Pornography, drugs and disco are the driving forces of this potent parable of the partying 1970s in Los Angeles from director Paul Thomas Anderson.
Spanning the height of the disco era, this Martin Scorsese-influenced rags-to-bitches allegory is a visually stunning and poignant exploration of the adult entertainment industry.
Charting the rise, fall and rise again of bus boy-turned-porn star Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), who has the right credentials to make it big in the business (reinventing himself as Dirk Diggler), Anderson’s surreal take on the American Dream is as startling as it is highly entertaining.
Burt Reynolds was Oscar-nominated for his brilliant turn as sleaze-movie producer Jack Horner, the patriarch of an extended family of life’s flotsam and jetsam.
Scintillating support is provided by Heather Graham as Rollergirl (seeing her undress is nothing short of a religious experience!) and Julianne Moore (also Oscar-nominated) as leading lady Amber Waves.
The breathtaking opening Steadicam shot is justifiably famous.
Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler Mark Wahlberg Jack Horner
Burt Reynolds Amber Waves
Julianne Moore Reed Rothchild
John C. Reilly Jessie St. Vincent Melora Walters
Buck Swope
Don Cheadle
Rollergirl
Heather Graham Maurice TT Rodriguez
Luis Guzmán Floyd Gondolli
Philip Baker Hall Scotty J
Philip Seymour Hoffman Sheryl Lynn
Laurel Holloman Kurt Longjohn
Ricky Jay Little Bill
William H. Macy Rahad Jackson
Alfred Molina Todd Parker
Thomas Jane Becky Barnett
Nicole Parker The Colonel James
Robert Ridgely Jerome
Michael Jace Rocky
Jack Wallace Johnny Doe
Jonathan Quint
Director
Paul Thomas Anderson
Video
Related Posts
Born To Boogie (1973) Born To Boogie was, first and last, a celebration of the phenomenon of Marc Bolan. There was no plot, no…
Buddy Buddy (1981) Victor Clooney (Jack Lemmon), a censor for CBS who worries about pornography creeping into the television shows he censors, is…
Back To School (1986) Middle-aged Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) is the poster boy for self-made millionaires. He’s taken his immigrant father’s humble tailor shop and…
Buffalo '66 (1998) Vincent Gallo is nothing if not indulgent, a quality that’s earned him both a legion of detractors and a fervent…
Brothers Rico, The (1957) Eddie Rico (Richard Conte) has been the book-keeper of an important Mafia boss but now he is an honest merchant…
Betsy's Wedding (1989) In Betsy's Wedding, Eddie Hopper (Alan Alda) shows off and gives daughter Betsy (Molly Ringwald) a fabulous formal wedding. What happens…
Best Friends (1982) Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn play Hollywood screenwriters Richard Babson and Paula McCullen who have, for five years, been an unbeatable…
