Steal This Movie (2000)

Five 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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Greenwald

Writers:

Anita Hoffman (book), Abbie Hoffman (book),

Stars:

Vincent D'Onofrio, Janeane Garofalo, Jeanne Tripplehorn

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Abbie Hoffman
Janeane Garofalo	...	Anita Hoffman
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Johanna Lawrenson
Kevin Pollak	...	Gerry Lefcourt
Donal Logue	...	Stew Albert
Kevin Corrigan	...	Jerry Rubin
Alan Van Sprang	...	David Glenn
Troy Garity	...	Tom Hayden
Ingrid Veninger	...	Judy Albert
Stephen Marshall	...	Louis Wertzel
Joyce Gordon	...	Florence Hoffman
Bernard Kay	...	John Hoffman
Jean Daigle	...	Sheriff
Johnie Chase	...	Josh
Joshua Dov	...	Hippie Kid - NYC

Storyline

Five 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. Will vindication ever arrive?

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | civil rights | welfare | yippie | trial | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 2002 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Abbie!

Filming Locations:

Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$23,221 (USA) (18 August 2000)

Gross:

$76,053 (USA) (8 September 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ardent Films, Greenlight Productions, Lakeshore International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second most stolen film in America, the first being Clerks..

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Goofs

Canadian road signs appear in several scenes including the early scene where Abbie is calling from the isolated phone booth. In the scene where Abbie's mother is driving down the road, a sign written in metric is clearly visible.

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Connections

Referenced in Dinner for Five: Episode #1.4 (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Power to the People"
Written by John Lennon
Published by Lenono Music
Administered by EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI)
Performed by Eric Burdon and Billy Preston

User Reviews

Organizing activities can be harmful to your health.

Robert Greenwald directs this brilliant biopic of '60s counter-culture rabble-rouser Abbie Hoffman(Vincent D'Onofrio)following his involvement with civil rights demonstrations in the south; his association with the infamous Chicago 7 and his disappearance underground in the '70s. Great mix of actual historic footage and well paced dialogue based on the books of Hoffman and his wife Anita. The perky Janeane Garofalo portrays Anita Hoffman and Jeanne Tripplehorn plays Hoffman's girlfriend Johanna Lawrence. Also in the cast are Kevin Pollak, Troy Garity and Kevin Corrigan. D'Onofrio is excellent in the lead role. This is the least heard account of events, but very thought provoking and interesting.