User reviews

Being Saturday evening (comedy night in our house),my wife and I sat down to watch a supposedly funny movie called "Boogie Nights". The only thing I had heard about it was that my sister-in-law told us not to see it because it was bawdy and she walked out, so right away I knew it was worth watching. This movie was nothing like we thought it was going to be like--it was a fantastic and quite involving drama, which deserved a few Oscars. The time frames from the early 70's to the mid 80's were flawless, and the "glamor" of the porn industry was effectively dispelled by the portrayal of the stars. One of the most memorable scenes of all times, in my opinion was the drug deal gone bad, the firecrackers, the guy in the bathrobe and the utter uneasiness of the deposed porn stars as we listened to "Jessie's Girl" and "Sister Christian". Burt Reynolds was great as Jack Horner, the director who made money with young energy and the coming trends, but realized he had to be "father" to all those aging stars who had nowhere else to go once the bright lights began to flicker and the money was getting thin.

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.

Boogie Nights is full of surprises, nothing quite prepares one for it its soul. Yes, it does have soul, whilst tackling the tackiest of subject matter, with both a wry smile and respect. Brillantly cast and wonderful character development, the performances somehow combine the best of stage acting with improvisation within a cinema verite style.

The plot proved richer than I expected and the underlying themes are teased out quite profoundly as each "B grade" human being is brought, through crisis, into perspective.

A sociologist's dream case study, the film resonates the raw truth of what we all know about self-esteem, parental love and lack of it, attention/love deficit and its manifestation in adulthood, the desperate need to belong. Something for everyone here.. almost camouflaged as issues of untouchables and their separate milieu but of course they are universal.

The film works on a number of levels. The ironic loop is that the milieu portrayed exists only because of the voyeur, who happens to be watching the film...

Boogie Nights is non judgmental of its subject matter and characters, a rarity. It deserves every accolade it has achieved and more.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson has created a fascinating account of a family of pornographers in the late 1970s. It is a frank, compelling, and disturbing vignette of unforgettable characters. Mark Whalberg (in his best performance to date) plays a well-endowed 17 year old who begins working in the porn industry under porn director Burt Reynolds (in an Oscar nominated performance). John C. Reilly plays a fellow porn star, Julianne Moore (never better) as a famous porn queen, Philip Seymour Hoffman as a timid homosexual porn crew member, William H. Macy as a fatalistic loser who's wife is always cheating on him, and Heather Graham (Reynolds daughter) as a rising porn star. Everybody does a fine job. The best scenes belong to former porn star couple Don Cheadle and Nicole Parker who add some of the comic relief to the film. What's intriguing is the way the actors interact with each other and the way they struggle to find their self-identity, plus a bravura script, colorful and startling cinematography, and a rousing rocking 70s soundtrack that make Boogie Nights one of the best films of 1997. It is a touching, humorous, and shocking film bursting with originality with an overall message of: redemption and forgiveness.

'Boogie Nights' is more than a great film even, it's fantastic and more worthy of even more praise than it already gets.

What is immediately impressive after finishing is how it tackles the subject matters of pornography, disco and drugs, very difficult subjects to portray in any media without being too trashy or causing offence but 'Boogie Nights' manages to make a film that commits neither of those things (even with the sex and drug abuse being prominent, they all have their full impact without being over-the-top or trivialised) and instead make one that's interesting and entertaining as well as disturbing and emotional. Few films that include even one of these subjects have succeeded in doing that so well.

It looks stunning for a start, with an imaginative surreal touch to the lighting and kinetic cinematography (though also with the trademark long takes and tracking shots that is immediately distinctive of Paul Thomas Anderson) and audacious costuming. Visually the standout is the opening Steadicam shot, it's breathtaking and famous for very good reason. The disco soundtrack is a perfect fit, it's infectious, effectively sleazy, sometimes deliciously ironic and also makes one want to dance with the characters and nostalgic for the 80s.

The screenplay was nominated for an Oscar, and with its perfect balance of the hilarious, the poignant and the darkly disturbing it's a worthy nomination. Even with the huge two and a half hour length (it may be argued by some that the film is too long), there is rarely if at all a dull stretch in the story, which explores the adult entertainment industry and the American Dream in ways that are startling, hugely entertaining and poignant.

Anderson does a wonderful job directing, not just with the telling of the story and keeping the atmosphere consistent but also in making the characters compelling and in his direction of actors (some of the best of any modern-day director) and their interaction. The acting is one of the biggest reasons why 'Boogie Nights' works so well. Mark Wahlberg has never been better, anybody who doubts his abilities as an actor should see this, and Burt Reynolds is brilliant in one of his career's finest performances in his "comeback" role. There are scintillating turns from Heather Graham and especially Julianne Moore (along with Reynolds also Oscar-nominated, again worthy nominations and would have been even worthier winners), and also fabulous support from Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffmann, a hugely entertaining John C. Reilly (even if the role occasionally threatens to strain credibility but thankfully it never does) and a gloriously unhinged Alfred Molina.

Overall, fantastic film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is not so much of a review as it is a testament that it has been proven, yet again, that the Academy rewards money, not artistic accomplishment. And I must say I am saddened that this usually artistic and intelligent band of imbd members have left this off the top 250. Boogie Nights is powerful, raw, and gutsy through script, direction and acting. Very few movies can claim this triple crown.

Boogie Nights is one of those few movies that can take a difficult subject and do something with it that most people can watch and appreciate. The porn-industry is a mess in more ways than one and there is much to criticize, and i know this movie has been considered to glorify the business. Something i don't agree with.

The story about Dirk Diggler and his exploding porn-career in the late 1970's - early 1980's bears considerable similarity with that of John Holmes and the fact that Holmes has been an inspiration is obvious. The thing i most appreciated about this movie is the way that it shows both sides of the business. At first the upside where the young kid is introduced to a world of sex, drugs and rich friendly people. Then later the backside with crime, abuse and crashed lives. And it's all done with an excellent mix of comedy and drama as well as a distinct feeling when it comes to style. Visual as well as otherwise.

Despite being a movie about the porno business, Boogie Nights is not very explicit. A correct choice in my opinion since more explicit scenes wouldn't have added to the movie, rather it would instead have run the risk of feeling like exploitation. Paul Thomas Anderson is a talented director and he manages to balance many talented actors in a good way while still letting it be his more than their film. Also i don't know what he did with Mark Wahlberg, but suddenly he could act! I don't like Wahlberg at all otherwise but here even he performed well.

Boogie Nights is well worth seeing even if you completely despise the porno industry. There is room for more than one opinion here and Anderson doesn't really state his own. I rate this 7/10.

One of my absolute favorite movies. Relaxed by the opening circus theme and then blasted by "Best of My Love," no movie has ever grabbed my attention so fast as with Boogie Nights. The opening steady-cam shot is one of the best. The rest of the movie doesn't drop off a bit. The music, the costumes, the shots and the drama are all phenomenal. The humor is great, too, and what makes it truly funny is that most of the time the characters aren't even trying to be funny. Just when it seems like PTA won't be able to top himself, the next scene brings with it something even more brilliant. And of course the ending...

What else can I say, I love this movie. Paul Thomas Anderson, you got "the touch."

BOOGIE NIGHTS is a good movie about the adult film industry in the 1970's. It's portrayal of those films is fairly realistic. Some people will love this movie and some will hate it based on the subject matter alone.

I thought it was very well done, as I've come to expect from director Paul Thomas Anderson. It's not his best work, but it is certainly good and intriguing. Even at more than two and a half hours it doesn't seem a bit too long. The story and the acting are wonderful. Burt Reynolds gives a terrific performance. Recommend to all but those who would be offended by the topic.

Boogie Nights was a commercial and critical success on its release. It was also a comeback for Burt Reynolds who earned a best supporting actor award. Julianne Moore is gorgeous and also have a tremendous performance earning a well earned best supporting actress award. This is a slick looking and colorful film that gives a good look into the world of pornography. Mark Wahlberg gives a strong early showing as largely endowed pornstar Dirk Diggler. With a high powered ensemble cast of Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, William H Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle and Tom C Riley there is no way it can miss. Boogie Nights is a engrossing ,well structured drama that shows a range of emotions and tone. From campy humor to tragedy and despair Boogie Nights is equally effective. It looks and sounds amazing with excellent cinematography and a great selection of songs. I think this movie is one of the most entertaining movies there is and was extremely well made.

This was not a bad movie, but not as great as many other reviews I have seen. The main problem is that the movie tries to make you sympathetic to the characters, but none of the characters are sympathetic. I mean, it is basically about some people who do a lot of dumb things and suffer the consequences of their actions. At least in movies like Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, the characters weren't looking for your sympathy - they were just interesting, unique people in an interesting story.

Otherwise, I'm not really sure what the point of this movie is. Every time I expected some interesting new twist to happen, they went back to the original theme. Once again I compare: the scene in Pulp Fiction, with Travolta and Jackson and the 3 rip-off kids, with the scene in Boogie Nights where they try to deal the fake drugs. In Pulp, it has a point. It adds to the story. The Boogie Nights scene is interesting, but is really unrelated to the rest of the film. The whole movie can be described like this - every scene is a mini-movie that does not necessarily have anything to do with the big movie.

As far as sex, I'm actually impressed that a movie about pornography had this little sex. Bachelor Party had as much. Which is good or bad, depending on what you're looking for :)

I gave it 6 of 10.

"Boogie Nights" is a lot of talking, a lot of dialogue that goes nowhere. Not much happens, and if something does happen, it is of little or no consequence for the rest of the movie. A woman overdoses on cocaine at a party - she gets carted away to a hospital and is never seen or heard of again. One character shoots two people and then himself, and that's that. There are two other shootings later, but the survivors just walk away. No police ever show up. One character does land in prison, but for something else that isn't even part of the movie.

While the movie focuses on the Mark Wahlberg character, it does not exclusively follow his rise and fall as a porn actor. It occasionally follows other characters' lives (such as "Buck"'s) for no good reason, and it could have easily been an hour shorter if it hadn't digressed so many times. There are also scenes at the beginning which I suppose are meant to motivate the main character's actions - like his mother yelling at him. But he seemed to have already made up his mind anyway, so the glimpse into his home life doesn't really add much information, and since his parents are never seen again, it is yet another loose thread in a movie that has a lot of them.

There is a lot of drug use and some of the main characters spend quite a lot of time acting drugged out. But except in the case of that one overdose, which is treated as no big deal and not followed up on, the drug use seems to be of little consequence.

At best, this movie feels like a somewhat boring and rather tedious pseudo-documentary of the porn industry in the late 70's and early 80's. It even contains the making of a (pseudo-)documentary of the main character's career! Since a few other reviewers have commented that the documentary aspect of the movie is not very good (i.e. it is far from a true representation of the porn industry), I don't really know what's left of this movie that one might recommend.

Boogie Nights is an excellent picture. You don't have to have be a part of the whole 70's scene either to appreciate it. The title is very misleading to some who do not generally read reviews beforehand. This movie is an exhilerating piece on a late 70's-early 80's porn star. Yes, it sounds like a very simple plot and much gratutious sex. But it's so much more. While you may be thrown off by the violence and the sexuality Boogie Nights is nowhere near pointless. It features great acting all across the board-even Reynolds is very sympathetic. Some advice though, seeing this movie more than once is a good idea. It grows on you. This movie takes you to the deep down threshold of your heart. It shows you the rise of a porn star and the downhill spiral that follows it. Even in some of the sleaziest of characters can a human being be reached out to. Rent this one tonight - and who cares about all that talk about the use of prosthetics anyway. This is the pulp fiction of the 70's porn industry, "a low class subject made in a high class way".

The brilliance of this story delivers at least one skillfully crafted message to each viewer in the audience. This story is about success, it's about failure. It's about the choices you make in life and the choices others make for you. The story deals with self realization and determination on a scale so large, no camera angle could cover it. Within the grasp of each scene is resides an element marked for depiction within your imagination. Keep this in mind as you watch the movie; it's more than eye candy. The sexually suggestive, rarely explicit scenes serve only to distract and entertain you during the tedious process of character development.

So many great characters, so many great arcs, an outstanding character piece. PTA's direction is bolstered by such an amazing cast.

"Boogie Nights" (1997) written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is a technical statement by an awe-inspiring director in the making.

• PTA's direction is focused, deliberate, and in line with the great pacing of his own screenplay.

• Actors are all great, in particular Julian Moore, and as usual, Philip Seymour-Hoffman steals the show with his remarkable talent in a supporting role. Truly one of the greatest actors of his generation. Mark Wahlberg surprises as worthingly competent.

• Cinematography in particular is astounding and immersive; hereunder the one-takes are incredibly awesome.

• Editing is excellent - serves the right purpose - lots of dynamics between fast cuts establishing implied references and purposeful long-takes immersing the viewer in the film.

• Score is great, lots of disco and funk - awesome as well.

Highly recommended as a great film by an aspiring world class director.

Life and times of the 1970's porn set

Whatever you say about Paul Thomas he is original. Who else would make a drama about the heyday of porn and cast Burt Reynolds as the lead? Not me, that's for sure.

Despite what you imagine you don't see a lot of sex in this movie. And most of the sex you do see is cold and mechanical and not at all lovely. Wahlberg is fine as the young slow witted stud who is transported from dishwasher to stardom - only to come apart.

(How much this is acting and how much is the real Wahlberg I couldn't tell you.)

Reynolds is a revelation - the man can act. And even more surprises, he plays a porn director with a heart!

The problem with this film is that having set the scene (and very well it is done) there is nothing left but to tear the scene apart. The movie is almost perfectly 50 percent good time - 50 percent hard times. Sliced right through the middle.

The dialogue is good, but not good enough to heard twice and the whole thing slides away in to morals (people in porn have a stigma, remember) and murder. Fun while the fun lasts, but draggy when it ends.

This is arguably the greatest film alongside goodfellas of the 90s. The large ensemble cast- most of which have gone on to carve out their own career are exquisite- and it's a testament to PTA that regardless of how much or little screen time they had you feel like you know each intimately. And then there's the veteran Burt Reynolds in seemingly the role he was born to play.

The infusion of music perfectly captures the death of the 70s and the start of the 80s. There are too many great scenes that encapsulates this , suffice to say at least three have already gone down in the pantheon of greatest scenes ever made. In particular the house party scenes are to be seen to be believed.

This film is equal parts funny, dark, informative but most of all - real. You don't have to like the characters- in fact most are not worthy of respect. There is no inspiration or moral here- PTA is not pandering to his audience. He is just showing the reality of a porn " family" with all the success and also shortcomings. He leaves the audience to judge for themselves.

It is a credit that so many scenes of the porn workings ( filming) were shown yet never was boring. I also thought that it was incredible that most support actors had their own little story that was able to be shown without detracting from the main theme of the film.

A wonderful ending showing some characters making some form of redemption, others staying put. And of course that final scene blaring to ELOs Livin thing. An unforgettable experience.

It is obvious that Anderson has looked deep into a lot of Scorsese-films before he made this one. Like Scorsese, he has shown himself able of doing something that's truly rare in american films: he has made a movie, where everyone is a bad guy, and still you watch it. From the beginning it is clear, that it is going to be a "rise and fall"-type of film, and I think the biggest fault of the film is, that the "rise"-part is too long. Sure it captures a lot of seventies-atmosphere, but at length it gets boring, until the last part of the film finally saves the day. The anarchistic end of the movie is in many ways a parallel to that of Raging Bull - the star who - no longer a star - refuses to realize, that he's finished. Overall, this is a god movie, that could have been great, if it had been about half an hour shorter. 7/10

Boogie Nights (1997) is a movie I recently watched on HBOMAX. The storyline follows a young man who hasn't lived up to his parents expectations but has found a way to make a living and get rich in a way they definitely wouldn't approve - porn. He quickly becomes famous due to his long member. Life in the 70s as a porn star contains many unique highlights but also many potential pitfalls. This movie is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will be Blood) and stars Mark Wahlberg (The Departed), Luis Guzmán (Traffic), Burt Reynolds (Smokey and the Bandit), Julianne Moore (Magnolia), Don Cheadle (Crash) and Heather Graham (Austin Powers). The storyline for this is so unique and well told. The depiction of the 70s was excellent as was the soundtrack. The acting is outstanding and the writing and dialogue was perfect as was Damon as the main character. The circumstances are hilarious and the end is perfection based on the storyline. Overall this is an underrated masterpiece that is a must see and an easy 10/10 that I'd strongly recommend.

Boogie nights is not about dancing, it's about the American porn industry in the late seventies/early eighties and the people involved in it. Despite the sexual subject, there's actually very little sex and nudity going on and none of it is particularly arousing or exciting. In this movie, the porn industry is seen as a mix between business and family. This is a ensemble drama with some comedic elements or an ensemble comedy with some dramatic elements. For me it worked more as a comedy with the best moments coming in where the the "porn" industry is seen by some artisans as an artistic endeavor (cue bad acting or cheesy concepts in the porn films). It's idealistic, rather misguided and a bit touching but mostly amusing. The dramatic elements come mostly from their "real" family ties, adapting to society in the real world and drugs.

I thought some scenes were overlong but in retrospect, I see the genius in making the audience cringing or unnerved and without the proper setup it would not have been as effective. There's a very good ensemble cast with the highlight being Julianne Moore who plays the anchoring "mother" to the rest while being rather fragile herself. Roller Girl played by Heather Graham in her break-out role was certainly pretty to look at but was a bit over-hyped as she only shows real acting chops near the end (the bedroom with Moore and the car). Mark Wahlberg in the lead was solid and Burt Reynolds as the director/producer was a nice surprise in a dramatic role. What I particularly enjoyed in this film is that it does not focus on just one character and it shows us a particular inside look at something most of us know very little about and that doesn't exist like that anymore. Keep in mind that several people from the real porn industry of that time have come forward to criticize the accuracy. Be that as it may, it's probably one of the only fiction films made on the subject by an A-list director and that's special in itself. The movie does elicit a gamut of emotions though the comedic elements work better than the dramatic elements.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Most people have a view on pornography... except it would seem Paul Thomas Anderson. This film fails to tackle it's subject matter with any depth, it is neither funny, moving or shocking. It could and should have been all three. Instead it looks like PTA spent too long in film school instead of the real world. I kept waiting for the film to start... it eventually seemed to get going an hour and a half into the film. But by then it was too late... I didn't care about any of the characters and it descended into formulaic pap about divorced mum misses kids, good time girl wanting an education, arrogant stud turning cheap tricks, arrogant film maker having to face up to reality. A slice of violence and a happy ending. This is pure vomitsville...