Inside Deep Throat (2005)
HBO Documentary Films

Description

It was banned in 23 states. The government didn't want you to see it. Deep Throat was more than just a titillating curiosity, it was the sexually explicit film that ignited a social and political firestorm. Inside Deep Throat examines the politics and the payoffs, the porn stars and persecution of the cultural phenomenon that remains just as highly controversial today. From Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer comes this probing look at the sensational adult film that launched a sexual and cultural revolution.

Tags

Pornography

Collected reviews and ratings

10 digitallyobsessed.com | Chuck Aliaga

The interviews and information that is revealed here is eye-opening, thanks to tight editing and stark narration from Dennis Hopper.
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10 TV Guide | Maitland McDonagh

But Fenton and Barbato also place Deep Throat firmly in the context of a turbulent time, when making a sex movie was an act of rebellion (however Quixotic), rather than a mercenary grab for the goodies.
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8.9 DVD Verdict | Mike Pinsky

The documentary has an uphill battle in portraying Deep Throat as more than a quaint anomaly, a film whose status as classic rests more on a lucky cultural accident than its own qualities (or lack thereof). Inside Deep Throat is less about Deep Throat than it is about an America struggling with its own sexual identity.
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8.0 Empire | Nick De Semlyen

A sharp documentary that has comedy, tragedy and, yes, a glimpse of Linda Lovelace's party trick.
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8.0 Amazon user reviews

Inside deep Throat does a great job of showing how the movie's fame and notoriety ultimately lead to the victimization and ill treatment of its stars.
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7.5 Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

Open up and say "ah" to this wickedly probing documentary from Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (Party Monster). It has a lot more on its mind than blow jobs.
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7.0 filmcritic.com | Chris Barsanti

The cavalcade of talking heads that the filmmakers trot out to discuss the ramifications of Deep Throat’s impact on the society is truly impressive, but yet a little like an omnibus edition of a '70s talk show.
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7.0 Salon.com | Andrew O'Hehir

To me, at least, "Inside Deep Throat" felt drearily long (it's only about 90 minutes), and anyone who survived the anti-porn crusades of the '80s or the "sex positive" porn of the '90s will find the arguments on all sides depressingly familiar.
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6.0 DVD Talk | David Walker

Some will find no doubt find Inside Deep Throat to be highly informative and some who may even be offended by the film. It's up you to determine which you are. If, however, you are looking for the be-all-and-all of cockumentaries, this film is not it.
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6.0 BBC | Jamie Russell

Where Inside Deep Throat goes limp is in its social history, a one-sided attempt to preach an anti-censorship message. Filmmakers Fenton and Barbato tip their hand so blatantly that the film loses all claim to objectivity.
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5.8 The Onion A.V. Club | Scott Tobias

Narrated by Dennis Hopper, himself a peculiar figure in the counterculture and counter-counterculture, Inside Deep Throat works better as behind-the-scenes production history than broad sociopolitical essay, which means it starts better than it ends.
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