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

Unlike some others who have commented on Steal This Movie on IMDb, I don't know that much about Abbie Hoffman, aside from the obvious that he was a fervent protester in the late 60's, and enough of a symbol of the anti-war and anti-Government movement to get a bit part in Forrest Gump (he's the "war in Viet-****ing-Nam" guy). So as part entertainment and part information this film does its job adequately, even as I recognized the film's flaws. It's not without its plus side- if you're a fan of Vincent D'Onofrio (and to me he has an impressive career as a character actor from Full Metal Jacket to The Cell), this is one of the better treats of his career as he lets his hair down (literally) and portrays a man on a downward spiral. What's interesting about the story of Hoffman is how he keeps on with the same spirit even as he's forced into hiding in the 70's. D'Onofrio plays the chaotic, but focused, counterculture icon with enough energy and conviction to make up for the fact that it IS a movie-version of the character. As well as this, actors like Janeane Garofalo and Donal Logue are really playing versions of these people that are convincing up to a point. But the problems in the film are more to do with the direction by Robert Greenwald; he's not as imaginative in treating the material as he thinks he MIGHT be, even as he uses numerous visuals and cutaways in some montage scenes, and adds a typical soundtrack to the proceedings. The script doesn't feel too false in later scenes showing Hoffman's mental breakdown, but it isn't as convincing as I imagine the book(s) on and by Hoffman must be. It's a very intriguing subject (and I'm already a fan of the period) that's given an adequate cinematic treatment. What's disappointing though for those who come across it will not be what's there but what isn't; this is the kind of story and character that needs an Oliver Stone kind of treatment (this is close to it, more like a knock-off). B-

This was an overall good release but there were numerous flaws. The worst of which was the dumbing down of the characters, especially Abbie Hoffman. It made for good cinema and fit the mainstream's mental picture of Abbie, but was quite misleading. Abbie's last wife, Johanna Lawrenson, was grossly misrepresented as apolitical and little more than a bubble-headed groupie. Both were excellent organizers and people. Talking to both was inspiring. It's sad that a film from a better source misrepresented them. However, that said, the film has value for providing a visual picture of the times and occurrences of Abbie's life. Abbie was one of the most significant of the 60s cast of characters and this film contributes to keeping his legacy alive.

The movie was OK. I know there is poetic license, but it had Nixon winning in a Landslide then initiating the Chicago trial. It was 1972 when Nixon won in a landslide. The 1968 election was a squeaker. Nixon won by 500,000 votes and was not declared the winner until the following morning. Otherwise it seemed very accurate, they even had the Yippies with the Pig convention just before the Chicago Democratic convention.I would have liked some insight about why the Yippies were so anti-Lyndon Johnson. Since Abbie blamed Nixon for the trial was there remorse for handing the election to Nixon? The actors were very good, and there could have been more exposition of the early days in the East Village.