Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson’s second feature, offers a soft (even loving) look at the adult film scene in the San Fernando Valley.
The scope of the movie goes beyond porn to embrace a meticulously crafted look at 1970s culture, decadence and the entertainment industry.
Mark Wahlberg burst upon the movie scene by playing the massively endowed porn star Dirk Diggler.
Wahlberg is surrounded by an ensemble of brilliant actors, able to find the humanity within the larger-than-life personalities and hangers-on swirling around Dirk, from a splashy late career performance by Burt Reynolds to a heartbreaking turn from Julianne Moore.
The lively soundtrack, beautiful camerawork from frequent PTA collaborator Robert Elswit and a late ’90s audience that was game to embrace a sprawling porn epic, contribute to a big, bright, friendly, and utterly enjoyable movie.
