Boogie Nights (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Boogie Nights' (written & directed by Paul Thomas Anderson) takes a kaleidoscope look at the porn industry in Los Angeles in the late 70's & early 80's; focusing on the wild journey of a young Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) from lowly dishwasher to hotshot porn star. 17 yr. old Eddie is first discovered in a San Fernando Valley night club by idealistic porn movie creator, Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds, haha). Jack's big dream is to make a film that is both exploitative, yet dramatic (like real films). When he imparts his ideas/vision to young Eddie - who changes his name to Dirk Diggler - the two pair up & "Dirk" quickly becomes the hottest thing in the porn industry. Not only in Dirk 'game' for anything, but his 12 inch-long member certainly helps.
Dirk is a star; but Jack has quite a legion under his wings. There's Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), a top female porn star who's lost custody of her son because of her involvement with Jack, her 'job', & severe drug problems. Rollergirl (Heather Graham) is a ditzy young roller skater who drops out of school to be in the 'movies'. Buck Swope (Don Cheadle) is one Jack Horner's veterans, but his dream is to leave the industry, find a wife, have some kids, & own a hi-fi equipment shop. Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly) is a Jack Horner groupie who becomes best pals with Dirk. And Little Bill (William H. Macy) is a behind-the-camera man who never feels or looks comfortable with his career choice. He's too straight-laced, his porn star wife openly sleeps around; and how he decides to deal with this situation (tragedy) leads to the film's serious change of direction from fun, fun, fun to dour, deadly, & cathartic.
'Boogie Nights' isn't just an expose on the porn industry, it's an audacious & voyeuristic character study, as well. There are some interesting themes: the allure of stardom - the price people pay to attain & keep it - the need to belong somewhere - and how to fix your name after you've been slandered (in this case, in the porn world). If I have a complaint of the film, it's that P.T. Anderson packs too much into the already bloated 2 & a half hour running time. Every single person in the film is interesting, but several of the minor characters/subplots fall by the wayside. The film ended, & I wanted more. I had a ball watching it. But I guess I assumed there'd be a bit more proverbial meat to the proceedings. Furthermore, for as lively & energetic as the 1st half of the film is, the 2nd half (1980's) shifts tones into something more grim, & even predictable (smoky drug dens, shoot-outs, changes in the way porn is viewed and/or filmed, self-loathing by the porn stars, etc.).
One of the film's greatest assets is it's "look". Never before have I seen a film nail a tone, mood, & attitude of recent history as well as 'Boogie Nights' has. I love the decision to use tracking shots. i.e., long, interrupted takes where the camera interweaves through several rooms; making us feel like we're the character in that spot. It immersed me in the swirl of activity (especially during parties). The 70's/80's sets are absolutely perfect; without calling attention to themselves. Ditto the costumes, hair, & make-up -- ALL astoundingly authentic. And Anderson chose great, great music to be played throughout the film; music that was integral to the scene at hand, rather than just showcasing groovy tunes. So yeah, visually arresting film, for sure. And it harbors a plethora of colorful characters ...
Burt Reynolds is simply great as the aging porn director whose incredible ego is slowly humbled by changing times. Julianne Moore is phenomenal as the drugged-up porn matriarch who is just floooaattting along life in a haze of drugs, lust & regret. She's a maternal figure to Dirk Diggler, and yet, she also wants to jump his bones. She wants her son back, but she can't shake her lascivious lifestyle to warrant that. And Mark Wahlberg is stunning in a premiere performance on the big screen (he's known more for music & magazine covers). He just nails the kind of naive, but gung-ho type of guy who doesn't quite realize what he's getting into, and if he'll ever understand that fame does fade. Dirk is likeable, then kinda revolting, and Wahlberg balances the (tricky) character so that he's still appealing. Don Cheadle (wow, in a donut shop scene), Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall, & others impress. I just wish we saw more of 'em. Really dug this film, overall.
Dirk is a star; but Jack has quite a legion under his wings. There's Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), a top female porn star who's lost custody of her son because of her involvement with Jack, her 'job', & severe drug problems. Rollergirl (Heather Graham) is a ditzy young roller skater who drops out of school to be in the 'movies'. Buck Swope (Don Cheadle) is one Jack Horner's veterans, but his dream is to leave the industry, find a wife, have some kids, & own a hi-fi equipment shop. Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly) is a Jack Horner groupie who becomes best pals with Dirk. And Little Bill (William H. Macy) is a behind-the-camera man who never feels or looks comfortable with his career choice. He's too straight-laced, his porn star wife openly sleeps around; and how he decides to deal with this situation (tragedy) leads to the film's serious change of direction from fun, fun, fun to dour, deadly, & cathartic.
'Boogie Nights' isn't just an expose on the porn industry, it's an audacious & voyeuristic character study, as well. There are some interesting themes: the allure of stardom - the price people pay to attain & keep it - the need to belong somewhere - and how to fix your name after you've been slandered (in this case, in the porn world). If I have a complaint of the film, it's that P.T. Anderson packs too much into the already bloated 2 & a half hour running time. Every single person in the film is interesting, but several of the minor characters/subplots fall by the wayside. The film ended, & I wanted more. I had a ball watching it. But I guess I assumed there'd be a bit more proverbial meat to the proceedings. Furthermore, for as lively & energetic as the 1st half of the film is, the 2nd half (1980's) shifts tones into something more grim, & even predictable (smoky drug dens, shoot-outs, changes in the way porn is viewed and/or filmed, self-loathing by the porn stars, etc.).
One of the film's greatest assets is it's "look". Never before have I seen a film nail a tone, mood, & attitude of recent history as well as 'Boogie Nights' has. I love the decision to use tracking shots. i.e., long, interrupted takes where the camera interweaves through several rooms; making us feel like we're the character in that spot. It immersed me in the swirl of activity (especially during parties). The 70's/80's sets are absolutely perfect; without calling attention to themselves. Ditto the costumes, hair, & make-up -- ALL astoundingly authentic. And Anderson chose great, great music to be played throughout the film; music that was integral to the scene at hand, rather than just showcasing groovy tunes. So yeah, visually arresting film, for sure. And it harbors a plethora of colorful characters ...
Burt Reynolds is simply great as the aging porn director whose incredible ego is slowly humbled by changing times. Julianne Moore is phenomenal as the drugged-up porn matriarch who is just floooaattting along life in a haze of drugs, lust & regret. She's a maternal figure to Dirk Diggler, and yet, she also wants to jump his bones. She wants her son back, but she can't shake her lascivious lifestyle to warrant that. And Mark Wahlberg is stunning in a premiere performance on the big screen (he's known more for music & magazine covers). He just nails the kind of naive, but gung-ho type of guy who doesn't quite realize what he's getting into, and if he'll ever understand that fame does fade. Dirk is likeable, then kinda revolting, and Wahlberg balances the (tricky) character so that he's still appealing. Don Cheadle (wow, in a donut shop scene), Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall, & others impress. I just wish we saw more of 'em. Really dug this film, overall.