The People vs Larry Flynt (Spoilers)
PostPosted:Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:25 am
I caught this on netflix last night.
I think this movie is worth the watch if only just for the plotline surrounding Courtney Love's character Althea; for the most part of the rest of the film, it is somewhat of a typical bio flick, about a ballsy half-insane public figure; Hustler creator Larry Flynt played by Woody Harrelson.
In the earlier to mid film portions, Althea and Larry pretty much have it going on; bringing in a lot of cash from Hustler magazine; that is until Larry gets shot and paralyzed (causing him to renounce his religion; because he feels God shouldn't have let that happen). Althea is portrayed as being very forward, and strong willed.
Larry gets charged in a Wiki-Leaks like incident, for refusing to reveal his sources to the court. He gets sentenced.
Althea at some point contracted HIV (by blood infusion which occurred during an operation; which isn't featured in the film - only that she got HIV somehow). Before Larry goes to prison, he (for some reason) publishes insulting and sexually themed comics about right-winged nut and evangelical leader Jerry Falwell. Larry gets sued while in prison.
Later on, the once strong character Althea weakens by her sickness, and is shown getting bullied by mostly everyone around her - no one in the publishing staff at Hustler Magazine people don't want to go near her (except Larry, who is in prison right now - and the family friend and lawyer played by Edward Norton) - it's a fairly sad portion of the film. Especially sad because at pretty much no point in the movie does she seem to acknowledge the terrible health state she is declining into; just that she was upset about how no one wants to go near her anymore.
There is a scene where Larry forces each of the executives to shake Althea's hand, and I felt seeing that scene of Larry defending his wife's honour was one of the most touching moments of the film.
Larry, battles tooth and nail with Falwell in print and in courts. It's not really clear why he has so much vigor for this fight (at this point) except that it is through a combination of it being a freedom of speech issue along with Larry being somewhat seemingly crazy.... Although it was also a personal issue, that hadn't yet been revealed. Althea succumbs to her sickness, dying in what is the saddest scene of the film. A grieving Larry Flynt is shown watching an old press video of Falwell who is delivering an angry and hateful speech towards HIV/Aids victims claiming that it is "God's will that they be punished for their sinful actions of homosexuality and drug use."
It was one of those moments, in film, that really nicely paints the portrait of these right-winged nutjobs, who insist on acting the role of the defender of God; but do so by preaching with the hate of the devil. Seeing and empathizing with the whole Larry/Althea story just makes this scene all that more apparent; and was, in my opinion, the best part about this movie.
I think this movie is worth the watch if only just for the plotline surrounding Courtney Love's character Althea; for the most part of the rest of the film, it is somewhat of a typical bio flick, about a ballsy half-insane public figure; Hustler creator Larry Flynt played by Woody Harrelson.
In the earlier to mid film portions, Althea and Larry pretty much have it going on; bringing in a lot of cash from Hustler magazine; that is until Larry gets shot and paralyzed (causing him to renounce his religion; because he feels God shouldn't have let that happen). Althea is portrayed as being very forward, and strong willed.
Larry gets charged in a Wiki-Leaks like incident, for refusing to reveal his sources to the court. He gets sentenced.
Althea at some point contracted HIV (by blood infusion which occurred during an operation; which isn't featured in the film - only that she got HIV somehow). Before Larry goes to prison, he (for some reason) publishes insulting and sexually themed comics about right-winged nut and evangelical leader Jerry Falwell. Larry gets sued while in prison.
Later on, the once strong character Althea weakens by her sickness, and is shown getting bullied by mostly everyone around her - no one in the publishing staff at Hustler Magazine people don't want to go near her (except Larry, who is in prison right now - and the family friend and lawyer played by Edward Norton) - it's a fairly sad portion of the film. Especially sad because at pretty much no point in the movie does she seem to acknowledge the terrible health state she is declining into; just that she was upset about how no one wants to go near her anymore.
There is a scene where Larry forces each of the executives to shake Althea's hand, and I felt seeing that scene of Larry defending his wife's honour was one of the most touching moments of the film.
Larry, battles tooth and nail with Falwell in print and in courts. It's not really clear why he has so much vigor for this fight (at this point) except that it is through a combination of it being a freedom of speech issue along with Larry being somewhat seemingly crazy.... Although it was also a personal issue, that hadn't yet been revealed. Althea succumbs to her sickness, dying in what is the saddest scene of the film. A grieving Larry Flynt is shown watching an old press video of Falwell who is delivering an angry and hateful speech towards HIV/Aids victims claiming that it is "God's will that they be punished for their sinful actions of homosexuality and drug use."
It was one of those moments, in film, that really nicely paints the portrait of these right-winged nutjobs, who insist on acting the role of the defender of God; but do so by preaching with the hate of the devil. Seeing and empathizing with the whole Larry/Althea story just makes this scene all that more apparent; and was, in my opinion, the best part about this movie.