Flynt typifies American realism

The People vs. Larry Flynt has everything: sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, hypocritical right-wingers, over-the-top left-wingers, automatic weapons, U.S. marshals and Crispin Glover.

Surprisingly, however, an important debate about the First Amendment is the underlying theme. Even though Larry Flynt is a smut-peddling, below-the-belt pornographer, he has the right to print dirty pictures and make fun of cultural icons as long as he follows the laws of the United States of America.

This picture was made by some of the most talented men and women in the industry. Oliver Stone produced the film, two-time Academy Award winner Milos Forman (Amadeus, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) directed it, and it stars Woody Harrelson, his brother Brett, Courtney Love, Edward Norton and the amazing Glover.

The story of Flynt is actually a surprisingly fascinating slice of Americana. The film opens with young Larry (Woody Harrelson) and his brother Jimmy (Brett Harrelson) peddling moonshine to local liquor aficionados.

With Jimmy's help, Larry opens several go-go bars throughout Ohio. While running the bars, Larry falls in love with and eventually marries a young bisexual stripper named Althea, played by Love.

Flynt goes on to publish Hustler magazine, find and lose God, defend the First Amendment and become paralyzed by an assassin's bullet.

Norton plays Flynt's trusty attorney and Glover portrays a quirky member of the Hustler board of directors. The acting in this film is excellent. The direction is simple and impressive because Flynt's life is so crazy that any fancy directing techniques would be lost in the narrative chaos.

The best advice I can give about this film is to go see it. The film does airbrush some of the darker aspects of Flynt's life and it does canonize him. However, this film is an excellent study in realism, and in the end, everybody pays a price.