Boogie Nights

Name: Boogie Nights
Genre: Drama
Released: October 10, 1997
Duration: 155 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg

1997

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 28 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 488 Ratings

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4.6

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4.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 488 Ratings

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BOOGIE NIGHTS

Movie Details & Credits

TV-MA

New Line Cinema | Release Date: October 10, 1997

Starring: Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg

Summary: A multifaceted look at the porn industry in Los Angeles in the 70's and 80's, focusing on the journey of a young man (Wahlberg) from restaurant dishwasher to porn star and beyond.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 155 min

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Awards & Rankings

5	#5 Best Movie of 1997
13	#13 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
7	#7 Most Shared Movie of 1997

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

USA Today - Staff [Not Credited]

With its ceaseless music, large canvas, shrewd casting and flawless ensemble acting and the dexterity of its whiplashing mood switches, the movie recalls Robert Altman's "Nashville" more than any subsequent movie has. Read full review

100

The New Republic - Stanley Kauffmann

If Boogie Nights were poorly made and acted, its materials would make it intolerably tawdry. But its so well done that we keep watching. [Nov. 10, 1997]

100

New York Daily News - Jami Bernard

Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson has perfectly wedded form to function by filming Boogie Nights in a style suggesting the grainy texture of porn and the ambivalence of the era. Read full review

Baltimore Sun - Ann Hornaday

A grand, sweeping nostalgia trip that evokes the sickness of an era even as it tries to find its essential humanity.

Time - Richard Corliss

So here's a tip for those attending this handsomely acted, epic-length little film. Ease into the sleaze, stare at the party animals, look but don't touch, and, oh, boogie all night. [October 6, 1997]

The New York Times - Elvis Mitchell

The movie's special gift happens to be Mark Wahlberg, who gives a terrifically appealing performance in this tricky role. Read full review

Portland Oregonian - Shawn Levy

It's possible to be dazzled by a movie and still not like it very much.

SEE ALL 28 REVIEWS

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User Reviews

cameronmorewood

Nov 8, 2012

I was blown away by Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights.' Never have I seen a film so alive. The writing, directing, acting, editing, cinematography, and epic soundtrack are all key elements in the construction of this nearly flawless film.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

smartmart

Oct 8, 2015

This movie is absolutely astonishing! It manages to have plenty of humour as well as strong drama, while always being visually interesting (Paul Thomas Anderson is a genius filmmaker). I'd recommend the film to most people who can handle the explicit content and some of the tough subjectThis movie is absolutely astonishing! It manages to have plenty of humour as well as strong drama, while always being visually interesting (Paul Thomas Anderson is a genius filmmaker). I'd recommend the film to most people who can handle the explicit content and some of the tough subject matter. One of my new favorites!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

OLuc

Jul 27, 2006

Sometimes, I come back to this movie and I think about it, and I wonder, "Why isn't this movie being praised as well as othe movies of it's era, like Fargo, or Titanic?" More and more I wonder why people look more towards Quentin Tarantino then P.T. Anderson when it comes to Sometimes, I come back to this movie and I think about it, and I wonder, "Why isn't this movie being praised as well as othe movies of it's era, like Fargo, or Titanic?" More and more I wonder why people look more towards Quentin Tarantino then P.T. Anderson when it comes to directing, because this movie is just one of those movies that really is brought togethor by the film's atomesphere and screenplay, which were both done by Anderson. This movie is better than what many grade it to be, so if you like Robert Altman, than see Boogie Nights, the modern-day Nashville!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful

imilhofer

Dec 27, 2013

So full of energy is this film that the two and a half hours goes by in the blink of an eye it seems P T Anderson has a talent for keeping his audiences engaged for a longer period of time, as Magnolia, his 3 hour long epic montage, is one of the most interesting films I've seen. In BoogieSo full of energy is this film that the two and a half hours goes by in the blink of an eye it seems P T Anderson has a talent for keeping his audiences engaged for a longer period of time, as Magnolia, his 3 hour long epic montage, is one of the most interesting films I've seen. In Boogie Nights, Mark Wahlberg and Julianne Moore offer exciting and brave performances, charging head on into the film's courageous and teasing sexual controversy. This is a brave film that will pleasantly embarrass and secretly intrigue any audience. The soundtrack and cinematography keeps this film pulsing and exciting, and P T Anderson's sheer talent holds this near-perfect film together as an outrageous and alive masterpiece.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

George-roots

Jun 25, 2013

Something of a Number 1 Favourite Movie of all time for lots of people, "Boogie Nights" is a Film that didn't impress me to that extent, however i still really enjoyed what it is and see why so many people liked it.

Mark Whalberg plays Eddie Adams, a late teen who washing dishes for aSomething of a Number 1 Favourite Movie of all time for lots of people, "Boogie Nights" is a Film that didn't impress me to that extent, however i still really enjoyed what it is and see why so many people liked it.

Mark Whalberg plays Eddie Adams, a late teen who washing dishes for a living and bearing the weight of his over-protective mother, one day he is approached by Jack Horner (Played by Burt Reynolds) a Pornographic Film-maker who introduces him to the many others he has taken under his wing.

Among them are Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) a Porn Actress longing to see her kids who are in her ex-husbands custody, Rollergirl (Heather Graham) a teenage Porn Actress constanly in rollerblades and fleeing tormentors at school, Reed Rothchild (John C. Riley) a Porn Actor with a unique taste in Magic, Buck Swope (Don Cheadle) a Porn Actor who is extremely knowledgable on stereo systems and is keen to run a buisness based on them, Scotty J. (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) a Gay boom operator who immediately falls for Eddie, "Little" Bill Thompson (William H. Macy) whose wife (real-life porn Actress Nina Hartley) constanly embarasses him by having sex with other men in movies and public, them and many other colourful characters.

Eddie becomes acquainted to all of these quirky, likable characters and joins the industry under the name "he sees in bright, blue neon lights" Dirk Diggler, And becomes the industries hottest thing.

Eventually Drugs kick in, the 80's is approaching and everyone goes there seperate ways, Dirk hits rock-bottom countless times, Bill shoots his wife them himself, Julianne Moore fails again to legally see her kids, Buck fails to get a loan. in a nutshell everything get's to their individual heads and ultimately it destroys them.

Eventually though everything works out, in both unhappy and happy ways, Dirk reconciles with Jack, Rollergirl continues education, Buck uses stolen money to fund his buisness and aid his pregnant wife, Reed becomes a magician in a Nightclub. Essentially everything is back uder Jack Horner's control.

Paul Thomas Anderson has made a film that is not solely based on Pornography, but based around the Actors and behind the scenes of it all, inspired by watching 70's porn flicks and enjoying the cheesy stories and setups which would eventually be missing from the 80's ones. he wrote "The Dirk Diggler story" a 30 min tribute flick about a fictional porn star.
Obviously sometime later he managed to build this wonderpiece around that original idea.

Boogie Nights is an Essential PTA movie, everything he does has always had character development in mind, and in all honesty with this film he's not asking you to engage the characters or Pornography, but rather watch and identify the individualism of the real people behing the fictional Camera.

Aside from that everyone is wonderful, Burt Reynolds steals the show as the always laid back director, Mark Wahlberg's insecurities give him alot to work with and he does well,
Everyone in their own right in this movie, actors and characters are all perfect.

Final Verdict: Sit down and Enjoy, Great casting, An Excellent screenplay, Sharp directing and of course one of the 90's best hits.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

DonManias

Jan 29, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The negative user score on this movie is shocking and unexplicable, given not only the movie's financial success but also its iMDB rating. I cannot believe that anyone would rate this movie below average, unless they have a particular agenda. This is the kind of voting results that have rendered Metacritic an unreliable source of information.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Dec 7, 2018

There are so many sub-plots that it waters down the main story quite a bit. The focus is less on Dirk, especially in the latter half, and more on these side characters you barely know and don't care much about and that I feel a pretty big flaw when watching it. And the fact that it's so longThere are so many sub-plots that it waters down the main story quite a bit. The focus is less on Dirk, especially in the latter half, and more on these side characters you barely know and don't care much about and that I feel a pretty big flaw when watching it. And the fact that it's so long doesn't sit well with me either, Maybe cutting back on these weak sub-plots would help a bit. All in all, It's an OK movie but not easy to sit through.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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