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
