Plot
The story of a young man's adventures in the Californian pornography industry of the 1970s and 1980s.
Release Year: 1997
Rating: 7.9/10 (92,019 voted)
Critic's Score: 85/100
Director:
Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds
Storyline Everyone's born with one special thing, and Eddie Adams uses his humongous "asset" to take the world of film pornography by storm. Things get ugly though when success leads to drugs and ruin. Will Dirk clean up and get back on top? Will Amber see her son? Will Rollergirl ever take off her skates?!
Cast: Luis Guzmán
-
Maurice TT Rodriguez
(as Luis Guzman)
Burt Reynolds
-
Jack Horner
Julianne Moore
-
Amber Waves
Rico Bueno
-
Hot Traxx Waiter
John C. Reilly
-
Reed Rothchild
Nicole Ari Parker
-
Becky Barnett
Don Cheadle
-
Buck Swope
Heather Graham
-
Rollergirl
Mark Wahlberg
-
Eddie Adams
/
Dirk Diggler
William H. Macy
-
Little Bill
Samson Barkhordarian
-
Hot Traxx Chef
Nina Hartley
-
Little Bill's Wife
Brad Braeden
-
Big Stud
Joanna Gleason
-
Dirk's Mother
Lawrence Hudd
-
Dirk's Father
Taglines:
Everyone has one special thing
Release Date: 10 October 1997
Filming Locations: Gourmet Video, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $15,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $50,168
(USA)
(12 October 1997)
(2 Screens)
Gross: $43,101,594
(Worldwide)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
While Paul Thomas Anderson always intended that Melora Walters should play Jessie St. Vincent, the studio wanted a bigger name for the part. He offered the role to Patricia Arquette, knowing she would decline, and the role ultimately went to Walters.
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible:
When Dirk is recording vocals in the studio, the shadow of the boom mic is visible on the wall behind him when the camera pans to the left.
Quotes: Dirk:
You know, I'm gonna be a great big bright, shining star.
User Review
Boogie Nights OR "How I learned to ignore the consequences, and love the freedom of the 1970's."
Rating: 9/10
Boogie Nights is perhaps one of the greatest examples any would-be
filmmaker
should take a long hard look at. Sure, you could spend loads of quality
time reviewing the clasics from Hitchcock to Scorsese; but lets follow suit
for the modern generation and study half-heartedly.
Where to begin, I suppose one could look at the film as simply a story,
perhaps even docudrama which focuses on the late 1970's porn industry-and
what an industry it was! The other half could focus on the incredible
detail one brillant filmmaker can achieve simply by using polyester and
*ahem* rubber. But honestly, Boogie Nights brings back the pure,
no-bul!shi$, in your face kind of cinema I haven't experienced since the
film greats of the 1970's...ironic...or stroke of genius. The story is
full
of richly detailed characters, all of which you either can relate too,
love,
or hate; but the impact is clear-you are feeling something for them. Among
the characters the two performances which stand out are: Burt Reynolds as
Director Jack Horner, and Mark Wahlberg as Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler.
Julianne Moore is also brillant, as is Heather Graham...but if I focus on
any one actor it would have to be John C. Reilly. John's performance is a
perfect balance of comedic timing and character driven emotion...I'm a
sucker for the line "Ever see the movie Star Wars?...People say I look like
Han Solo." Anyway, the look of the film is incredible, the Director of
Photography and Director/Writer/Producer, have come up with a vibrant
colour, and flashy style that compares to Martin Scorsese, and Stanley
Kubrick(in terms of his perfection of his craft); but with creating his own
unique look, and pushing the edge with the longest single shot I'ver ever
seen...that being the New Year's party sequence.
The music, like in any great film, is a character of its own. At times, it
consumes oneself with sorrow or grief...but mainly its all about fun,
dancing, and having a good time; the spirit of the 1970's.
OK, back to the performances.
Burt Reynolds plays the character of Jack Horner, a porn director who feels
the burden of what the future of "film" means to his genre. The awful
transition from shooting on film to recording on magnetic tape. The lose of
his art, as it were...and the changes in mentality to the people he works
with. Walhberg adds the perfect blend of innocense and sexual bravado
needed for the character. For all those individuals who have seen Burton's
Planet of the Apes, pay no attention to the performance of Wahlberg in that
film...rent boogie nights and see what a difference a good script can make!
Julianne Moore plays the would-be mother to all, and with that comes the
torment and anguish she feels, as life imitates art; and she loses all
those
close to her. Heather Graham is the eye-candy, but later holds her own,
and
steals some of the scenes from even the great Mr. Reynolds himself. Each
character is multidimensional, rich with life, and performed by actors that
seem to be picture perfect for the part.
The film itself is often funny, tragic, exciting, and provides a
uncompromising look into the turblulant lifestyle of the fast-pace 1970's.
It makes no excuses, and tells no lies; and offers the audience a trip
back.
But even more importantly, the movie gives us a grand example of how films
should be made; and a new director whose bold visions bring back art in
film.
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