Customer Reviews

Boogie Nights (Widescreen)

5 star:		(114)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I heard the film was too long. That's a usual complaint of mine, but somehow I was sorry when it was over. This was in spite of a so-so surface story that never really got into the depth that critics were hoping for. But I wouldn't change anything about this movie.

Its set in the 70s and tells the story of a young man's rise to fame in the adult entertainment world because of his one and only attribute. Marky Mark is the young man. Burt Reynolds is the pornographer named Jack Horner. Julianne Moore plays a porn star who befriends and loves Marky Mark in a maternal way. And there is also a new young actress with a great body who never takes off her roller skates. A few other well-defined characters round out a series of interrelated stories.

The 70's settings are perfect and I felt an authenticity thats rarely found in retro pieces like this. I think it gives an accurate picture of the craziness of that particular period of time, including the recreational drug use and eight-track tape music.

One thing I liked is that the film never tried to be anything it wasn't. It wasn't a serious drama. It wasn't a silly comedy. It wasn't a story about the wages of sin. It was just simply an interesting story and I liked it.

When I first saw this film, I was skeptical, thinking it was a low-brow glossed-over "milk the renewed interest in Disco".

I am pleased to say I was wrong!!

In a very elite cast, I thought Mark Wahlberg, as "Dirk Diggler" aka John Holmes, the well-endowed porn king who winds up a hapless coke addict "stole the show". Growing up in this "era", it was very nostalgic to see Hi-Fi's, 70's hair, and the soundtrack brought back the whole era, along with a story of people who extended themselves past their most essential limit- that of self-control.

I rated it a "5 of 5"; to all who enjoy it, "54" is a must-see, also!!

although Hard Eight was the first time people may of heard of Paul Thomas Anderson (and a really great movie also) Boggie Nights was the film that truly marked the arrival of great director..for my money this movie is a well made and ENTERTAINING (something many film makers forget about) as almost any films to come out in the last 10-15 years. great story arc..well written script..authentic feel, without trying too hard for that 70's cheesiness it just seems natural..and just flat out stellar performances from a huge cast...too me while not on the same level it has the same sweeping through the gutter, rags to riches to rags feel as Goodfellas..and like that movie gives realness and depth to a group of people who live outside of the world the rest of us live in..but are still effected by it...P.T. Anderson with his next movies Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love cemented his place as one the great directors in hollywood...check out Boogie Nights to see where it started

One of my favorite films of the last 20 years. Funny, sad, wildly brave
visually. This is brash, bold filmmaking, featuring amazing use of
music - both period songs and score.

Somehow this manages uses the world of porn film-making to examine
families, US politics in the 70s and 80s and all sorts of serious
themes while also being a flat out blast to watch. It was criticized a
bit on release for plagiarizing Scorsese, especially 'Goodfellas', but
to me this is homage in the best sense. Taking great work done by
others and building on it to create something new. Indeed, the
excitement I had on first seeing it reminded me of my first falling in
love with Scorsese's kinetic work as a young film fan many years ago.

The Blu-Ray looks terrific (although the DVD transfer was nothing to sneeze at),
and the extras are everything extras should be - fun, interesting,
informative. A film well worth owning.

This is an exceptionally well done film.

Carefully balanced art direction, acting, and dialogue allow the story to ascend the stigma attached to the subject matter (which happens to concern a star rising and falling in the 1970's porn industry). It generates a surprisingly laid-back, groovy and even comforting mood while telling an intriguing story of a subculture about which most of us make presumptions, but know very little. The character studies are fascinating, most eliciting compassion for the weaknesses of a troubled community of remarkably average people who didn't pursue hedonistic tendencies as much as they sought acceptance, friendship and success in the only industry that would allow them to feign they were glamorous and special, as short-lived an illusion as it would end up being.

The first half of this movie is very entertaining, with many memorable and funny lines of dialogue. The problem I had with the movie is that the characters have little or no redeeming qualities to appreciate them for 2 and a half hours! IF you can put that aside, as well as the porno topic in general, the movie succeeds rather well. Having grown up in that era, the music in Boogie Nights is exceptional, and provides a great atmosphere to the movie in particular. What a GREAT group of songs! Had these songs not been a part of this movie, I believe it would not be as well-received as it has been. The music adds SOOOOOO much.
The DVD is a real treat regarding the video and audio. Near perfect on both counts truly adds to the enjoyment of the movie.
No masterpiece here, but ignoring the subject matter and some of the things that are peripheral to it (re: drug abuse, violence), then Boogie Nights is an entertaining affair.

Mark Wahlberg shedded his rapper persona forever by becoming Dirk Diggler, a character loosely based on porn star, John C. Holmes. He gives an outstanding performance as the vulnerable, bus boy who wants fame and fortune at any cost. He also has a great supporting cast with Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham & John C. Reily. But this movie belongs to Burt Reynolds, who gives the performance of his life as the pornographer who turns Diggler's life around. If it wasn't for Robin Williams, the Oscar would have been his!! Director Paul Thomas Anderson took all of his cues from Martin Scorsese because it looks and feels like "Goodfellas" and Raging Bull. This is a monumental, epic film and I look forward to many more films from him. It's a classic!!

This is a surprisingly good film about a group of very wounded people who find their places in the world of adult films. It's an honest, vulnerable look into the psyche of people who could make this profession their choice. Mark Walhberg delivers a great performance as a has-been performer, forced into some degrading situations. Burt is outstanding as the patriarch of the group. Disturbing, but well done.

Boogie Nights is a very stylish and funny film that is sure to please movie fans. While its slightly subtle and offbeat humor may be lost on some viewers, Boogie Nights is a hilarious movie.

The film is centered around the rise and fall of adult film star Dirk Diggler (played by Mark Wahlberg). Diggler starts out as a polite, bright-eyed kid but is slowly corrupted by life in the fast lane. Wahlberg gives a great performance as the dopey Diggler, whose words aren't necessarily meant to be funny yet often come off as hilarious.

The supporting cast also does an excellent job in this film. John C. Reilly plays Diggler pal and fellow adult film star Reed Rothchild to perfection. Reilly is funny throughout the movie, but stands out particularly in a scene where he is being interviewed about the impact of movie violence on viewers. Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, and Philip Seymour Hoffman also deliver very strong supporting performances.

It's hard to explain what makes Boogie Nights such an entertaining movie. The humor in the dialogue is often quite subtle, but is nevertheless very effective. The characters are colorful and really seem believable despite their sometimes odd behavior and personalities.

Director/writer Paul Thomas Anderson did a great job with this film. Viewers are sure to feel empathetic towards the characters as they struggle and yet will likely find themselves laughing at just how bad and weird things get at times.

The scene that best sums up Boogie Nights as a whole occurs when Diggler, Rothchild, and friend Todd Parker find themselves in the home of an oddball drug addict trying to sell him some bad dope. The use of music and camerawork in this scene really creates a feeling of tension, yet viewers will probably be tempted to laugh at some of the various events of the scene. I won't say exactly what happens, but the entire sequence shows how Boogie Nights is a dichotomy of the laughable and the tragic.

In short, Boogie Nights is a very entertaining and memorable film. Wahlberg's portrayal of Dirk Diggler is top notch and the other actors also do excellent work in the film. Boogie Nights seems to get better with each subsequent viewing and I highly recommend the movie to fans of subtle and slightly dark humor.

this is the Mark Wahlberg, shows his you know, how do you do at the end movie. Reynolds is great as the porn director. Graham is hot and in flames. though some moments are very sick and unwatchable. but it has its powerful moments