Boogie Nights

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Don Cheadle, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, Philip Baker Hall, Thomas Jane, Alfred Molina, Nicole Ari Parker, Michael Jace
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A young man (Mark Wahlberg) breaks into the porn industry in the 1970s.

Review:

Tim: It's fascinating that Paul Thomas Anderson decided to tackle a movie about the porn industry in 1997. The world was two years removed from the absolute bomb, Showgirls and you have to believe there was an expectation that this movie would follow a similar path. However, he imbues so much humanity and complexity into the characters, he creates an entertaining drama about human beings. The porn industry is the setting, but this movie is much more complex and insightful than you would imagine. I'm fairly certain that people don't watch porn for the artistic value, so it was courageous of Anderson to tell an artistic story about such an inartistic world. This is a really good movie- it's ultimately a bit too long for its own good, but there's no mistaking how effective this film is.

The movie centers around Dirk Diggler- a character that Anderson and Mark Wahlberg make unforgettable. It helps that Diggler is surrounded by a group of larger-than-life characters who reflect an aspect of the world most people will have limited to no visibility into. This is why the movie works- because the characters are compelling and the cast's performances are universally strong. I'll get to the cast in a minute, but it's impressive that Anderson told such a fascinating story about a world where the final product is universally devoid of story.

Mark Wahlberg has certainly grown into a talented actor. There were much bigger questions about his ability back in 1997. He gives a frankly stunningly good performance in the lead role here. He obviously tapped into something personal, because his performance felt natural and authentic. He does follow the typical highs-followed-by-lows path, but it's an entertaining journey nonetheless. The fact that the journey takes place in the porn industry gives it a different flavor. I didn't expect Wahlberg to be so good. I know Burt Reynolds had a lot of reservations about this movie- before, during, and after filming. I don't blame him. However, his Jack Horner is a fascinating character. He's someone who seems to want to create something beautiful in the midst of an industry that doesn't care for beauty all that much. He is one of the more straightforward characters, yet makes him intriguing. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. His partner in the film, Julianne Moore, is equally as good. She's one of the most talented actresses ever, so it's no surprise her performance here garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She's the matriarch of this unique family and conveys a great deal of emotion. I loved how she was able to act so appropriately poorly during the filming scenes, yet deliver an exceptional performance outside of those. She's excellent in this film.

Heather Graham might not be a good actress, but she's believable in this role. In what could have been a throwaway role, she makes Rollergirl memorable (if not especially intelligent). John C. Reilly adds a strong "best friend" performance. William H. Macy was terrific in his supporting role. It feels like he's always on the outside of the inner circle, but he has some incredibly memorable scenes. I enjoyed Don Cheadle's performance, but his character felt disconnected from the others. It was odd to see him exist on the extreme outside of the story. I enjoyed his character and his story, but it's one that easily could have been cut. Philip Seymour Hoffman quietly adds a powerful performance that leaves an impression. Alfred Molina is only in the film during one sequence, but you don't forget his presence. Luis Guzman was fun, too. As a whole, Anderson assembles a ridiculously talented cast and they all give such strong performances.

Now, my one big complaint is that the movie is overly long. I complain about that fairly often, but it makes a big difference here. I was riveted by the story and the characters for the first 90 minutes. Things slow down a bit as their lives fall apart, then it feels like it too quickly comes together for the conclusion. The movie loses steam because it's too long and can't quite recover enough by the end. Anderson crafted a film that was close to greatness, but just misses out for this reason. A slightly more focused story would have resolved this big issue. Otherwise, the movie does conclude fairly well (including that shocking final scene).

I didn't expect to enjoy Boogie Nights as much as I did. It's a risky movie, but it paid off for Anderson and the cast. I'm not sure I would revisit this film, but it was a heck of a journey to take with Dirk Diggler and his friends. I like that this movie was about something deeper than the surface (the fact that it's about family makes a big difference) and it's well worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: There Will Be Blood, Punch-Drunk Love, Magnolia