Boogie Nights

[rushgoober]

This was on IFC yesterday, and I hadn't seen it in a LOOOOONG time.

 

Man, I forgot how much I love this movie! I would dare to say it's right up there with Goodfellas, but focusing on the porn industry as opposed to the mafia.

 

Several things strike me about this movie. The directing is brilliant with several seemingly impossible shots, great camera angles and what the director chooses to focus upon in a scene with many diverse elements taking place. It's also very daring - scenes like the one with the firecrackers going off are amazing and disturbing.

 

The acting is also superb with great acting performances by Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Philip Baker Hall, etc. You just couldn't ask for a better cast.

 

I'm also struck by how the focus is on Mark Wahlberg character and the role he plays in the movie, but it also contains SEVERAL more minor characters that get plenty of air time and also have story arcs where they grow and change and you generally care about their characters as well.

 

The story is amazing, from ascent to success to descent to crisis to resolution. There are also many elements in the movie that are so marvelously ridiculous and hilarious without ever being cheesy or stupid. One could almost view it as a comedy if it didn't have so many bleaker aspects to it. It's just an amazing movie all around. Easily one of my all-time faves.

Edited May 13, 2007 by rushgoober

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

I agree with all that. Nothing to add.

[Necromancer]

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 13 2007, 02:56 PM)

I agree with all that. Nothing to add.

There's NO way that scene with walberg is REAL.

 

Yeah... you know which one i'm talking about.

 

The one where he does that cool dive. I'm sure it was a stunt man.

 

 

 

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

QUOTE (Necromancer @ May 13 2007, 03:25 PM)

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 13 2007, 02:56 PM) I agree with all that. Nothing to add.  There's NO way that scene with walberg is REAL.   Yeah... you know which one i'm talking about. It's a fake. Made of rubber. They said so in the commentary track.

[Arndrake]

QUOTE (Necromancer @ May 13 2007, 12:25 PM)

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 13 2007, 02:56 PM) I agree with all that. Nothing to add.  There's NO way that scene with walberg is REAL.   Yeah... you know which one i'm talking about.   The one where he does that cool dive. I'm sure it was a stunt man. I'm sure you got a few of us on that one.   Funny question is, suggesting that most people have a fixation on something like that, like the money shot, does that suggest that we have some latent homosexual issues, or that we're just fascinated with the unusual, even those things that we're taught to be repulsed by?   In my case, until about six months ago, I had not seen this movie, but I had seen the discussion about it on VH1's 'I Love the 90's.' And, of course, they discussed the final scene, and showed it while graphically blocking the prop. So, while I was watching the film, I knew the scene was coming, I knew what it was going to show, but instead of looking away or skipping past the scene, I watched anyway. Maybe it was just a curiosity of how big the prosthetic really was.   btw, what a name. Doesn't it just make you think of acres and acres of Midwestern wheat fields?

[Mustard Death]

I'm definitely gonna have to check this one out.

[GhostGirl]

Great movie.

[Test4VitalSigns]

Yes an excellent movie for sure. Got to get it for the collection soon.

[liquidcrystalcompass]

Excellent movie. It had so many hilarious scenes.

 

Remember the guy who's wife was getting banged in the parking?

 

paraphrase......."My wife's over there with an ass in her c*ck. It's f*cking embarrassing."

[MrMiltonBanana]

Boogie Nights is my favorite of P.T. Anderson's four films.

 

For me.

 

1. Boogie Nights

2. Punch Drunk Love

3. Sydney (Hard Eight)

4. Magnolia.

 

He's a good guy.

[Signals1982]

Just watched this again recently. Great film!

[Necromancer]

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 13 2007, 04:14 PM)

QUOTE (Necromancer @ May 13 2007, 03:25 PM) QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 13 2007, 02:56 PM) I agree with all that. Nothing to add.  There's NO way that scene with walberg is REAL.   Yeah... you know which one i'm talking about. It's a fake. Made of rubber. They said so in the commentary track. Yeah... i know. I'm a big fan of the movie. Just another one I couldn't resist.

[Necromancer]

QUOTE (Arndrake @ May 13 2007, 04:18 PM)

QUOTE (Necromancer @ May 13 2007, 12:25 PM) QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 13 2007, 02:56 PM) I agree with all that. Nothing to add.  There's NO way that scene with walberg is REAL.   Yeah... you know which one i'm talking about.   The one where he does that cool dive. I'm sure it was a stunt man. I'm sure you got a few of us on that one.   Funny question is, suggesting that most people have a fixation on something like that, like the money shot, does that suggest that we have some latent homosexual issues, or that we're just fascinated with the unusual, even those things that we're taught to be repulsed by?   In my case, until about six months ago, I had not seen this movie, but I had seen the discussion about it on VH1's 'I Love the 90's.' And, of course, they discussed the final scene, and showed it while graphically blocking the prop. So, while I was watching the film, I knew the scene was coming, I knew what it was going to show, but instead of looking away or skipping past the scene, I watched anyway. Maybe it was just a curiosity of how big the prosthetic really was.   btw, what a name. Doesn't it just make you think of acres and acres of Midwestern wheat fields? Waaaaaay too much analyzing here.     But for the point of discussion... i don't think that looking at something like that is something to give you any worries. Now looking at it and getting a big ol'... well... if you got turned on by it... ("i think it moved") then I'd have to start asking questions.

[Mustard Death]

XD @ "i think it moved"

[lerxt1990]

I talked about this in another thread - how disturbing that scene is with the drug dealer in his undies and silk robe singing Sister Christian was.

 

I also saw it on IFC (I think Saturday evening). Great film.

[Stian]

I think this is the best of PT Andersons films. The brilliant directing, along with the amazing cast of great actors portraying great characters makes this one a winner.

 

Haven't seen Sydney, though. Would anyone who've seen it recommend it to someone who's enjoyed all of PT's other flicks?

[MrMiltonBanana]

QUOTE (Stian @ May 17 2007, 03:29 PM)

I think this is the best of PT Andersons films. The brilliant directing, along with the amazing cast of great actors portraying great characters makes this one a winner. Haven't seen Sydney, though. Would anyone who've seen it recommend it to someone who's enjoyed all of PT's other flicks?

 

Sydney's awesome. You will definately like it.