Review of Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone (2007) by Tonypolito — 13 Aug 2010

"The People Versus Larry Flynt" Hollywood Machines Flynt's trials and tribulations; this documentary looks him straight in the eye, cuts right to the man's mind and motives.

Flynt reveals street-smart and calculating. In today's world of reality-nonsense TV and circus-styled broadcast news, it's plain enough that "outrageousness, controversy and limelight sells." Flynt figured that out 40 years ago and makes no bones of it, stating outright he's a publisher looking for opportunities to sell ink. But he's far more particular about it than those other ringmasters.

Flynt, as the quick-witted prole made good, is truly (and righteously) angered by the hypocrisy and confused logic of politicians and other elitist pulpits. Antagonizing and exposing them is the method to his madness - and his money. In revealing Speaker-Elect Bob Livingston's multiple adulteries amidst the Rep's MonicaGate ravings, Flynt's cast as 'bottom-feeder.' Flynt's quip: "and look who I found down there.".

It's but one example herein of Flynt's sharp mind - and of the now-forgotten "old-school" investigative journalism Flynt has delivered, journalism he laments as lost with Cronkite and Bill Paley. Gloria Steinem rants Flynt's magazine victimizes women, a stance of frequent debate. Flynt however only applies the term 'victim' to one woman in 75 minutes, Pvt. Jessica Lynch. Debate that.

In many ways, Flynt reveals as intelligent, as someone demanding the right to profit from peddling poor taste and apple-cart tipping - and as someone who relishes companionship of beautiful woman. And reveals cunning enough to focus on using and decrying some serious shortcomings of American leadership, law and ethics in order to get that profit and company. Plenty of the power/money elite have done far worse to America, albeit far more subtly and tastefully.

RECOMMENDATION: A fascinating character study. If you see one, see both; they're well-paired bookends.