Steal This Movie (2000)

Wonderfully offbeat film!

Let's be realistic.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

The PlotFive years after Yippie founder Abbie Hoffman goes underground to avoid a drug-related prison sentence, he contacts a reporter to get out the story of the FBI's covert spying, harassment and inciting of violence they then blame on the Left. The skeptical reporter interviews Anita, Hoffman's wife, a single mom on welfare in New York City; Hoffman's attorney, Gerry Lefcourt; and others. As they talk, we see Hoffman's career in flashbacks, from early civil rights organizing through the trial of the Chicago Eight. While underground, as mental illness takes its toll, he meets Johanna Lawrenson, and an odd family develops: Abbie, Anita, their son, and Johanna. I like Abbie. He was an interesting guy who ultimately killed himself. But he was a very compelling person to listen to.This movie doesn't capture any of this. It's a borefest. And an atrocity to Hoffman.Abbie was smart, articulate, funny and a great story teller. This movie is the exact opposite. Poorly directed, poorly written and the acting is horrible.Avoid at all costs

Vincent D'Onfroi acting yeah... this movie doesn't tell us Nixon era, Vietnam war (just a documentary we see on white screen of vietnameses or Nixon posters,where is Mc Charthy?!) but I'm giving 7 for the actors and actresses and also nobody mentions about US's expansionism and exceptional-ism todays. This is a movie about Abbie Hoffman's struggle and I appreciate again D'Onfroi about his Hoffman acting. At least this movie gives us the idea why they struggled for justice, equality, liberty in 60s... as Abbie says Indians, Vietnameses...,I say 'far east' countries for 'bringing civilization' you know, you should... I bought this movie from the cheap section... in my language (I wish someday I find it original) see this movie?!!

I loved this movie. I thought it was a good account of part of Abbie Hoffman's life, and was historically accurate.I would recommend that everyone see it. Abbie Hoffman is an important figure in history, and I'm glad that this movie is there to inform people of this.The acting is done well also, even though I had a bit of trouble separating Vincent D'Onofrio's Law & Order: CI role with this one. (I sometimes have a lot of trouble with that when there are actors the I watch all the time on regular television shows) I think this is a great film that really makes you think about things, and makes you want to learn more about Abbie Hoffman.

This film is about the activist years of Yippie Abbie Hoffman and the time after. People expecting to see a biopic about his activism, antics, or books will be dissapointed. The film is about Abbie Hoffman. Not about his efforts, but about him.The editing is not that great, and the dialogue could have been better, but the scenes are entertaining even without good pacing. D'Onofrio also did his best to portray Hoffman, even though he's 9 inches taller and doesn't look like him. He seems to capture that charisma, that "mojo" that other people seem to like. He' also very good in the second half, when you can tell Abbie is pondering his life - if he's doomed to run forever, is he running from nothing, did he waste his life. He seemed very tortured.A lot of people may be dissapointed, but this is still a good film. Such a shame it didn't get wide release.