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Picture
The true story of the rise and fall of iconic
​stand-up comedy pioneer Lenny Bruce.
BIOPIC/DRAMA

Lenny (1974)

Directed by Bob Fosse

Written by Julian Barry

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine, Jan Miner, Stanley Beck

Based on the stage play by Julian Barry

Oscar Nominations - Best Picture, Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Actress (Valerie Perrine), Best Director, ​Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography

Connor Eyzaguirre
January 8, 2021
8/10
The very notion of censorship goes against our First Amendment rights. Keep that in mind while watching Lenny. This is the story of Lenny Bruce, a pioneer of stand-up comedy who said whatever the hell he wanted, using obscenity as a way to make a point about American society. As a result, he was constantly arrested for the crime of obscenity, a crime I never knew even existed until I watched the film. His career was cut short by his untimely death of a drug overdose at age 40, but his legacy inspired countless comedians working today. There would likely have never been any George Carlin, Sam Kinison, or Richard Pryor had there not first been Lenny Bruce. 

Dustin Hoffman knocks it out of the park as Lenny Bruce, playing him as a smug but likable rock star who bit off way more than he could chew with fame, fortune, and a drug habit. His desire for chaos led to his constantly challenging authority, which made him a problem in the square community that kept arresting him. They wanted to make an example out of him, but Lenny refused to play by anyone's rules but his own. I believe he became a martyr because of that. Bob Fosse's unique take on the biopic helps make this feel more like a documentary, covering various points of Lenny's life out of order. The end result is fabulous work.

Lenny isn't the easiest film to get ahold of these days. It hasn't become as famous as some of its 1974 counterparts. But it's just as good, and it's a wild story of someone we have to thank for so much of modern entertainment. He fought censorship in the best way he knew how. By simply saying what was on everyone's mind, including the assholes who took him to court for it. We need more Lenny Bruces; people who challenge the status quo and the hypocrisy of our daily lives. Otherwise, we'll never grow.
Austin Johnson
October 12, 2020
9/10
Every time I watch Dustin Hoffman at work, I gain a deeper understanding of his stature amongst his Hollywood peers, especially after watching him shred the screen up in Lenny. Bob Fosse’s brilliant black and white biopic was nominated for six Oscars at the 47th Academy Awards. I adore the 70’s and how audacious some of the films were during that decade. 

Lenny Bruce was a real-life stand-up comedian who had a run from the late 40’s to the late 60’s that is certainly one of the most influential stand-up runs ever. This film captures his initial burst onto the scene, his obscenity arrests, and his drug addictions as well as his cult-like status as one of the most verbally tenacious comedians to ever live. Lenny also covers his relationship with his wife of six years, Honey Bruce, who also had her fair share of struggles with substances. 

Lenny uses the back and forth formula as it bounces around Lenny Bruce’s wild career and personal life. I didn’t know too much about the comedian in real life, but this film caused me to read up on him for an afternoon. Dustin Hoffman captures Lenny’s chaotic antics extremely well and while his style of comedy isn’t for everyone, the film is a must see for cinephiles as it truly stacks up against its fellow nominees (The Godfather: Part II, Chinatown, The Conversation, and The Towering Inferno) from the 47th Academy Awards. 

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