"In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult-film sensation Dirk Diggler. Brought into a supportive circle of friends, including fellow actors Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), Rollergirl (Heather Graham) and Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Dirk fulfils all his ambitions, but a toxic combination of drugs and egotism threatens to take him back down."
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights is a movie about excess and addiction, whether it be through sex, porn, or drugs. having not watched the trailer or read the synopsis, I was needless to say a little shocked at what I was watching. Following the rise and fall of fictional Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) in the adult-film business under the moniker Dirk Diggler, right from the opening scenes, there is a decidedly homoerotic interaction between Wahlberg and Burt Reynolds that perfectly sets the tone of the film as we look forward to 156 minutes of hedonism and narcissism.
What truly surprised me (considering the content of the film) was the cast. An exceptionally talented cast full of stars; Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds. Don Cheadle, .John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzmán, Thomas Jane, Robert Downey Sr., Nina Hartley (porn actress) and Alfred Molina (remember Doc Ock from Spider-Man 2). In fact, looking at the timing of the film, this would have been the role to catapult Mark Wahlberg into popularity with his acting career, having only really been known previously as the frontman for Mary Mark and the Funky Bunch.
Based on a mockumentary, which itself was based on the 1981 documentary Exhausted: John C. Holmes, The Real Story, the film doesn't just follow characters involved in the porn industry, but during the tumultuous period in the late 70s and early 80s when the porn industry tried to break into mainstream feature films; a story decision which helps to build several layers, and allows most characters to come with their own separate story arcs simultaneously in a coherent manner.
What is really well done about the film is the refreshingly non-judgemental and unbiased narrative that it uses. Looking at the various roles in the industry, it neither demonises or glorifies anything, instead, providing a simple cause and effect narrative with minimal social context to any of it. From the porn directors that are trying to greater commodify and legitimise the industry to the pornstars that think their genitals are pure gold, to the ex-porn stars trying to make a living outside of the industry, the arcs are numerous and intertwined to keep each scene busy. Despite it being a mockumentary and what could be considered largely satirical, the topic is still given treated with respect.
Being a film about the pornographic industry, you can expect a lot of sex scenes and breasts on screen, but the cinematography is delightfully shy when it comes to the lower genitalia and more graphic sex. With creative angles or cropping just short of the money shot, instead focusing on the reactions of the other characters. That being said, be aware, there is one long gratuitous shot in the final scene)
With booze, nudity, sex, and excessive drug use, Boogie Nights is a prime metaphor for the American Dream, full of energy and chock full of extravagance and decadence, this two and a half hour long journey does have some slight pacing issues, but the subject matter can't help but keep the audience enthralled throughout. Exceptionally competent work from Paul Thomas Anderson, to balance everything as well as he did.