The People vs. Larry Flynt: Milos Forman's Amusing Biopic Makes Its 4K Debut (Limited Edition 4K)

The Film:

Legendary filmmaker Milos Forman only gave us a dozen narrative feature films throughout the course of his illustrious career, but within that stunning filmography are classics such as "The Fireman's Ball," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (which earned him his first Oscar for Best Director), and "Amadeus" (one of the greatest films ever made, and one that earned him a second Oscar). At the tail end of his career, armed with a screenplay by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, he made what some might see as a somewhat odd decision to focus his considerable talents on making a biopic of a rather unlikely figure: Larry Flynt, the creator of "Hustler" magazine.

The subject in question may have seemed a little strange, but "The People vs. Larry Flynt" received rather strong reviews and garnered multiple award nominations, including Oscar nods for Best Director (Forman's third and final nomination) and Best Actor (Woody Harrelson, the first of his career). With the film celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Arrow Films is giving it a remarkable 4K upgrade and throwing in a multitude of extras both new & archival, so now it's time to delve back into the past to see how this peculiar entry in a master filmmakers' filmography has held up over the last three decades.

The film starts in 1972 Cincinnati, where Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) and his brother Jimmy (Brett Harrelson) run a strip club called the Hustler Go-Go. The club has been struggling lately, so Larry decides to start publishing a newsletter with nude photos of their strippers to attract business. The publication, known as "Hustler," soon turns into a magazine, but doesn't sell very well. However, when they include nude pictures of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, sales go through the roof, turning the magazine into a national hit.

Over the next few years, he falls in love with & marries a stripper named Althea (Courtney Love) and finds himself the target of several anti-porn organizations, which draws him into a number of lawsuits. However, these are merely a prelude to the other cases that he finds himself drawn into, including one that has him questioned for leaking a video related to the John DeLorean case, and another involving a rather unflattering gag article about Reverend Jerry Falwell. Will the notorious smut peddler be able to endure the onslaught of people looking to take him down?

"The People vs. Larry Flynt" did indeed come across as a rather bizarre turn for the man who had given us such a brilliant biopic of beloved composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart over 20 years prior, but not too long into his exploration of his unconventional subject, it becomes clear that the purpose isn't to judge the man or approve of anything he did. In fact, the message of the film comes off as quite simple in that it's about the right to publish what he did & the right to make fun of public figures, all leading up to the remarkable 1987 case before the Supreme Court of the United States to confirm it via some surprisingly straightforward arguments about such freedoms (even delving into how "emotional distress" is a terrible standard to judge by).

All of this is wrapped up in a biopic that, while it may not be all that in-depth, is quite entertaining as is goes through these pivotal events of Flynt's life & career, all the while making its point about not having to like the man or his business, but respecting & realizing the importance of his right to do it. Of course, a large part of the film's success & amusing nature is due to Woody Harrelson's incredible, Oscar-nominated performance as the titular purveyor of porn. He inhabits the character perfectly, giving us his dedication, his outlandishness, and even his emotional side, leaving us with an unforgettable portrait of a rather strange figure.

What we're left with is a compelling biopic that goes by at a surprisingly quick pace for one that runs over two hours, but given how easy it is to get caught up in the life story of such an unusual person, I suppose it really shouldn't be. Again, it doesn't really delve that deep into his life, but that hardly seemed to be the primary point of making it in the first place. "The People vs. Larry Flynt" isn't just an amusing biopic about an eccentric businessman, it's also one that comes with an important message that still rings true today, ultimately making it far more clear as to what would attract someone of Milos Forman's stature to the project in the first place.

Video/Audio:

"The People vs. Larry Flynt" comes to Limited Edition 4K in a 2.39:1, 2160p Ultra High Definition transfer of outstanding quality. The new restoration from the original 35mm camera negative presents a beautifully clean & clear picture throughout the entire 130-minute duration, perfectly highlighting its multitude of period details. Likewise, the original lossless stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks are fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue & music in excellent quality. Overall, as always, Arrow Films has done a marvelous job in both areas for the film's new upgrade.

Special Features:

Audio Commentary with Cast Members Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Edward Norton

Audio Commentary with Screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski

Hail Larry (28 Minutes) (New): An interview with lead actor Woody Harrelson.

Satire in Satin (30 Minutes) (New): An interview with Columbia Pictures’ ex-production president Lisa Henson and producer Janet Yang.

Only in America (29 Minutes) (New): An interview with screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.

À la lumière de l’évidence (31 Minutes): An interview with cinematographer Philippe Rousselot.

Milos Forman on The Charlie Rose Show (22 Minutes): A 1997 interview with the director.

Free Speech or Porn? (30 Minutes): A featurette about the making of the film.

Larry Flynt Exposed (29 Minutes): A featurette narrated by Dennis Hopper.

Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary by Woody Harrelson and Larry Karaszewski (2 Sequences, 3 Minutes)

Conclusion:

Milos Forman's "The People vs. Larry Flynt" may not be a particularly in-depth biopic about the eccentric purveyor of lewd magazines, but it is an entertaining, amusing, and fast-paced one with an important message about having the freedom to publish content that some may find disagreeable or unwholesome. Throw in a strong, Oscar-nominated performance from Woody Harrelson, and you have a film that remains rather memorable even after 30 years, making it well-worth revisiting as it makes its 4K debut.

Score: 3.5/5

Available on Limited Edition 4K starting tomorrow.

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