Review of Boogie Nights (1997) by Ethan B — 13 Jul 2015

It's an authentic capturing of an era so much so that we forget that it was released in 1997. Boogie Nights is not for everybody, but avid cinephiles will be satisfied in knowing that it's a well-made film.

Telling the story of Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg), a young man who enters into the world of pornography in the 1970s and garners instant popularity.

Paul Thomas Anderson does such a great job putting his imprint on everything he releases, and this is no exception. The details of the time period are so unerring.

Although it's not my cup of tea, that's about the only complaint I have. Everything from the acting to the energetic script to the brilliant characters make this film a technical masterpiece.

The whole piece is about change and finding yourself. And it's even present in the most self-assured characters.

One of the standouts in this film is Julianne Moore who plays Amber, a confused-on-the-inside motherly figure for Dirk. She exudes so much confidence to everyone she knows, meanwhile twinkling some of her own confusion out of the corners of her eyes for those that aren't so wrapped up in their own lives.

It praises hedonism, but at the same time carries a disdain for it. Almost like it believes that one must experience the good and the bad in order to make their own opinion. But is it correct? Or can we learn from the prime examples that are set by the characters in this film?

Twizard Rating: 84.