The People vs. Larry Flynt Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The People vs. Larry Flynt Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 7, 2019

Sony has released the Biopic 'The People vs. Larry Flynt' as part of its MOD (Manufactured on Demand) line of Blu-ray releases. The film was previously released to Blu-ray in April 2011 by Image Entertainment. I did not review, nor do I have access to, that disc; this review will include fresh video and audio reviews specific to this Sony release as well as a quick compare with Image's supplements and reviews of new content.

In 2011, Michael reuben penned a stellar review for the film for its Image Entertainment release; please click here to read it.

The People vs. Larry Flynt Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As noted above, I do not have a copy of the Image disc to conduct a comparison, but by looking at the screenshots in the Image review there's little reason to believe that this is a substantial departure from it one way or the other. The picture is generally filmic, a little flat and lacking anything resembling dynamic visual excellence, but viewers can expect a retained grain structure and good, though not great, core detailing around various offices and luxury homes, assorted clothing, and facial features. It's never quite razor sharp but it's sharp enough. Colors lack depth and dazzle, looking a little flat and faded but certainly not to any serious image detriment. There's enough core color health to support the more lively hues while less flamboyant colors are appropriately reserved and accurate. Skin tones appear fair and black levels are decent. The odd spot and speckle appears here and there but the image is free of any significant encode issues.

The People vs. Larry Flynt Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is no great feat of audio engineering but it's a capable, if not limited, presentation. There are a few examples of chaotic din filtering into the stage, such as a boisterous reaction following a courtroom verdict in chapter five. Quality reverberation fills the stage when Flynt addresses a crowd in the following chapter, yielding a nice, airy feel for location detail. The track fails to find substantial engagement when a shooter strikes Flynt and his lawyer in chapter eight, and various emergency response din doesn't push much beyond the fronts either. Music is adequately wide but surrounds are minimally utilized here and elsewhere. There's also not much evidence of potent low end engagement. The movie is most sonically reliant on dialogue, which does present healthily and fully from a natural front-center position.

The People vs. Larry Flynt Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sony's MOD release of The People vs. Larry Flynt contains all of the supplements from the previously linked Image release while also bringing over a couple of the missing featurettes that previously appeared on the Sony DVD, which are marked as "new" and reviewed. It also includes some unhidden Easter Eggs.

• Cast Commentary: Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Edward Norton.
• Writers' Commentary: Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszweski.
• NEW! Free Speech or Porn? (480i, 30:11): A captivating Documentary that is built around images from the film but tells the greater historical story behind it as well as looking at the production history, casting and performances, characters, Harrelson's meeting with Flynt, the film's themes, shooting locations, costumes, the real Larry Flynt, and more.
• NEW! Larry Flynt Exposed (480i, 29:27): A fascinating study of the film's title figure, narrated by Dennis Hopper. It explores his early years, early business ventures, creating Hustler Magazine, various legal battles, personal relationships, his views on religion, Larry's gunshot wounds and physical problems, Althea Leasure's stewardship of the empire, Flynt's run for office, his battle with Jerry Falwell, and more.
• Deleted Scenes (480i, 2:20 total runtime): Included are Running for President and Kentucky House. With optional filmmaker commentary.
• Theatrical Trailer (480i, 2:17).
• NEW! Easter Eggs (480i, 12:00): Primarily a collection of Flynt advertisements for his bid for the presidency. Included are Will the Real Jimmy Flynt Please Come Forward, Larry Flynt for President Version 1, Larry Flynt for President Version 2, Larry Flynt for President Version 3, Larry Flynt for President Version 4, and Larry Flynt for President Version 5.

The People vs. Larry Flynt Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The People vs. Larry Flynt presents a fascinating real-life study of a man whose business ventures intersected with practically every point of government, religion, and culture, clashing with so many then-established values while speaking to so many individuals craving his wares, both of which helped him to build a pornography empire and vast personal wealth. As Michael stated in his review, the mere thought that his work could cause so much upheaval in today's society, in a place and time where pornography runs rampant and is incredibly easy to access and seems far less taboo, seems far-fetched, but as a reflective lens of its time the movie is incredibly effective. Sony's MOD Blu-ray adds back a few extras missing from the Image release. Video and audio presentations are adequate. Recommended.