Boogie Nights – 4K UHD

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PTA’s first masterpiece….

Now that Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest film is likely to win an Oscar, it’s a great time for his earlier hit, ‘Boogie Nights,’ to come out on 4K UHD.

What’s Boogie Nights about?

After leaving film school, he quickly gained attention with his first film, ‘Hard Eight’ in 1996. However, it was ‘Boogie Nights,’ released the following year, that truly established him as a remarkably talented and innovative director. The film, which he also wrote, centers on Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), a porn producer with artistic ambitions, and his discovery of a promising young actor, Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), nicknamed Dirk Diggler.

The casting…..

The film was a bold exploration of Hollywood’s adult film industry in the late 1970s, a time when video was becoming popular. Director Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) had previously made some unremarkable movies, and this project, starring Mark Wahlberg, was a chance to prove his talent beyond Wahlberg’s reputation as a rapper. Wahlberg landed the role after Leonardo DiCaprio had to decline due to his commitment to filming Titanic. The movie also featured a fantastic supporting cast, including Julianne Moore, Luis Guzmán, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, and William H. Macy. These actors all delivered strong performances, and many would go on to collaborate with PTA on future projects.

The Burt Reynolds controversy….

What really stands out is Burt Reynolds’ appearance in the film. By this point in his career, he was known for appearing in mostly forgettable movies – a string of unremarkable films in the late 80s and early 90s had overshadowed his earlier talent, as demonstrated in films like Deliverance (1972). In fact, his performance in Deliverance earned him his only Academy Award nomination. However, he surprisingly hurt his chances by regretting taking the role after seeing the finished film (apparently without reading the script!), refusing to promote it, firing his agent, and generally trying to distance himself from it as if he were ashamed. This was the same actor who had previously starred in films like Cop and a Half, two Cannonball Run movies, and three Smokey and the Bandit films! Despite not winning the Oscar, he did win a Golden Globe for the role, using his acceptance speech to criticize Hollywood for overlooking him and worrying that his older fans wouldn’t appreciate the film. Fortunately, Boogie Nights itself received three Academy Award nominations – Best Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds), Best Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore), and Best Original Screenplay (Paul Thomas Anderson). Julianne Moore also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Those memorable moments….

Even for only his second feature film, Paul Thomas Anderson delivers a remarkably confident and striking piece of filmmaking. A particularly shocking scene depicts a character committing a double homicide before taking his own life, and the final scene – impactful in a different way – shows Mark Wahlberg having a private moment with himself in a mirror, culminating in a deliberately provocative reveal. These moments, including a long, unbroken shot through a restaurant and nightclub reminiscent of Scorsese’s Goodfellas and a nod to Raging Bull, are especially impressive considering this was only PTA’s second film.

The film draws heavily from the real, often tragic, experiences of adult film performers, including instances of murder, suicide, drug abuse, and robbery. Director Paul Thomas Anderson even cast actual porn stars in the movie and incorporated some of the stereotypical dialogue used in their films.

At 155 minutes long, Boogie Nights is a sprawling film filled with complex, flawed characters, and it launched the career of a significant filmmaking talent. This excellent new version also includes a small selection of worthwhile bonus features.

  • American Cinematheque Panel Night 1(NEW) – Paul Thomas Anderson and John C. Reilly
  • American Cinematheque Panel Night 2(NEW) – Paul Thomas Anderson
  • Commentary: Director Paul Thomas Anderson
  • Commentary: Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, Luis Guzman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Mark Wahlberg, and Melora Walters
  • Additional Scenes (29:15)
    • Scene 3: Ham and Cheese
    • Buck and Amber in the Van
    • Brock and Chico
    • The 2ndAwards Ceremony
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Fire with Fire: The Brock and Chest Story
    • Maurice and Rollergirl
    • Mixing “Feel the Heat”
    • Under the Table
    • Becky/Jerome/Car Crash
  • Michael Penn TryMusic Video (3:16)
  • The John C. Reilly Files: Outtakes and Extended Sequences (34:54)
    • Swim Trunks
    • Waiting for Todd
    • Mixing with Nick

The deleted scenes offer a little extra background, but they seem to have been removed mainly to keep the movie’s pace moving. What really makes this disc worthwhile are the commentary from the cast and director, Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA), which offers some fascinating perspectives. Boogie Nights marked the start of a string of fantastic films, including the ambitious Magnolia, featuring what is arguably Tom Cruise’s finest performance. PTA then delivered Punch-Drunk Love, showcasing Adam Sandler’s surprising dramatic talent, followed by the stunning There Will Be Blood. These films prove PTA deserves more Oscar recognition, and Boogie Nights is a must-have for any film enthusiast.

Here’s the Boogie Nights trailer…..

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2025-12-14 03:24