BOOGIE NIGHTS |
| CREDITS: Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds &
Julianne Moore USA 1997 (18) INTRODUCTION: Oscar(tm) Nominated for Best Ageing Hollywood Star Yet To Win An Oscar(tm), In A Minor Role, this film wooed audiences and critics alike. Although it's difficult to see why. Cashing in on the anonymity he managed to generate with his last film Hard Eight, Anderson manages to put together another moderately budgeted, adequately cast (including the lesser known cast members of Hard Eight), Homage µ Tarantino. INTRODUCTION: Following the rise and fall (if you'll pardon the expression) of young new comer (if you'll pardon the expression) Dirk Diggler (damn these double entendres) we are shown around the porn industry of the late 70's and early 80's. From the depth of poverty to the height of fame or infamy and back again Dirk (Wahlberg) looses his innocence but gains something far more important, err money. REVIEW: On the whole the film seems to be little more than an excuse to show soft-core porn at multiplexes, not that this is a bad thing, but... The plot is messy veering wildly with no clear idea where it's going, the finale looks like it was bolted on as an after-thought. Spiced up with lots of mindless graphic violence and populated with a series of increasingly unrealistic characters and unbelievable situations. As in Hard Eight, Anderson relies on his cast to carry his plot, often in a bucket, unfortunately this time out they don't seem to be up to the task. Wahlberg is on top form, which isn't that great for Wahlberg, but is at least adequate enough for this movie, proving along the way why he'll never make it as a singer. Reynolds demonstrates enough talent to loose the Oscar to Robin Williams! It is no secret that Reynolds hated this movie, firing his agent for getting him in to it, obviously preferring to be remembered for his classic movies like Striptease. The rest of the cast are there, but the star of the film is of course Wahlberg's Prosthetic Penis(tm). As with any good Tarantino movie the dialogue is crisp and witty, this is perhaps the film's saving grace. Along with the now traditional pumping 70's backing track. Not as good as Hard Eight, not as bad as Jackie Brown but it still gets the same rating as both of those films (hmm perhaps my rating system needs overhauling). Is my anti-Tarrentinoism showing again? (Yes - you can't even spell his name right! - The Lizard) Mutt's Rating: *** |