Lenny (1974)

Extremely well acted linear look at Lenny Bruce's nowhere beginning, his ride to the comedy circuit top, and his flattening crash and death. I gotta admit…the guy ain't funny to me; but that doesn't mean that I don't sympathize with his cause. It also doesn't mean that I give a damn about his personal life. As a first-amendment crusade, the story's interesting. But the relentless focus on the seedy real-life behind his celebrity only weakens his worthy message.

C