Wednesday, July 28, 2004
TODAY'S MOVIE
BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997): NYTimes1176BestFilms; Paul Thomas Anderson (three names, a tipoff) first big screen film based on a student movie he shot in 1988. It totally depends on Mark Wahlberg to carry the load from beginning to end including his supposed thirteen inch dick. The whole film is about 'what goes up must come down". I thought of this 'mot' before midway and discovered that the party ends and the shit begins to happen almost exactly half way through the film. Wow.
This has more long tracking shots than I have 'ever' seen; at least that I am aware of. Some of the camera work is inspired, yet intrusive now and then. There is a big cast of standard 'art' film actors plus Burt Reynolds. I always like to see Ricky Jay. Some of them have three names too (Philip Seymour Hoffman who I have limited tolerance for—thankfully, he is mostly background as a love-struck sad-ass faggot).
I saw it when it came out and didn't like it much. But, I am committed to seeing the films. I cued it up and then I relaxed and started taking it as it came and actually ended up quite happy with the whole thing. I am giving it a 4 on the Netflix5 scale.
