the rise and fall of comic lenny bruce ( dustin hoffman ) . bruce be one of the first comedian to use swearing in his act and be actually take to court over it . the movie also chronicle his marriage to stripper honey harlow ( valerie perrine ) . bob fosse be a strange choice to direct this he have only do two musical before ( sweet charity and cabarat ) and but cabaret be such a huge hit i guess he could pick and choose what he want . he shoot it in black and white and use a documentary style approach by interview bruce wife and mother and agent and then flash to those scene . it do work but the film be extremely depressing . the black and white be very stark and give the film a cold look and feeling . also and i find nothing funny in hoffman do bruce routine . it not that he bad ( he actually very good ) and but the tone of the film be not humorous . a i say and hoffman be good but perrine be spectacular . she give a very strong and nuanced performance . also and she do an extremely erotic strip tease at the beginning of the film and hold her own in a ( mild ) lesbian scene . it worth catch but you will probably be depress by the end . if this film weren not such a downer it would probably be good know .