The Dirk Diggler Story

Dirk Diggler Story, The (1988)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Fake documentary on porn star Dirk Diggler (Michael Stein), which director Anderson would later turn into Boogie Nights. The film was shot on videotape and edited from VCR to VCR yet you can still see the talent behind the camera. The film kept me entertained throughout its 31-minute running time. The video is raw, the performances raw and the editing is raw but it makes for an interesting little film especially when you compare it to the feature version. The ending here is a lot better than the one in Boogie Nights.

I am assuming that you can infer the direct correlation between this film, and Boogie Nights. Dirk Diggler is the central character in each, and Jack Horner reappears in Boogie Nights as well. This is Paul Thomas Anderson's early work, but I'm sure we are all happy it progressed into the amazing film it did. Due to its very obscure nature, good luck finding it.

Around a decade before it became Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson made this student film with essentially the same basic plot. Shot as a mockumentary rather than a drama, the film follows the rise and fall of Dirk's career in pornography, with success leading to drugs and many other vices. The plot generally works and it mixes the absurd with a decent story that is impressive when you consider that this film was made by a 17 year old. It does engage although it must be said it is very rough.

The tale itself is fine but the filming appears to have been onto video tape and generally the quality it poor, with a slow motion sequence at the end being particularly choppy. The "fly on the wall" nature of the film helps cover up a little for the limitations of the time but still, it is a student film. Performances are hard to judge because people do feel a bit wooden and unnatural, but then in fairness they are supposed to be porn actors – not the most comfortable with dialogue at the best of times! Stein is OK as Diggler but really the only performance that sticks in the mind is Ridgely, who does play well and seems better than the limits of the film around him.

As a short film it is decent but better when considered it was made by a 17 year old fighting limits at every turn. It is mostly worth seeing as a curio piece now though, a companion for fans of Boogie Nights, which is by a million miles a superior piece of work.

I'm not the biggest PTA fan. I like some of his films, others I think are a little overrated. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to see this on a friend's bootleg DVD of PTA's first two shorts. Anyway, I was shocked as to how good this was. It was funny as hell, smart, satirical, a great mockumentary! Considering it was made by an 18 year old, this was magnificent. I envy him, because I couldn't direct myself out of a paper bag at 18, this guy made a true and true portrait of a character that would eventually put him on the map as a hot new director.

The actors had great timing, especially the old man who played Jack Horner. He was very good. The sunglasses were awesome, the intentionally cheesy, porn dialogue was hysterical. Well shot, considering it was on a home video camera, well written and well directed. I still can't believe how young he was! 18! Barely out of high school! Obviously a must-see for PTA fans, and aspiring young filmmakers for that matter, as well.

well, first off, i LOVE boogie nights. i think it is one of the best films ever made. anderson is my hero, and i basically get anything he does. it works for me.

that being said, this one is clearly the work of a teenager getting his feet wet. anderson is smart enough to utilize a form and story that would play into his lack of experience. there bis clearly something under the surface of this film.

still, it is a tough watch. first, my print was terrible, which is probably due to it being a nearly 20 year old film shot on 1/2" video and duped dozens of times. it is entirely understandable and excusable, but it doesn't make it any easier to watch. the color bleeds, shots are tough to see, and the sound is blown out. the performances are typical of such amateur films, and the actors are obviously not pros. it is dated a bit as well...note reeds mullet and 80s era gym clothes...remember, unlike boogie nights, this film is not a period piece, so all the embarrassing clothing / hairstyles are unitended, which makes them even funnier, if you ask me...this is proof if we ever needed it, that people actually though that mullets, those terrible fluorescent gym clothes and oakleys spoke for them. what they said, i have no idea, because i think all they could ever say would be "look at me, i'm a thick skulled idiot whose only accomplishments in life are my pumped up arms, my fake tan, and the ability to grow my hair, although i wont even full commit to that...go figure...

it is most interesting as an archive piece. if boogie nights hadn't been made, and anderson not become the powerful, original voice he is, this probably would not be that noteworthy.

he gets extra points in my book merely for finishing the work. anyone who has tried to make such a piece knows that finishing is an accomplishment in and of itself. and thank God he did finish, because this guy is the best hope for the future of cinema. kudos to him.