criticize and perhaps correctly and for turn foul mouth comic lenny bruce into a misunderstood crusader for the right to free speech and lenny be nonetheless a potent and highly entertaining movie . dustin hoffman be brilliant a bruce and valerie perrine match him a his drug addict wife honey . the unlikely director and bob fosse and utilize an interview technique and have those close to bruce explicate the story . it work well . bruce surtee black and white cinematography be stun . the jazz club and comic den be eerily photograph . there be shot that resemble the work of weegee or diane arbus . jan miner play bruce mother and gary morton be a milton berle like comedian in one of the film best scene .