It isn't from the painful relationship between his girlfriend, or his addictions. It is from how I remembered this film when Andrew Dice Clay was being attacked for his portrayal in Ford Fairlane (which was an excellent comedy). I was young when this movie was made, and it takes place before I was born. So, I don't know if this movie was accurate.
However, this is the irony. Bruce was supposed to be Anti-Establishment. He was lambasting a society that wanted to close its doors on taboos - such as sex, race relations, etc. We had won that war by the 1980s. Then, along came "political correctness". The Anti-Establishment became even worse than the Establishment of old. At least, younger people were already revolting against it by the 1960s. However, the same younger generation that won the 60s suddenly turned "clean". Bruce, may have not have had a wonderful personal life, but at least he was speaking his mind and heart, and not being shut out by the "political correctness" of the time.
This is why this movie makes me so sad. It makes me think of the days, when there were painful realities, but people were more human, less perfectionistic, and could speak their minds. And by the late 80s, that World died with the birth of "political correctness". No longer could there be Lenny Bruce's - speaking their hearts and minds. In the old day, the "blue meanies" were the Hooverites. Now, they are the Neo Yuppies who have taken away whatever voice and freedom we used to have in this country.
This movie was not great, but it was interesting. Hoffman can carry most roles, and he did a pretty good impersonation. He was a lovable and dislikeable person. He did bad things, but he had a heart, too. He was a person who was imperfect, but trying in many ways to speak his mind. It is too bad that nowadays these days are long gone. We no longer can tell the truth and be enraged. Someone now tells us that we are "unpolitically correct" for trying to speak the truth. That is why this movie is so sad.
However, this is the irony. Bruce was supposed to be Anti-Establishment. He was lambasting a society that wanted to close its doors on taboos - such as sex, race relations, etc. We had won that war by the 1980s. Then, along came "political correctness". The Anti-Establishment became even worse than the Establishment of old. At least, younger people were already revolting against it by the 1960s. However, the same younger generation that won the 60s suddenly turned "clean". Bruce, may have not have had a wonderful personal life, but at least he was speaking his mind and heart, and not being shut out by the "political correctness" of the time.
This is why this movie makes me so sad. It makes me think of the days, when there were painful realities, but people were more human, less perfectionistic, and could speak their minds. And by the late 80s, that World died with the birth of "political correctness". No longer could there be Lenny Bruce's - speaking their hearts and minds. In the old day, the "blue meanies" were the Hooverites. Now, they are the Neo Yuppies who have taken away whatever voice and freedom we used to have in this country.
This movie was not great, but it was interesting. Hoffman can carry most roles, and he did a pretty good impersonation. He was a lovable and dislikeable person. He did bad things, but he had a heart, too. He was a person who was imperfect, but trying in many ways to speak his mind. It is too bad that nowadays these days are long gone. We no longer can tell the truth and be enraged. Someone now tells us that we are "unpolitically correct" for trying to speak the truth. That is why this movie is so sad.