Lovelace

“Lovelace”, as the name indicates, is the story of Linda Lovelace (nee Linda Boreman), her modest beginnings, troubled childhood and, finally, the fame and misfortune that came from her role as the woman with the unique anatomical configuration that caused her and  the movie she was in to be called “Deep Throat”. This film was the first cross over porn film and frontrunner of feature length pornographic films that one could see with ease in the local “Pussy Cat” or XXX movie theaters in the 70’s. But more than that, this is the story of an abused, easily manipulated and empathy evoking young woman and the struggles she endured having spent just 17 days in the porno film industry, receiving a gross (an apt word) salary of $1,250 while the producers and distributors of the film grossed over 600 Million Dollars from a $50,000 investment. Starring in the title role is Amanda Seyfried who gives an amazing performance as the tacky heroin of this true life story. To judge the script and plot is unfair because they are not creations of a writer’s imagination but rather the details and outline of the real life this woman experienced. Admirable performances by Sharon Stone (as Linda’s mother), Chris Noth, Peter Sarsgaard, Hank Azara, James Franco, Adam Brody, Eric Roberts and Chloe Sevigny give this film supporting cast star power though hampered by the facts as they actually took place. Much like remodeling an existing home as opposed to building a totally new one,, telling someone’s true story as accurately as possible must, by definition, limit and restrict the creative process. For an incite into and intimate look at the life of this woman whose name became synonymous with oral sex on film, the movie is worth seeing and, as a result, I give it 2 and ½ stars.