who went from being a bootlegger as a kid to one of the biggest proprietors of smut. All of that is in this film of course, but Milos Forman and the writers put more focus on the former than the latter, as I think they should. I am disappointed that they might have been too sympathetic and less acknowledging of Flynt's less savory side, but they don't completely ignore it. Also, even with an R rating, they could have gotten away with showing just a tad more of the risque stuff that made Flynt legendary.

    The real Larry Flynt, when asked who he thought should play him responded with Michael Douglas. His wish was not granted, but Woody Harrelson does a pretty good job, even if he's not a complete ringer. He's the focus, but he's backed by a notable cast including his real life brother as Flynt's brother, Courtney Love (who is surprisingly pretty good) as his troubled (4th) wife Althea, whom he realy truly did love, Edward Norton as his attorney Alan Isaacman, as well as bit parts fulfilled by Vincent Schiavelli, Crispin Glover, and James Cromwell.,

    As stated, Woody is really good, Love is good, Norton is pretty decent, and the bit players are good, albeit underfocused on. I don't know if all of the trials Larry Flynt went through are featured here, but it covers some major ones, most significantly Hustler Magazine V. Falwell in which televangelist Larry Falwell sued Flynt over an unflattering albeit satirical parody that suggested Falwell lsot his virginity to his mother in an outhouse. Since this is a fairly well known case, I don't think I'm really spoiling it by saying who won considering the verdict is quite a landmark and is more significant than maybe most people realize or are aware of...it was Flynt.

    With the content of the film and the ideas that are being defended therein, it really didn't move me. They were preaching to the choir. I agree wit hsome of what Flynt fought for, and I actually do have respect for the man, though he really isn't the savoriest of people. I've seen interviews with the real Larry, and despite what he does, he is a rather classy and smart guy. It doesn't seem that way in the movie (at least hardly ever), but hey, this is entertainment, not a documentary.

    You should give this a look. It's got good performances, capable direction, a decent script and is just a joy to watch.
  • ajv2688
    June 24, 2011
    ajv2688
    A very interesting look at the magazine and porn industries in America. It's got a lot of good actors, and a good director. This movie let's you get to know the kind of people who run the porno mags, and makes you think about censorship in America. It's a really good movie.
  • fb732260458
    March 22, 2011
    fb732260458
    An irreverent and entertaining court-room drama-comedy about one of the more bizarre entrepreneurs in recent memory, Larry Flynt is carried by a refreshing and charismatic performance from Woody Harrelson.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 2, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Woody plays the scum loving founder of Hustler with feeling that hangs around performances of biopics such as Monster and Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.
  • fb619846742
    October 24, 2009
    fb619846742
    A riveting, often depressing biopic on a very controversial figure in American culture. Although it misses greatness by just a bit, this is a fine picture concerning a very troubled and screwed-up individual who fought for his freedom of speech. You don't have to support Flynt at... read more all during this movie, since it shows him in his most depraved and morally sickening moments, but this is definitely fascinating stuff when it goes to the Supreme Court. Woody Harrelson gives his best performance yet, with Courtney Love proving to be ideal as his drug-addicted wife. Edward Norton is also exceptional as Flynt's extremely annoyed lawyer. This movie is loaded with sadness and moral depravity, and it does get to be a little much at some points, however, ultimately, this is a film you should definitely see if you have interest concerning the constitution or how much controversy something like pornography caused back in the 1970's.
  • SirPant
    September 16, 2009
    SirPant
    Harrelson, Love and Norton are great in this funny and quite sad biopic!
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    May 11, 2009
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Gentleman... Playboy is mocking you.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    November 12, 2008
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "You may not like what he does, but are you prepared to give up his right to do it?"

    "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 Harrels... read moreon) 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.

    Review
    Although the original controversy over this film was about the First Amendment and the "real" Larry Flynt, to me, the more interesting aspect of the film was the love story between Larry and Althea Flynt. Forman's genius has always been finding human elements in tales of rebels who changed the world -- "Amadeus," for example, is more interesting as a saga of the jealousy of Salieri than as musical biography. "The People Vs. Larry Flynt" is gaudy where "Amadeus" was gorgeous (compare the long shot through Flynt's mansion with the shots of Viennese palaces in the other film), and Larry and Althea's love story is at once timeless and a product of the self-indulgent, tragic 70s and 80s, and Harrelson and Love turn in two of the best performances of the decade.

View All The People Vs. Larry Flynt Reviews

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman
June 30, 2008
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

An exultant comedy of American repression and revolt. Full Review

David Ansen
June 30, 2008
David Ansen, Newsweek

A brave, spectacularly entertaining -- and unexpectedly stirring -- account of Flynt's life that asks us to regard the publisher of Hustler magazine as an invaluable champion of our First Amendment fr... Full Review

Todd McCarthy
June 30, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

One of the truly bizarre careers in recent American cultural life provides the source of tart and tasty amusement in The People vs. Larry Flynt. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
June 30, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Woody Harrelson plays Flynt with energy, and Courtney Love does at least as well as his wife. Full Review

Desson Thomson
June 30, 2008
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

We're really celebrating Hollywood's freedom to create biographies of anyone, no matter how high or low on the social ladder, and still come up with the same banal characteristics, messages and conclu... Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's a modern-day Capra film, about an unorthodox businessman who's persecuted for his originality but eventually is recognized for the lovable, rugged American individualist he truly is. Full Review

Rick Groen
April 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Thanks to the light humour, it's consistently engaging; yet minus that darker shading, it's never fully convincing. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

In its excesses and extravagances, its fascination with sex, religion, celebrity, bad taste and making a whole lot of money, there is no more American story than that of combative pornographer and Hus... Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Smart, funny, shamelessly entertaining and perfectly serious too. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Like 12 Angry Men, it's a civics lesson that will still be regaling film enthusiasts four decades hence.

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The People Vs. Larry Flynt Trivia

  • Which actress starred in Man on the Moon, Trapped, and The People vs. Larry Flynt?  Answer »
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