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
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