By Jacob Cameron

“I am a star.”

These four words are said by Eddie Adams, or as he is professionally known, Dirk Diggler in 1997’s Boogie Nights. This is the film that established Paul Thomas Anderson as a force in filmmaking. It established Mark Wahlberg as a leading man. It gave a breath of life to the career of Burt Reynolds. And it made stars out of a lot of people following the success of the film.

Boogie Nights is the feature-length adaptation of The Dirk Diggler Story remade by Paul Thomas Anderson himself. It sees Eddie Adams, played by Mark Wahlberg, working at a nightclub and living a miserable life. One night, Eddie is spotted by Jack Horner, played by Burt Reynolds, who produces porn films. Jack takes Eddie under his wing and gives him the screen name “Dirk Diggler.” The film chronicles the rise, fall, and rise of Dirk Diggler set against the backdrop of late 70’s-Early 80’s Los Angeles.

Boogie Nights was the first PTA film I ever watched, and it is a film I enjoy immensely. While this is a film that involves characters who are making porn films, this is not a porn movie. In a way, Boogie Nights is similar to Rocky since Rocky is not just a boxing movie. Both movies center well-written characters and themes first and foremost. In the case of Boogie Nights, it’s one of the best examples of a Rise & Fall movie.

By 1997, Mark Wahlberg was just Marky Mark. While he had acted in movies such as The Basketball Diaries and Fear, this was the breakout role for him. When we first meet Eddie Adams, you see someone who comes from a rough background and is given a new lease on life. Dirk Diggler gives Eddie Adams new life and success. When Eddie begins to lose it due to the vices of the time, he becomes desperate. This life is all he has.

Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore are just as great as Wahlberg. Burt, as Jack Horner sees his films as art and wants them to be treated as such. Julianne Moore, as Amber Waves, serves as Jack’s muse. The two bring out the best and worst in each other. These two characters are complex and complicated but remain sympathetic throughout. 

In addition to these three performances, the rest of the cast is packed with talent. Including Don Cheadle, Luis Guzman, and Thomas Jane. Additionally, there are performances from PTA regulars John C. Reilly and the Phillips of Baker Hall and Seymour Hoffman. This is an excellent assembly of on and off screen talent.

As mentioned, this is a great Rise & Fall film. The rise of a group of people and their subsequent fall set in the backdrop of LA in the late 70s to early 80s. The opening of this film is one of my favorite film opening scenes of all time. In a near unbroken take, you meet nearly all your main characters and their relationships with each other. All set to “Best of My Love” by The Emotions.

At the end of the day, this is my favorite PTA film. It’s easy to say that There Will Be Blood is his best film. But it would happily put Boogie Nights on the same level as There Will Be Blood in terms of quality. Go out of your way to watch this one.

5 stars