Boogie Nights

Boogie Nights (1997)

Runtime: 155 minutes

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: A great cast, including Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, & Don Cheadle

From: New Line Cinema

Monday night I rewatched this film; by sheer coincidence, Tuesday was the 20th anniversary of the movie's debut. It is an excellent motion picture, as I describe below: 

NOTE: I swear I did not know this until after rewatching the film late last night but 10/10/97 is the day this premiered; what better time for this review than on its 20th anniversary.

Of course this is an excellent movie I've seen before-several times in fact-but this bold look at various people involved in the 70's porno industry in Southern California (and their downfall in the 80's) hadn't been watched by me in WAY too long. I was happy to fix this and I am happy I can still give this my highest rating.

I understand those who wouldn't care for it, whether it's the subject matter, the hard R rating this has, or anything else. I have no problem with the decidedly adult tale where high school dropout Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) becomes porn star Dirk Diggler due to being hung like a horse. Along the way there are plenty of colorful characters who end up in wild situations and yet the film is still believable as (among other things) all of them act natural to each other and for example, you get to see Dirk befriend Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly) over discussion about working out.

The characters all have their hang-ups, their flaws, their relationship problems, etc. For example, Jack Horner (the great Burt Reynolds) wishes to make pornography that is comparable to “real” cinema. Those things happened in the first half (the rockin' 70's) and at a big party in the middle of the film-which is literally the end of the decade-some important things happen, including a shocking moment that's the sign the movie is making quite the change.

You enjoy the characters by this point so when it's the 80's and things go to hell, you do feel bad for them even if some of them do a few unfortunate things, usually involving drugs. Really, don't do those hardcore drugs. There's the performances from the incredible cast that is a great asset but it's the filmmaking in general that stands out the most. I had forgotten how often the camera moves around, but only in the best of ways. Zoom ins and zoom outs, and plenty of the camera following the characters around. The best is the opening scene, where in a few minutes we meet the most important characters at the nightclub run by Maurice (Luis Guzman).

I haven't seen everything that P.T. Anderson has done and not everything I have watched I even liked. Yet I think this is still the best thing he's ever done. All the little details and even touches like the wild 70's being filled with popular music while the 80's has a lot less of that (it's mostly saved for an unforgettable scene with Alfred Molina), I think this film is still outstanding, and I am glad I can wax poetic about it on its 20th anniversary.