I have a friend who strongly recommended I see "Lenny". Now, after seeing the film I understand why he suggested it--Lenny Bruce in this film sounded much like my friend! Both are huge proponents of the First Amendment (as am I) and both felt that words alone are harmless. So, for that I am thankful that I saw the film and now I can see where my friend got his strange sensibilities!
As far as the film goes, I STILL feel quite ambivalent about it several hours after finishing it. While I liked the film technically and appreciate that the film does not whitewash the man, it's also a rather unpleasant film about a guy who I am not even sure I care for one way or the other. I appreciate his pushing the limits of free speech, I just didn't think he was funny--and having seen his HORRIBLE film he wrote and acted in during his early career ("Dance Hall Racket") didn't help! I much more appreciated his insights into society but his jokes left me pretty flat. BUT, this is not really the purpose of the film. Even if you don't think he was funny, it's an interesting portrait of a very self-destructive man as well as the times he lived in and it's rather unflinching in its portrayal.
By the way, if you do see "Lenny", understand that even today it's a rather adult film--even over three decades later. There is a lot of nudity and the language is understandably rough. So, don't watch it with your mother-in-law or Father Jenkins!
As far as the film goes, I STILL feel quite ambivalent about it several hours after finishing it. While I liked the film technically and appreciate that the film does not whitewash the man, it's also a rather unpleasant film about a guy who I am not even sure I care for one way or the other. I appreciate his pushing the limits of free speech, I just didn't think he was funny--and having seen his HORRIBLE film he wrote and acted in during his early career ("Dance Hall Racket") didn't help! I much more appreciated his insights into society but his jokes left me pretty flat. BUT, this is not really the purpose of the film. Even if you don't think he was funny, it's an interesting portrait of a very self-destructive man as well as the times he lived in and it's rather unflinching in its portrayal.
By the way, if you do see "Lenny", understand that even today it's a rather adult film--even over three decades later. There is a lot of nudity and the language is understandably rough. So, don't watch it with your mother-in-law or Father Jenkins!