Rating: 
Summary: look past the subject matter and watch a fantastic movie
Review: I first saw this movie when it was released on video back when I was in high school. I was blown away by the performances and just the film as a whole. I loved the movie, but I ran into a problem: I didn't know how to tell people about the movie. I could say that there was this new movie (at the time) that was absolutely fantastic by a talented new director. Then I would be asked what the movie is about. And there is the rub; a description of the movie may not sound very appealing. The movie is about Eddie Adams, a well endowed young man who breaks into the adult film industry in the late 70's. The movie is his story, as he rises from just being a kid to the biggest star in the industry. Boogie Nights also details his fall from the heights of fame. The movie also deals with a large cast and the story sweeps wide enough to tell the stories of several other major characters. Boogie Nights also stars John C Reilly, Don Cheadle, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Everything sounds fantastic, but it a little difficult to sell someone on the idea of watching a movie about a kid breaking into the porn industry. However, given the chance, this is a fantastic movie. Simply put, this is a well told story and is really a variation on a very old theme. The fact that it is set in the porn industry should not be a reason to not see the movie. As a warning, there is quite a bit of nudity, drug use and cursing. Children should not see this movie, and if the content is the cause of someone not seeing Boogie Nights, I understand that. If the content is not a problem, then look past the subject matter and watch an excellent movie.
Rating:
Summary: Dare I Say the Best Film of the Decade? Yes!
Review: Boogie Nights may not only be the best movie in the best year for film since 1976 but the best of it's decade. Mark Wahlberg sheds his Marky Mark persona by play Dirk Diggler, an up and cuming porn star who finds a family in his co-stars. Director Jack Horner, played by a resurgant Burt Reynolds, is the father figure to Dirk while Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) assumes the role of mother. It's a dysfuncial family at that but maybe the most stable a young man in the 1970's San Fernado Valley could have. Dirk starts out a wide-eyed kid from Torance who gets swept up by Horner and co. after a blow-up with his emotionally abusive, acholic mother. Paul Thomas Anderson directs with such skillful hand that we come to understand the decisions he makes but realize where it's going to lead. The assemble cast includes a lintany of names too long to metion all of them but particularly good is John C. Reilly, collaberating again with Anderson who'd given him his best role yet in Hard Eight. The reissued DVD is absolutely worthwhile even for those of you who already have the previous. The most notable inclusion is a Scorsese-esque scene in which Dirk attempts to come to Becky's aid after her marriage turns sour. In his voice over commentary PTA explains he wanted somebody in the film to get away clean thus decided to make the difficult cut. The other nine deleteds are just as good, nothing new but still as entertaining as they were when the DVD was first released. I hate to turn people off to such a fabulous film but I've found most people have a very strong reaction to it, you'll either love it or hate it, there's no middle ground here. And while I hate to discard great films such as Goodfellas and Pulp Fiction into a runners-up catogory I can't help but think this was the best film of the 90's and it's reach could easily span two decades if not for Raging Bull (which is given proper credit for inspiring the film's final scene). It's not to be missed!
Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile
Review: Boogie Nights is an entertaining movie, but not a fantastic one. While Burt Reynolds and of course Don Cheadle are solid choices for their roles, the film hinges largely on the performance and natural charisma of Wahlberg, who is possibly the only actor who could even be imagined in this role without risking his career. Claims that the story is based on that of John Holmes are nothing but publicity to give it more legitimacy than a completely fictional narrative about the porn industry, which is really what it is. Wahlberg's character bears no specific resemblance to Holmes whatsoever, and the narrative is entirely generic of its topic: pool parties, drug use, filming porn scenes. The "big package" schtick is too repetitive and overdone, and in fact is the main drama of the entire film: Will we get to see it after witnessing the jaw-dropping over-reactions of nearly everyone else who appears on screen, or not? Such tension. Wahlberg's persona is portrayed as overly stupid, almost appearing to have a significant mental impairment, and with minimal comic advantage. His total wide-eyed gullibility gets tiring, but is balanced somewhat by the grittier drug deal scenes in the second half of the film. Although this film does have its moments and is worth watching overall, it is not a legendary cinematic achievement.
Rating:
Summary: A Wild, Sexy Trip On The "Dirk" Side.
Review: Here is a film that is a fascinating look at an era, a controversial business, and some one of a kind characters. .............. Right from the open this story sucks you in, to use an appropriate term. Marky Mark Wahlberg plays a young naive boy, whose personal endowments, when discovered and marketed by a pornographic movie maker played by the legendary Burt Reynolds, make him a star re-named hilariously "Dirk Diggler". Unfortunately for Dirk, the pitfalls of stardom await and engulf him too soon after his star has risen. Will he survive, or fall? Watch this and see. ............... The ensemble cast is knockout here. The aforementioned Burt Reynolds makes a great comeback, and Wahlberg seems so real that you can feel just what he's going through as you view the film. John C. Reilly is perfect as a fellow male porn star who helps mentor Dirk along with Reynolds. I personally liked "The Colonel" a strange expressioned producer whose plastic smile and expression don't change a bit when viewing Dirk's credentials for the first time. Hilarious! Julianne Moore is outstanding as "Amber Waves", Dirks co-star. She shows a wide range of emotion here. There's also Heather Graham as "rollergirl", and William H. Macy in a great role as a camera man who is tortured by the infidelities of his wife, played by real life porn star Nina Hartley. In a recurring situation she sleeps with crew members, which humiliates him in front of the entire set. They're all waiting for a turn with his wife, as HE watches! In a shocking scene, he finally snaps, but YOU must watch and find out how. ................ Now that I've tempted you, I must tell you that I've only given you an IDEA of what goes on here. What I can't tell you beyond some descriptive words, is the great mood and flavor of the movie. It DEFIES description, you must experience it. Paul Thomas Anderson, only on his second outing, uses music, cinematography, and fashion to recreate the 70s in a style dare I say "comparable" to veteran master director Martin Scorcese. The movie has a magic all it's own from these elements used in such a highly effective manner, it truly sizzles. I'd also compare it to Brian DePalma's masterpiece "Carlito's Way" (see my review), for it's ability to capture the 70s era with such quintessential style and excitement. ............... "Boogie Nights" is far more than a movie about the porn industry. It's a commentary, a mockumentary, an adventure, a comedy, a drama, a treat for the senses, and a MUST SEE film that stands alone in it's originality.
Rating:
Summary: "Boogie Nights" a winner
Review: Aimless 17 year old Eddie Adams is a high school dropout who works in a car wash by day and busses tables by night. Life is uneventful until he catches the eye of top adult film producer Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds). To Jack's delight Eddie is very well endowed, and thus Eddie becomes "Dirk Diggler". Film covers the adult film industry from 1977-1984, and Dirk is an overnight sensation. He's welcomed into Horner's circle which is pretty much a motley bunch: Amber (Julianne Moore), a mother figure who occasionally has a cocaine binge, Rollergirl (Heather Graham), a sex kitten who feels lost in life, Scotty (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), a gay sound man with a crush on Dirk, Reed (John P. Reilly), a fellow porn star, Little Bill (William H. Macy), a troubled production assistant, Buck (Don Cheadle), a frustrated actor who wants to start his own stereo shop, and the Colonel (Robert Ridgely) a sleazy older man who produces Jack Horner's films. All are in a family type of relationship, so this reminds one of "Goodfellas", only we have pornography instead of guns and murder. As Dirk's success grows so does his head, and he changes from a genuinely likable kid into an irrational a**hole. We really don't enjoy this change. But this movie is powerful on so many levels that I don't have the room to list all of them. One worth noting: The film is an observant human portrait; and yet of so many characters. Some of the deleted scenes are good to have, and others were better off on the cutting room floor. New Line always packs their DVD's with lots of extra goodies, so have fun!
Rating:
Summary: Good story about the porn industry set in the 1970s
Review: I heard the film was too long. That's a usual complaint of mine, but somehow I was sorry when it was over. This was in spite of a so-so surface story that never really got into the depth that critics were hoping for. But I wouldn't change anything about this movie. Its set in the 70s and tells the story of a young man's rise to fame in the adult entertainment world because of his one and only attribute. Marky Mark is the young man. Burt Reynolds is the pornographer named Jack Horner. Julianne Moore plays a porn star who befriends and loves Marky Mark in a maternal way. And there is also a new young actress with a great body who never takes off her roller skates. A few other well-defined characters round out a series of interrelated stories. The 70's settings are perfect and I felt an authenticity thats rarely found in retro pieces like this. I think it gives an accurate picture of the craziness of that particular period of time, including the recreational drug use and eight-track tape music. One thing I liked is that the film never tried to be anything it wasn't. It wasn't a serious drama. It wasn't a silly comedy. It wasn't a story about the wages of sin. It was just simply an interesting story and I liked it.
Rating:
Summary: The Porn Industry - Glamorous, Hedonistic and... Endearing?
Review: This is an exceptionally well done film. A careful balance of humorous art direction, incredible acting, and cleverly constructed dialogue allows "Boogie Nights" to ascend the stigma attached to the subject matter (which happens to concern a star rising and falling in the 1970's porn industry). It generates a surprisingly laid-back, groovy and even comforting mood while telling an intriguing story of a subculture about which most of us make presumptions, but know very little. The character studies are fascinating, most eliciting compassion for the weaknesses of a troubled community of remarkably average people who didn't pursue hedonistic tendencies as much as they sought acceptance, friendship and success in the only industry that would allow them to feign they were glamorous and special, as short-lived an illusion as it would end up being.
Rating:
Summary: Strange Brew...
Review: This is an exceptionally well done film. Carefully balanced art direction, acting, and dialogue allow the story to ascend the stigma attached to the subject matter (which happens to concern a star rising and falling in the 1970's porn industry). It generates a surprisingly laid-back, groovy and even comforting mood while telling an intriguing story of a subculture about which most of us make presumptions, but know very little. The character studies are fascinating, most eliciting compassion for the weaknesses of a troubled community of remarkably average people who didn't pursue hedonistic tendencies as much as they sought acceptance, friendship and success in the only industry that would allow them to feign they were glamorous and special, as short-lived an illusion as it would end up being.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining........to a point
Review: The first half of this movie is very entertaining, with many memorable and funny lines of dialogue. The problem I had with the movie is that the characters have little or no redeeming qualities to appreciate them for 2 and a half hours! IF you can put that aside, as well as the porno topic in general, the movie succeeds rather well. Having grown up in that era, the music in Boogie Nights is exceptional, and provides a great atmosphere to the movie in particular. What a GREAT group of songs! Had these songs not been a part of this movie, I believe it would not be as well-received as it has been. The music adds SOOOOOO much.
The DVD is a real treat regarding the video and audio. Near perfect on both counts truly adds to the enjoyment of the movie.
No masterpiece here, but ignoring the subject matter and some of the things that are peripheral to it (re: drug abuse, violence), then Boogie Nights is an entertaining affair.
Rating:
Summary: Great debut by "Marky Mark"!!
Review: Mark Wahlberg shedded his rapper persona forever by becoming Dirk Diggler, a character loosely based on porn star, John C. Holmes. He gives an outstanding performance as the vulnerable, bus boy who wants fame and fortune at any cost. He also has a great supporting cast with Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham & John C. Reily. But this movie belongs to Burt Reynolds, who gives the performance of his life as the pornographer who turns Diggler's life around. If it wasn't for Robin Williams, the Oscar would have been his!! Director Paul Thomas Anderson took all of his cues from Martin Scorsese because it looks and feels like "Goodfellas" and Raging Bull. This is a monumental, epic film and I look forward to many more films from him. It's a classic!!
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