Lenny -- 1974

[Anton_Lavey]

I think about as many people know who Lenny Bruce was ranks close to as many people know who Bill Hicks was. I saw was because they're both dead.

But I digress.

Lenny, released in 1974 features Dustin Hoffman playing the controversial comedian of the 1960's. The film follows him on stage, behind stage, and if you've seen 'Jo Jo Dancer' (another great movie btw), it's the same sort of concept, only done years before. I read the book this film was based upon years ago, and finally saw the film from beginning to end last night on Sundance Channel (ya'll need ta get this channel if ya don't have it).

3 1/2 stars :)
:idea:

[ryanpaige]

I think more people know Lenny Bruce than know Bill Hicks. You just have to talk to people of the right age who remember when he was really in the public consciousness.

[Holden Pike]

Lenny Bruce is definitely a comedy icon, and the fact that twelve-year-olds in a Mall don't know his name doesn't obscure his legend. Everybody knows who Lenny Bruce is. During his lifetime he enjoyed mainstream success on programs like Steve Allen's, good sales of albums, etc.. He was also heralded for his nightclub act, infamous for how "dirty" it was, and as the years wore on, the obscenity arrests and trials. EVERY single stand-up comedian since Lenny happily and rightly recognizes his influence and importance. He is the father of the modern stand-up. There's no Richard Pryor where and when he hit without Lenny clearing a path.

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Bill Hicks was a completely different situation. He never really got much mainstream success, and he wasn't well-known enough to be infamous in his lifetime. He appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman", but his anti-consumerism, pro-drug, honestly raw rants - as hysterical and dark and right-on as they are, didn't curry favor with the TV executive types who could have gotten him more exposure. He was a comedian's comedian, and those in-the-know love the guy. But as good as he was and as sadly short his time here, he never had the kind of sweeping impact or noteriety that Lenny Bruce enjoys.

Lenny Bruce and Bill Hicks are comparable in the kind of boundry-smashing, brutaly honest and wickedly funny material they created on stage, but the similarities end there.


Bob Fosse's film, Lenny, is a terrific bio-pic, and Hoffman inhabits the troubled genius well. It was a highly praised movie when released in 1974, eventually garnering Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress (Valerie Perrine), Adapted Screenplay (Julian Barry) and Cinematography (Bruce Surtees). Being the year of The Godfather Part II, it didn't win anything that night, but this was a major motion picture that was noticed by the public.

The only minor gripe I have with the movie is that it dosn't show that other side of Lenny, the side of his personality he used when he did do TV and was able to relate in that atmosphere, censor himself for that audience but still be brilliant and funny. The screenplay was excellent, and Fosse's dark, seedy approach perfect, but part of what was excised for that vision is that Bruce did also enjoy some real mainstream success in the early '60s. A minor quibble, to be sure.

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For Dusty Hoffman's magnetic central performance, Perrine's best work ever, the Jazz score, the smokey black-and-white cinematography, the unblinking and unsentimental perspective of Fosse, and much more in this fascinating look at a doomed, brilliant soul, Lenny still stands as one the greatest bio-pics ever made, and far and away the greatest about a comic.

Grade: A-

[Deckard]

Great review "Holden".

As a huge Bill Hicks and george Carlin fan I also ofcourse adored lenny Bruce's work and he constantly amused me. This documenatry style retelling of his stand up life is realistic and touching.

Dustin Hoffman has never been better than this and the script (based on the play) is a well polished machine that hits all the high notes and lows with equal poetry. Powerful and unforgeyttable Bob Fosse's expert directuion allows all the cast to shine.

The cinematography ups the reality factor considerably, few films capture the essence and magic of a real charecter this well. You cant help but appreciate the tremendous loss lenny's death was.

Hoffman fans cant do much better than pick up a copy of this under discussed delight.

[nebbit]

I had never heard of Lenny Bruce until last weekend and the movie with Dustan Hofman in it was on a pay channel. My husband who is wealth of useless information knew him and explained to me who he was.

I enjoyed the movie and thought Dustin was quite good.

Also I think this week was the anniversary of his OD.

:(

[Holden Pike]

I had never heard of Lenny Bruce until last weekend...

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[nebbit]

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He wasn't that popular in Australia, I know him now. :blush: