Boogie Nights
New Line Cinema (1997)
Drama
In Collection
#552
8*
Seen It:  Yes
(6/13/2011)
794043503320
IMDB   7.6
152 mins USA/English
DVD  Region 1   R
Mark Wahlberg Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler
Burt Reynolds Jack Horner
John C. Reilly Reed Rothchild
Julianne Moore Amber Waves/Maggie
Heather Graham Brandy 'Rollergirl'
Don Cheadle Buck Swope
Luis Guzmán Maurice TT Rodriguez
Philip Seymour Hoffman Scotty J.
William H. Macy Little Bill
Thomas Jane Todd Parker
Melora Walters Jessie St. Vincent
Nicole Ari Parker Becky Barnett
Director Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer Paul Thomas Anderson
Lloyd Levin
Joanne Sellar
Michael De Luca
Lynn Harris
Writer Paul Thomas Anderson
Cinematography Robert Elswit
Musician Michael Penn

Even if the notorious 1970s porn-filmmaking milieu doesn't exactly turn you on, don't let it turn you off to this movie's extraordinary virtues, either. Boogie Nights is one of the key movies of the 1990s, and among the most ambitious and exuberantly alive American movies in years. It's also the breakthrough for an amazing new director, whose dazzling kaleidoscopic style here recalls the Robert Altman of Nashville and the Martin Scorsese of GoodFellas. Although loosely based on the sleazy life and times of real-life porn legend John Holmes, at heart it's a classic Hollywood rise-and-fall fable: a naive, good-looking young busboy is discovered in a San Fernando Valley disco by a famous motion picture producer, becomes a hotshot movie star, lives the high life, and then loses everything when he gets too big for his britches, succumbs to insobriety, and is left behind by new times and new technology. Of course, it ain't exactly A Star Is Born or Singin' in the Rain. Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (in only his second feature!) puts his own affectionately sardonic twist on the old showbiz biopic formula: the ambitious upstart changes his name and achieves stardom in porno films as "Dirk Diggler." Instead of drinking to excess, he snorts cocaine (the classic drug of '70s hedonism); and it's the coming of home video (rather than talkies) that helps to dash his big-screen dreams. As for the britches ... well, the controversial "money shot" explains everything. And the cast is one of the great ensembles of the '90s, including Oscar nominees Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg (who really can act--from the waist up, too!), Heather Graham (as Rollergirl), William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, and Ricky Jay. DVD extras include nine deleted scenes and a commentary track from Anderson. --Jim Emerson
Edition Details
Edition New Line Plantinum Series
Distributor New Line Home Video
Chapters 47
Release Date 8/29/2000
Packaging Custom Case
Screen Ratio 2.35:1
Subtitles English; French; Spanish
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Surround [CC]
FRENCH: Dolby Digital 5.1
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 2
Personal Details
Purchase Date 11/9/2001
Owner Thomas Eisenmann
Store Best Buy
Purchase Price $19.99
Condition Excellent
Reviewed Widescreen Review
Bit Rate 448 KB
Anamophic Yes
Links IMDB
Amazon US
Boogie Nights at Movie Collector Connect

Features
Disc 01 Anamophic
This two-disc Platinum Series disc (actually New Line’s second Platinum Series Boogie Nights disc. The first—catalog #N4650—was released in April of 1998), offers many of the same features from the Criterion LaserDisc as well as the previous DVD. The first disc offers the movie itself and, of course the commentary tracks of which there are two: one with P.T. Anderson (also on the 1998 DVD) and the second with Anderson and the primary cast members (also on the LaserDisc). On this disc, you can also jump to one of sixteen song-scenes in the film. The second disc offers nine deleted scenes with or without commentary and Michael Penn’s “Try” music video that was directed by Anderson (both on LaserDisc and 1998 DVD), Also included are “The John C. Reilly Files,” which are new. Originally intended for this disc were the excerpts from the John Holmes documentary Exhausted that were included on the LaserDisc. Unfortunately, this segment was pulled at the last minute (If you really want to learn more about John Holmes, check out the “E! True Hollywood Story” episode that chronicles his career and demise as well as his involvement in the “Wonderland Murders.”) The cast and crew biographies are fantastic, offering information on both the actors as well as their alter-egos from the film. And don’t forget to check out the color bars.

Widescreen Review
Story Synopsis:
Spanning the drug and disco-filled ‘70s and hung over ‘80s, Boogie Nights features Wahlberg as a young man who becomes an adult entertainment superstar when he joins a porn director’s (Reynolds) diverse family (Moore, Cheadle, Reilly and Graham).

DVD Picture:
Due to P.T. Anderson’s dissatisfaction with the previous transfer, Boogie Nights was given a new transfer by Lou Levinson (who also transferred Magnolia). While we thought the previously released DVD was pleasing, the new anamorphically enhanced 2.40:1 DVD seems to deliver greater depth, with engulfing blacks and colors that seem to kick with a shade of deeper saturation. The picture is smooth and solid throughout, with excellent contrast and shadow delineation. Without direct A/B comparison, it may be difficult to recognize the differences between the two discs. There are really no distractions to complain about as far as pixelization, artifacts or edge enhancement.

Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel discrete soundtrack, like the previous DVD release, is disappointing. The sound is restricted to three-channel stereo with occasional subtle surround envelopment. While recording quality is excellent and the stereo soundstage is spread wide with occasional directional effects, the virtues for an effective surround sound presentation are predominantly wanting. Dialogue is adequately intelligible but also features somewhat compromised spatial integration. The .1 LFE channel, though technically active, is hardly a factor for this sound mix, as is deep bass in general.

This Disc Contains The Following WSR-Rated Superb Qualities:
Collector Edition