FILTHY GORGEOUS: THE BOB GUCCIONE STORY (Barry Avrich). 96 minutes. Opens Friday (September 20). For venues and times, see Movies, page 84. Rating: NN Rating: NN
Using archival footage and interviews with Bob Guccione’s family, friends and colleagues, Filthy Gorgeous tells the life story of the man who built the Penthouse publishing empire and a lavish lifestyle but lost it all through dumb investments – in particular, a doomed casino – and his failure to see the digital age coming.
Though this is not quite a bend-over, like Brigitte Berman’s Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist And Rebel, director Barry Avrich is plainly a fan. He appreciates Guccione the artist the magazine mogul always wanted to be a painter, signing his derivative works “Gucci,” and personally shot all those famous nudes.
As in his docs about Harvey Weinstein and Garth Drabinsky, Avrich can’t bring himself to talk to anyone who doesn’t flat-out admire his subject, which weakens the film. His failure to interview a smart feminist means the director can’t make the most of the fact that women basically ran the magazine.
Strangely, the pic doesn’t deal at all with the impact of Hustler Magazine Larry Flynt’s rag was to Penthouse what Penthouse was to Playboy.
Skin mag aficionados will love it, and there are some poignant moments, especially from Guccione’s loyal assistant Jane Homlish and Bob Guccione Jr., but Avrich still hasn’t figured out how to create a complete portrait.
