Boogie Nights, 1997
One of Hollywood's most interesting directors, Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood), followed up 1996's Hard Eight with the generous and rich Boogie Nights.
Putting together one of the 90's best ensemble casts, Thomas Anderson uses more than two and a half hours giving us a tour of the porn industry in the 1970's & 80's.
Mark Wahlberg builds on his good work in The Basketball Diaries as Eddie Adams - a likeable teenager who will eventually become one of porn's biggest names - Dirk Diggler.
The cast is jammed with some of Thomas Anderson's favourites - John C Rielly (Chicago), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) and William H Macy (Fargo) are all superb.
Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) is well cast as a young man with a head full of dreams, while Burt Reynolds is perfectly porno. Julianne Moore (Hannibal) and Heather Graham (The Hangover) more than hold up their end of the bargain, the former showing her considerable talent.
Throw in the likes of Phillip Baker Hall (Magnolia) and Luis Guzman (Carlito's Way) and it's basically a case of 'you name it, they're in it.
One of Hollywood's most interesting directors, Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood), followed up 1996's Hard Eight with the generous and rich Boogie Nights.
Putting together one of the 90's best ensemble casts, Thomas Anderson uses more than two and a half hours giving us a tour of the porn industry in the 1970's & 80's.
Mark Wahlberg builds on his good work in The Basketball Diaries as Eddie Adams - a likeable teenager who will eventually become one of porn's biggest names - Dirk Diggler.
The cast is jammed with some of Thomas Anderson's favourites - John C Rielly (Chicago), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) and William H Macy (Fargo) are all superb.
Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) is well cast as a young man with a head full of dreams, while Burt Reynolds is perfectly porno. Julianne Moore (Hannibal) and Heather Graham (The Hangover) more than hold up their end of the bargain, the former showing her considerable talent.
Throw in the likes of Phillip Baker Hall (Magnolia) and Luis Guzman (Carlito's Way) and it's basically a case of 'you name it, they're in it.
Thomas Anderson's work here is sharp - his tracking shots put you right in the heart of porn's most lavish parties.
You'll enjoy the whole ride but the highlight for me comes late in the piece - an incredibly well shot and acted scene played out to the sounds of Rick Springfield and Jessie's Girl. Movie gold.
You'll enjoy the whole ride but the highlight for me comes late in the piece - an incredibly well shot and acted scene played out to the sounds of Rick Springfield and Jessie's Girl. Movie gold.
It's more than just a big cock.
8/10
Nutbuckle
