Well, it was my favorite movie. But after listening to the director's commentary, it gave me a different view of how we're supposed to take the film: a lot less exuberant and redemptive, PTA wanting us to view it more as a tragedy, in particular the ending, which he meant to show how trapped and pathetic they all are. NOT the way I took the film at all.
Anyway, I asked this question on another thread, no one's answered: have you noticed the whispered dialogue at the very end of the credits? It's Dirk saying lines from a script; he mutters, "Where's Ringo?" etc...but it sounds very reminiscent of the scene where he's trying to get hard in the bathroom...in the whispering he says *beep* "goddamnit" etc, not exclamations I'd associate with someone having successful sex...have you ever noticed it and what's your take on it? If we're supposed to think that after Dirk leaves the dressing room in the final scene he then goes to the bathroom to arouse himself and can't, that makes it a VERY different ending. But after hearing the way PTA talks about the Dirk character on the DVD, it wouldn't surprise me if he put that in there on purpose. I still love the film, and a simple Google search revealed to me that most viewers took the film the way I did, at least those who cared enough to write an analysis of it. But knowing PTA meant the film in a much darker, meaner and more sardonic way, it kind of puts a damper on it for me. No "kinda" about it, actually: pretty much ruins what WAS my favorite movie. I'll never watch another director commentary on ANYTHING. I'm a writer myself, and that made me vow if I'm ever in a position that people care about my work, I'm gonna leave it up to them what to think. Hearing what a creator ACTUALLY intended when he wrote characters you've grown to love can be a very sobering, unpleasant experience.
Anyway, if you know the whispered part I'm talking about, I'd be very curious what your take is on it. I apologize for the length of this; hope you read it.
a friend asked me the other day, name your top 3 movies of all time. dont think about it, just spitem out. i said the insider, apocalypse now and boogie nights. in my opinion PTA is second only to michael mann in the directing profession.
my take on BN.....its defintely not a feel good film. i believe it is a sarcastic look at the porn industry (black comedy if you will)..
these people have founded a million dollar business.. and their obviously not brain surgeons. burt reynolds and william h. macys roles exemplify this the most. they are the so called "brains of the operation" and are serious about what their doing. one ex..jack (burt) after finishing the cut says "it feels good".. referring to, in their minds, "making a good film".
i remember watching the late comedian richard jeni. he was invited to speak at the pornographic film awards banquet. it was obviously quite humerous to him. he wasnt aware until invited, and i never heard of such a thing until he mentioned it on his set. acting awards for porn? seriously...(nominated for best anal feature)..funny stuff man.
the acting for this film was probably somewhat difficult in relation to other films. purposely acting on the same level as a "porn star" (the quote is hilarious in itself - porn star? c'mon )..
i think the majority, i HOPE the majority, in part find the adult entertainment world comical. it is simply a means for masterbation.
walbergs role is very loosely based on john holmes so the ending seems accurate (def check it again though). hes no longer with us because of his addictions. the porn world is a sick, f'd up industry! many associated have died via drug overdose and suicide.
again, i think PTA is the man when it comes to his trade. imo the beginning of this film is bar none. he introduces basically the entire cast in one take. that had to be difficult to do.
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Well, actually, sorry, I misread what you wrote. (Why I deleted my first response to you.) You saw it as a way darker film than I originally did. Yours is way more in the vein of what I found out PTA did intend. Bummer for me, though, who saw it more as a film about screwed-up people who somehow all found each other and found a way to love and be loved. I guess I'll have to make that film myself.
sharei dont fully disagree with your vision of the film at all. even if that wasnt PTA's message. as portrayed, many of the characters obviously didnt have positive direction growing up. the industry brought them together. i maybe wrong, but i dont believe BN is listed in the comedy genre
shareI understand what you mean and agree to an extend but the more you look into it anyway none of the characters ever really achieve much (reed is a semi-successful magician, rollergirl is taking an exam that she doesn't look that interested in). Buck is the only one who really achieves something and that is only owning a HIFI stereo store. The film is definitely a dark one, but the comedy and ending you took from it comes from the innocent nature of the characters.
And the end credits voiceover i always took as Dirk becoming more and more deluded, thinking of himself as a real life Brock Landers. But your interpretation is quite interesting as well
"*beep* it Dude, lets go bowling"
Just saw it again and that dialogue in the end......sounded like he was back on track but with a twist,cough *gay porn possibly* cough.
shareIt isn't like anderson hates the characters. I'm just a bit confused about how you initially interpreted it. Did you read it as a straight "happily ever after" kind of thing?
By the way if i was forced to rank it, it would certainly be in the top half a dozen
Probably in my Top 20.
shareSame here. One of my more re-watched films and certainly my favorite from PTA, who has several great ones, and I think it's his best ensemble cast and group of characters. Diggler, Rothchild, Amber Waves, Horner, Rollergirl, Little Bill, Buck Swope, and on and on...
shareIt is in my top 200.
shareI went to see it in the theater and loved it. But if you had asked me back then where it would rank I would probably not have put it in my top 50. But over time I have just gotten to love it more and more and more. It doesn't hurt that it's on cable practically every single night. But the fact that I actually pause and WATCH it almost every time I come across it while flipping channels says so much. It shows there are so many great moments that it's always worth pausing for at least a couple of minutes even if just to watch a single scene.
I think a typical viewer's initial reaction to it is to just think of it as a fun movie with a cool soundtrack. But the more and more you watch it the more you realize that there is so much more to it.
It also doesn't hurt that PT Anderson has continued to make great films. By consistently putting out great movies he is causing people to go back and view it in a more serious and respectful way.
I'd rank it in my top 25.
It's in my top 5 along with another PT Anderson movie, There Will Be Blood. I can't get enough of this director's films.
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