What makes it different from others?

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

I was prepared to write a more positive reaction to this movie, praising Linda Lovelace as a feminist heroine of sorts, but then I saw all of the negative reviews revealing that she wrote multiple autobiographies and changed her story every time. So as much as I would like to believe this version of the story, I am now inclined to think that this was an image-rescuing effort on the part of opponents to pornography who see this subculture as highly destructive to women. I am not saying that I disagree, but at the same time I surmise that not all porn stars are coerced to do what they do. Some are probably nymphomaniacs who enjoy what they are doing. Was Linda Lovelace the victim depicted in the second half of this biopic? Hard to say. I mean, she did agree to play the lead role in Deep Throat. No one was holding a gun to her head at that time. What really happened? Who really knows? Would the story be more appealing if things really happened this way? Or if she freely chose to be a porn star? Was her life in danger when she attempted to stop? It seems very convincing, but again I have no idea.The quality of this production is standard for made-for-television movies. Certainly watchable enough, but not the stuff of great art. The story makes a complete about-face half-way through, up to which it looks as though Linda is making choices for herself. Then there's a strange "revision of history" twist, where the abusive relationship with her partner (and manager) is reinserted into the narrative. Could be creative if more carefully constructed, but here it seems a bit sloppy.

'Lovelace' is the first of two films this year based on the porn phenomenon Linda Lovelace, who rose to superstardom in the early '70s with the film 'Deep Throat'.This bio-pic might've been a disaster, but directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman have made an engaging and entertaining look at the former Linda Boreman's life, even if her situations are difficult to watch at times. The acting is spot-on, and the movie has a killer retro soundtrack.You've probably heard the story of 'Deep Throat', one of the first porno films to include a plot, characters and a decently-sized budget. Shot for around $50,000, the movie has made hundreds of millions in profit over the years.We first meet Linda (Amanda Seyfried) as a 19-year-old girl living with her parents (Robert Patrick and an unrecognizable Sharon Stone) in Florida, where she and her friend are hired as Go-Go dancers at the local skating rink. A man by the name of Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard) takes a liking to her, and the two eventually run off to get married. After Chuck realizes Linda's talent, he brings her to porn producer Butchie Periano (Bobby Cannavale) and director Gerard Damiano (Hank Azaria). As we already know from history, the movie they made together became a huge success.However, as we see in a time-jump several years forward, Linda later wrote a book called 'Ordeal' that chronicled her life with Traynor, who she claimed beat and tortured her, and forced her into slavery and gang rapes for money. He also handled all her financial affairs and never let her see a dime from the movie. It's a sad and depressing story, but not without a light of hope as Linda escapes Traynor and becomes an activist for women's rights who spoke out against pornography until her untimely death by car crash in 2002.The film is similar in structure to 'Boogie Nights'. The first section is fun with lots of '70s music, dancing and parties. Then, the second half is a dark downward spiral as these successful people hit rock bottom, and Linda is forced to perform wretched acts on strangers by her abusive husband.Seyfried brings Linda Lovelace to life. She's elegant, attractive and damn fun to watch. The actress captures the emotional depth of this sad tale. Sarsgaard pulls off one of the slimiest characters ever put to film. Not once do you like this guy. Sharon Stone is the wild card here; she's physically unrecognizable, but gives one hell of a supporting performance. Cannavale and Azaria turn in hilarious supporting roles, and the movie also has cameos by James Franco (as a young Hugh Hefner), Wes Bentley, Eric Roberts, Adam Brody and Juno Temple.

Amanda Seyfried stars in this biopic of infamous porn-star Linda Lovelace, who became a household name in the seventies after displaying a remarkable talent for fellatio in hardcore skin-flick Deep Throat. The first half of Lovelace charts Linda's pre-porn years, her marriage to titty-bar owner Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard), the making of Deep Throat and her consequent rise to porn super-stardom, with Linda apparently lapping up the limelight and happily promoting her work; the second half reveals the supposed pain behind the porn, retelling matters according to Lovelace's best-seller Ordeal, in which she claims to have entered the adult industry against her will, having been forced to do so at gunpoint by her sleaze-bag husband.Linda Lovelace's assertion that she performed in Deep Throat under duress has long been the subject of conjecture, with feminist 'Women Against Porn' movement attempting to prove her case via polygraph test (which she apparently passed), and several of Linda's co-workers damning her stories by stating that she was more than happy in her line of work. The makers of Lovelace play it safe by opting for the politically correct route, adhering to Lovelace's version of events, taking a few liberties with the facts (Linda didn't leave the adult industry immediately after Deep Throat, as is suggested here), whilst happily glossing over the most unsavoury aspects of her past (there's absolutely no mention of the 8mm stag-loops in which she performed with a four-legged friend).This cautious approach is not all that surprising—this is, after all, a Hollywood movie and a sympathetic stance makes the subject matter more palatable for mainstream audiences—but I do feel that a more balanced and honest approach would have resulted in a more satisfying experience overall.

Interesting, but not overly compelling, biopic. The true story of Linda Lovelace, who starred in the famous (infamous?) Deep Throat and a few other porn movies in the early-to-mid 1970s. Shows how her husband mistreated her and how she managed to escape him and the porn industry and turn her life around.Inspiring in how she fights back and changes her life. Also highlights domestic violence as its most brutal and stifling. However, not overly compelling. Story feels jumbled at times, due to the director jumping back-and-forth in time. Also feels a bit superficial at times in its examination of Lovelace's plight.Superb performance by Amanda Seyfried in the lead role. Truly captures the spirit and look of the times, and of her character. Decent support by Peter Sarsgaard as her abusive husband.Sharon Stone gives a powerful performance, and almost steals the show, as Lovelace's over-controlling, domineering, stiflingly conservative, evil mother. Stone is almost unrecognisable in the role, she is that in-character and convincing.Hank Azaria is great in a minor role. Rest of the supporting cast are so-so. You always know James Franco is going to be unconvincing (and here he is playing Hugh Hefner...).Interesting from an historical perspective and as a commentary on domestic violence, but not a must-see.