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Boogie Nights on DVD (1997)

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Average rating: 70%
1113416172068
3.0
from 3,275 members
 
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, Veronica Hart, Alfred Molina, Jack Wallace, Joanna Gleason, Ricky Jay, John C. Reilly, Luis Guzman, Laurel Holloman, William H. Macy, Don Cheadle, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffma
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Studio: ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time: 149 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: Double Vision, essential films, Crabsticks, Favourites, The Best Films, like, EVER, Just a few of me favourite films..., Top 10 Julianne Moore performances, Love(these)film(s), History through film, 50 Films I Recommened You See Before You Die
Genres: Comedy
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Released: 21/05/1999

Brief synopsis of Boogie Nights

It's Los Angeles, 1977, and adult film director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) meets Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), a well-endowed dishwasher in a nightclub. Jack recruits Eddie to be his newest star and Eddie, hungry for fame, quickly agrees, changing his name to Dirk Diggler. Soon Dirk is the hottest star in the porn industry, alongside Rollergirl (Heather Graham), a high school dropout who never removes her roller skates, and Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), the veteran star who pines for the son she's not allowed to visit. On the fringes, Little Bill (William H. Macy) fumes while his wife cheats on him in public, and Buck Swope (Don Cheadle) tries to escape the stigma of being a porn actor. The good times roll, but before long Dirk falls victim to the pressures of stardom and a drug habit that ruins his career while Jack struggles with porn's conversion from film to cheaper videotapes. Director Paul Thomas Anderson's breakthrough film is an exhilarating ride along the underbelly of the 1970s inspired by the films of Altman and Scorsese, featuring colorful camera work, a dynamic soundtrack, and excellent performances from the entire cast, most notably Reynolds in an Oscar-nominated comeback role.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 5 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Pornography, drugs and disco are the driving forces of this potent parable of the partying 1970s from director Paul Thomas Anderson. Spanning the height of the disco era, this Martin Scorsese-influenced rags-to-bitches allegory is a visually stunning and poignant exploration of the adult entertainment industry. Charting the rise, fall and rise again of bus boy-turned-porn star Mark Wahlberg, who has the right credentials to make it big in the business, Anderson's surreal take on the American Dream is as startling as it is highly entertaining. Burt Reynolds was Oscar nominated for his brilliant turn as sleaze-movie producer Jack Horner, the patriarch of an extended family of life's flotsam and jetsam. Scintillating support is provided by Heather Graham as Rollergirl and Julianne Moore (also Oscar-nominated) as leading lady Amber Waves. The breathtaking opening Steadicam shot is justifiably famous.

Rating of 2 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

An entertaining and sometimes savage account of the last moments of hard-core films, just before the industry switched to video; witty and satiric for much of the time, it is spoilt by its use of gratuitous violence to overcome its narrative flaws.

USA Today

"...With its ceaseless music, large canvas, shrewd casting, flawless ensemble acting and the dexterity of its whiplashing mood switches, the movie recalls Robert Altman's NASHVILLE..." -- 4 out of 4 stars

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 4 starsBoogie On!

AlistairD from Lancashire , 04/12/2004

It must be hard to make a film about the porn industry, without making porn itself... but this film suceeded. Yes, this is a film for adults, and will probably appeal more to those approaching their 40's.

A hard look at something almost all of us have had at least a little contact with at some time or another :-) - covering the era when porn was going from film to video. Good performances all round, a good storyline and some interesting subplots.

One critisism - the characters didn't seem to age with the movie... but I'm being pedantic there... excellent film.

  9 out of 10 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsIm a star, Im a star, Im a big bright shining star.

MonstroMunch from Manchester, England , 30/01/2005

This film is simply brilliant.

The story centers around 17 year old Eddie Adams who is trying to make it as an actor. Whilst working at a club he is spotted by adult film producer Jack Horner who is looking for the next big 'thing', and he quite literally finds that in Eddie.

The movie is an expose of the porn industry in the 70's and 80's and how the changes the 80's brought about affect the lives of the people in the industry.

Perhaps the most shocking thing about this movie is that 'Marky' Mark Whalberg is heading up the cast.... And he is actually very good. He is amply supported by names such as Julianne Moore, Heather Graham and Burt Reynolds to name but a few and they are all wonderful in bringing to life these characters from a side of the industry that we very rarely see.

This film is funny, dramatic, harrowing, tongue in cheek, hilarious and touching.

Essential Viewing.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsLets groove tonight...

liverbar from London , 23/11/2004

I have seen a review that is very dismissive of this movie, "a man with a big kn@b snorts a lot of coke". Although funny and strictly true it doesnt really give the film enough credit.

Yes I have seen countless films like this before about a man's rise and rise in his chosen proffession before his inevitable fall and then redemption. I think Scorsese wrote the big on that character, but in the environment of the porn industry was pretty inventive and the acting is actually very strong.

No one comes out of it too well (apart from the couple at then end) and it doesn't try and do some American moralising rubbish, it just portrays the porn industry as any other job and people trying to make their ways. I liked it, not an all time classic but you will want to watch it again in a few years time and people will remember it.

  4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsRockin days and boogie nights

RockBottomWalsh from Warwickshire , 05/04/2004

This is an uncompromising look at the porn industry in the seventies told through the eyes of one Eddie Adams who soon becomes known as Dirk Diggler (Mark Whalberg).

This showcases the high life and some of the personalities of the porn industries at that time as well as looking at social isolation (as with most of Anderson’s other films).

We also see the eventual fall of the industry as the widespread use of video emerges and how each of the individual characters does or does not deal well with this.

This is a real rollercoaster ride of a film with highs and lows galore. A very interesting character study and a good film to watch if you are up for a night with an interesting movie.

This is not so watchable as Magnolia or Punch Drunk Love however so you need to be in the right mood to actually take it all in. All in all a very good film for the right person.

  4 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 stars

Morag#1 from MAIDSTONE , 08/10/2004

If you want to get in the mood for a randy night with your partner, this movie might help - on the other hand, you could get some "proper" porn! I thought it was pretty boring, spiced up with a few titillating moments. If the 70s were like that, I can only say I'm glad I was too young to "enjoy" them!!

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 stars

A customer from CARLTON , 24/08/2004

HIghly evocative film, loved it - some excellent performance and a real insight to the adult scene

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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