Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights
7.991%89%
Adult film director Jack Horner is always on the lookout for new talent and it's only by chance that he meets Eddie Adams who is working as a busboy in a restaurant. Eddie is young, good looking and plenty of libido to spare. Using the screen name Dirk Diggler, he quickly rises to the top of his industry winning awards year after year. Drugs and ego however come between Dirk and those around him and he soon finds that fame is fleeting.
pukkatrucker reviewedOctober 23, 2025
The God Only Knows needle drop was perfectđ
I had started this once or twice before and never got round to finishing it or even passing the half hour mark. Finally decided to knuckle down and get through it. I really enjoyed it- probably my third fav PTA behind Phantom Thread and One Battle After Another.
Boogie Nights is bold, exciting and confident, especially in its direction in comparison to more controlled and quieter films later in PTAâs career. I was a fan of the direction in this, especially loved the direction of the scene of the split between Dirk and Jack, and the drug deal gone wrong too. Itâs fast and striking- whereas his other films take a slower and more relaxed view of the characters.Â
For example, the direction of Phantom Thread doesnât need to do anything dazzling or extra- as itâs gentle and slow. Boogie nights feels like a sprint on a running track whereas Phantom Thread feels like a gentle stroll in the park. The camera is practically dancing in Boogie Nights; but in Phantom Thread the camera lingers. It doesnât follow; it watches. The difference in direction of the two films really shows why Paul Thomas Anderson is credited as being one of the best in the industry.
A really powerful scene to me was Dirkâs rejection of Scotty J, and his breakdown afterwards. The film was constantly going at 100mph but the film took a pause at that moment, and it was really powerful to me.Â
Itâs really disappointing that Mark Wahlberg decides to star in constant renditions of practically the same film, when heâs clearly capable of so much more. He delivers solid performances in both Boogie Nights and The Departed, hes clearly a good actor when heâs put to it. I just hope he can go out of his comfort zone again and act in good films, heâs got the talent!
Totally different to PTAâs later films, the others may be considered more relaxed and nuanced, but PTA still delivers a fantastic film in Boogie Nights!