Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

gogoschka-1 A tribute to ground-breaking comedian Lenny Bruce and - another - absolutely breathtaking performance by Dustin Hoffman (and, as is typical for that period of filmmaking, pretty much everyone of the cast). When seventies cinema was good, it was really, really good, and it is, at least acting-wise, only rarely rivaled in contemporary productions. As a character study and also as a snap shot of an era, 'Lenny' is essential viewing. 8 stars out of 10.In case you're interested in more underrated masterpieces, here's some of my favorites:imdb.com/list/ls070242495

davidbeland The first time i've heard about Lenny Bruce, it was from my hero George Carlin and i must say right off the bat that i haven't heard or saw much material from Lenny before this film, (yeah i know, shame on me) but at least i didn't had any expectations whatsoever.Factual or not? Once again i couldn't care less, it was a great entertainment. If i want facts about an artist i'll read a biography or watch a documentary, i will certainly not document myself on somebody through Hollywood for obvious reasons, if you can't figure them out, get off my review right now...Great performances, great story, amazing cinematography and editing, i really loved that movie. The "interview style" approach was brilliant and the jazzy/black & white atmosphere was delightful. That one shot scene near the end is astonishing and very sad, that scene alone worth the movie.Censorship, obscenities, anti-conformism, power of words, drug abuse and freedom of speech could resume quite well this movie in my opinion; and it makes me realize that i can't _______ write whatever i _______ want (at least not here) even in 20 _______ 13 can you _______ believe that?!In one word: Entertaining....And ____ censorship!

Gabriel Teixeira 'Lenny' tells the story of comedian Lenny Bruce, who dared to defy the conventions and use taboo subjects (homosexuality, STDs, drug abuse, etc) in his stand-up routines. Truthfully, I don't know anything about the man; as such, I have no idea of how true the film is to the real Lenny. However, the cinematography is quite good, and Dustin Hoffman is excellent as usual (too bad Lenny Bruce had already died, anyone would be honored to have such a high-level actor portraying them). Valerie Perrine is quite beautiful as his wife.The way Bob Fosse decided to shoot this, though, is what truly caught my attention. He makes the film similar to a documentary, interwoven with flashbacks/flashforwards/flashwhatever of Lenny's life and his stand-up acts (performed finely by Hoffman). The editing is quite masterfully done, with the scenes interweaving perfectly.However, with the comedy the way it is nowadays, 'Lenny' is very dated. In a time where Sacha Baron Cohen, 'Scary Movie' and many other crude comedies are abound, any kind of impact this film's comedic side might have is almost null; no one else will even blink in shock at his subjects at all, though they may still do so at the dramatic side of the film (Lenny Bruce's wasted life).The film stands as a very well directed and acted picture, but with time has lost most of its power. It is a sad story, and the dramatic side still works well enough, but in the end it feels like just another celebrity who lost himself.

Michael_Elliott Lenny (1974) **** (out of 4) Bob Fosse's masterpiece takes a look at the short life of comic Lenny Bruce (Dustin Hoffman) who would die at the age of forty but not before breaking down certain doors for future comics. The film follows his rise up through the ranks thanks in large part to the controversy that followed him due to the nature of his act. I've always felt that LENNY was one of the best movies of the decade and even after all these years it's still a very sharp, at times funny but mostly sad look at a man who deserved much better than he ever got. There's no doubt in my mind that the film was like the light shining from above on both Fosse and Hoffman as the two were perfectly meant to bring this film to the screen and boy do they really deliver. Fosse's style here wouldn't work with most directors but the way he uses it to get to the emotion and power in the story is quite amazing. The film jumps back and forth through different periods of Bruce's life and the way Fosse uses this to build up the subject is something interesting to watch. Just take a look at a rather innocent scene where Bruce talks his wife into having a threesome with another woman. Just look at how the silence is used and the impact this has for this scene. Hoffman gives one of his greatest performances here, which is saying quite a bit considering how great he was during this period of his career. I thought he really did a remarkable job at not copying the real Lenny Bruce but instead taking him and forming him into this character. I thought Hoffman really gave an incredibly powerful and emotional performance and especially as Bruce begins to crack due to the pressures of the courts and the drugs. Valerie Perrine is also excellent in her role of Bruce's drug addicted wife. The B&W cinematography is some of the greatest you're ever going to see. This is certainly one of the most beautiful films you're ever going to see and especially the way the lighting is even in the simplest scenes. LENNY often gets beaten up by some critics because it's not 100% accurate but I've yet to see any bio pic that is. To me this is clearly one of the best movies of the decade and features one of the greatest performances you're going to see.