News

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This June, Paramount+ is a little light on original content as nothing new is coming out on the streaming service aside from the fourteenth season of SpongeBob SquarePants. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Paramount+ next month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 10 best films coming to Paramount+ in June 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (June 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% Credit – New Line Cinema

Boogie Nights is a drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film is set in the 1970s, and it follows the rise and fall of Eddie Adams as he goes from being a nightclub dishwasher to a popular adult film star with a drug addiction. Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore,...

Julianne Moore brought timeless elegance to the 15th Governors Awards, held on November 17, 2024, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.

Dressed in a flowing Proenza Schouler Rumi pleated jersey maxi dress, she accessorized with striking fine jewelry, including Belperron Wave rings in pavé diamond, a Belperron Toggle Torque necklace, and Verdura Maltese Cross cuffs on both wrists.

Julianne Moore exudes refined elegance at the 15th Governors Awards in a pleated black Proenza Schouler maxi dress, styled with bold Belperron and Verdura jewelry (Credit: Mark Von Holden / The Academy)

Julianne Moore’s Breakthrough Role in Boogie Nights

A celebrated presence at the Oscars for decades, Moore’s awards journey began with her first Academy Award nomination in 1998 for her standout performance as Amber Waves in Boogie Nights. This role showcased her emotional depth and star power.

Her co-stars in the critically acclaimed film include Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle,...

Mark Wahlberg Once Revealed Why He Kept His Boogie Nights Prosthetic Locked Away! ( Photo Credit – Flickr )

Mark Wahlberg still has the infamous prosthetic from Boogie Nights, and he’s keeping it locked up, probably for more than one good reason. “​​Yes, yes. It’s in a safe locked away,” Wahlberg said during an appearance on The Ellen Show. “It’s not something I could leave out. All of a sudden my kids are looking for a spare phone charger and pull that thing out and go, ‘What the heck is this?!’ It wouldn’t be a good look.”

Imagine them digging for a phone charger and pulling out Dirk Diggler’s legendary accessory. Yeah, that’s definitely not a conversation any parent wants to have. The prosthetic, of course, was central to Wahlberg’s breakout role as Eddie Adams, aka Dirk Diggler, in Boogie Nights – a film about the rise...

Mark Wahlberg has come a long way since his days as Marky Mark in Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. With an over three-decade-long acting career, he’s appeared in dozens of films, from action-packed thrillers to heartfelt dramas. However, long before he became a Hollywood A-lister, Wahlberg made his cinematic debut as a young soldier in Renaissance Man.

While Wahlberg’s role in the film was relatively small, it set the stage for the actor to eventually shed his Marky Mark persona and transition into leading man status. And, though Renaissance Man wasn’t a great success at the box office, it completely changed the trajectory of Wahlberg’s career, helping to establish him as a serious actor and paving the way for the diverse roles he would take on in the years that followed.

Renaissance Man is Classic Danny DeVito Humor

Directed by Penny Marshall, Renaissance Man follows...

In the upcoming thriller One Battle After Another, almost after a three-decade wait, Paul Thomas Anderson and Oscar-winning actor Leonardo Dicaprio join forces. The film’s teaser was dropped on March 20, introducing a colossal world of gun-blazing action-thriller, which might land Anderson and Dicaprio their next Oscar nomination. The teaser looks sharp and daunting, where DiCaprio might take up the role of gun-toting dad.

Paul Anderson and Cillian Murphy as the Shelby brothers in Peaky Blinders/ Credits: Netflix

With Warner Bros. behind the banner, the film brings one of the most awaited collaborations between Anderson and DiCaprio, who almost missed it in the highly acclaimed Boogie Nights released in the 1977 breakout movie. The film will feature Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, and Anderson’s Licorice Pizza star Alana Haim.

Benicio del Toro, Wood Harris, Shayna McHayle, and Chase Infiniti have also been roped in to be part of this upcoming thriller drama.

Does Leonardo DiCaprio regret missing out on this role due to Titanic? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Instead of sketching Kate Winslet like one of his French girls, Leonardo DiCaprio could’ve been rocking gold chains and questionable dance moves as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. And if you ask him? He kinda wishes he had.

“My biggest regret is Boogie Nights,” DiCaprio admitted. That’s a wild thing to say about the movie that made him Hollywood’s golden boy. But in 1997, DiCaprio had a choice: Cameron’s unsinkable romance or Anderson’s deep dive into ‘70s debauchery. He picked Titanic. Wahlberg took Boogie Nights. The rest is history.

DiCaprio was already Hollywood’s golden ticket — an Oscar nominee for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and fresh off Romeo + Juliet. Then Titanic happened, turning him into a full-blown heartthrob, whether he liked it or not. Meanwhile, Wahlberg was strutting through Boogie Nights,...

We're used to seeing Mark Wahlberg portray brawny, resilient characters. He gravitates towards tough protagonist roles with rugged characteristics and a slither of cheekiness. We've witnessed action-orientated, working-class hero performances as an undercover cop, athlete, and military man. But then there's his comedic side too: Boston-bred, self-deprecating humor and street-smart persona. What's surprising is, that throughout his career, he's rarely portrayed as the evil villain.

Back in 1996, in James Foley's psychological thriller Fear, Wahlberg played the obsessive and violent David McCall, starring alongside Reese Witherspoon as his target, Nicole Walker. Nearly 30 years later in 2025, under the direction of Mel Gibson, Wahlberg's dark side is unleashed in his only other villainous role, Daryl Booth in Flight Risk. Viewers have become used to the familiarity of Wahlberg being cast in the 'everyman' role, so will they feel it's off-brand or accept him as a psychotic pilot in his latest film?

Mark...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This January, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment from the Will Ferrell comedy film You’re Cordially Invited to the beloved romantic action comedy film The Fall Guy. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 10 best films that are coming to Prime Video in January 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (January 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% Credit – New Line Cinema

Boogie Nights is a drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film is set in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley, and it follows Eddie Adams, a high school dropout working as a dishwasher as he becomes one of the biggest adult film stars,...

Boogie Nights takes place in the world of adult entertainment. Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 classic stars Mark Wahlberg as Dirk Diggler, a California native who became a well-known adult film actor in the San Fernando Valley during the '70s. Recognizable actors portray most characters, but several real-life adult film stars make cameos in small roles. Before Boogie Nights, Mark Wahlberg had already established an impressive resume in the entertainment industry, but this movie made him a star.

Boogie Nights transformed Wahlberg into a mainstream movie star, thanks in large part to his tragicomic lead performance and a climactic scene that literally exposes the film's lead character, Dirk Diggler. However, what many P.T. Anderson fans remember is that this film is full of character actors who would go on to appear in several of the director's movies over the next two decades, some in lead roles and others always working as brilliant supporting actors.

The Boogie Nights ending explained what happened to the career of fictional adult film star Dirk Diggler. The second directorial feature by Paul Thomas Anderson, who has since cemented his place as one of the finest filmmakers working today, the story begins in 1977, introducing Dirk as a high school dropout who runs away from home to join adult filmmaker Jack Horner and his ragtag group crew, including experienced porn actors Amber Waves, “Rollergirl,” Reed Rothchild, and Buck Swope (Don Cheadle).

By the film’s ending, the ensemble has struggled to navigate a dizzying world of amoral excess, including wealth, drug addiction, and prostitution. Dirk’s stardom has faded, leaving him in a dire situation. For all its provocative hedonism, Dirk’s tragic story comes full circle, while only a few of his friends succeed in bettering their lives. At its core, Anderson's Boogie Nights is a story of a...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This December, Paramount+ is bringing you a ton of entertainment with the highly anticipated new series in the Dexter universe alongside a ton of great shows and movies. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Paramount+ this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 13 best films coming to Paramount+ in December 2024 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (December 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94% Credit – New Line Cinema

Boogie Nights is a period coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film is set in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, and it follows Eddie Adams, a young nightclub dishwasher who became a big name in the adult film industry in the 1970s. Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore,...

Summer is over and Autumn is here, which means Max has a whole new slate of movies falling onto the streamer in September.

Whether you’re into anime flicks, romance thrillers or an action-packed movie that keeps you on your toes, these films are worth adding to your watch list. While Max’s list of new films in September stretches way beyond these seven titles, TheWrap wanted to point your attention to the best ones on its lineup.

Check out our picks for the best new movies on Max in September 2024 below.

“Boogie Nights” (New Line Cinema) “Boogie Nights” (1997)

We had to start you off with a Hollywood classic that will give you some good ‘ole belly laughs while also giving. “Boogie Nights” follows the story of Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), a teen growing up in 1977 San Fernando Valley, who makes a life pivot into the porn industry after being...

This September, Max is bringing you a lot of entertainment with the highly anticipated DC action crime drama series The Penguin starring Colin Farrell and the new season of HBO’s great series My Brilliant Friend. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Max this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 5 best films coming to Max in September 2024 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Boogie Nights (September 1)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Boogie Nights is a period drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The 1997 film revolves around Eddie Adams, a high school dropout who begins working as a porn star and achieves huge success but his new glamorous lifestyle goes to his head and he gets addicted to drugs. Boogie Nights stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role with Burt Reynolds,...

One of the most iconic showbiz dramas in history just got a major streaming update. Boogie Nights, the 1997 classic starring Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, and Burt Reynolds, is set to begin streaming on Max starting September 1. The film follows adult film director Jack Horner (Reynolds) who discovers Eddie Adams (Wahlberg), a young man working as a busy boy. Adams then goes under the screen name Dirk Diggler and becomes a legendary figure in the adult entertainment industry, but drugs and ego come to define his rise to stardom. In addition to Wahlberg, Reynolds, and Moore, Boogie Nights also stars John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, and William H. Macy, and the film currently sits at impressive scores of 94% from critics and 89% from general audiences on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.

Starting his career as a musician under the hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Mark Wahlberg has since transformed into a successful and acclaimed Hollywood actor. And he attributes his successful career to Penny Marshall’s 1994 comedy-drama, Renaissance Man, which marked his silver-screen debut.

Mark Wahlberg | Eva Rinaldi/Cca-by-sa-2.0/Wikimedia Commons

As the film celebrates its 30 years, Wahlberg reflected on starring in the movie, noting how the comedy-drama became the turning point that altered the course of his life and career.

Mark Wahlberg Credits His Film Career to Penny Marshall’s Renaissance Man

Mark Wahlberg has starred in numerous successful and acclaimed films throughout his career, even landing roles that Leonardo DiCaprio regrets passing on, such as the lead in the Oscar-nominated film Boogie Nights.

Mark Wahlberg in Renaissance Man | Credit: IMDb

However, the film he attributes his successful career as an actor is the 1994 comedy-drama Renaissance Man.

The Hangover was a monumental success upon its release, which was lauded by critics and fans and launched Bradley Copper, Zach Galifianakis, and director Todd Phillips into the limelight. Moreover, it made a blast at the box office, racking in $469 million on a budget of $35 million, which meant a sequel was inevitable, and two years later, The Hangover Part II opened in theatres.

Much like its predecessor, the sequel became a huge box-office hit, becoming the highest-grossing entry in the trilogy, but unlike the first one, the second one hasn’t particularly aged well.

Some Aspects of The Hangover Part II Hasn’t Aged Well

The Hangover: Part II | Warner Bros.

Similar to what Michael Bay did with Bad Bays 2, Todd Phillips doubled down on the edginess with the sequel, and for many, it proved to be a step too far. And the time hasn’t been kind to the film,...

Mark Wahlberg is inevitably widely recognized as one of the most talented actors in all of Hollywood’s entertainment industry. From his immaculate acting skills to his absolutely breathtaking physique, the 52-year-old actor continues to charm his fans from all across the globe to the core. But many years before he attained this respectable feat, Wahlberg wasn’t as confident as he is now.

Mark Wahlberg in Father Stu.

In fact, the Ted star wasn’t so sure of his own talent in the acting field when he was an aspiring actor, only just starting out. And the movie taking him out of this zone, making him fearless, and inspiring him to become a “real actor” was the most unexpected one (or perhaps expected one?): His R-rated critically commended comedy-drama from 1997, Boogie Nights.

Boogie Nights Inspired Mark Wahlberg to Become a “Real Actor”

Released in October of 1997, the R-rated...

Mark Wahlberg initially resisted his role in Boogie Nights because he was unsure if it would exploit him further after his Marky Mark image. Despite his initial concerns, Wahlberg's role in Boogie Nights launched his acting career and opened doors for more prominent roles. Boogie Nights helped Wahlberg shed his Marky Mark image and establish himself as a serious actor, leading to subsequent successful films and even Oscar nominations.

Mark Wahlberg reveals why he initially resisted his Boogie Nights casting. Wahlberg played Eddie Adams turned porn star Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed 1997 film Boogie Nights. Boogie Nights went on to become one of the quintessential films of the 1990s, being nominated for three Oscars including Best Original Screenplay for Anderson, and Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role for Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore, respectively. Wahlberg admits that he almost turned down his role in Boogie Nights.

Mark Wahlberg reflects on his initial reluctance to star in Boogie Nights due to concerns about being exploited. Wahlberg discusses how his career as a producer allowed him to take control of his own destiny in Hollywood. The Transformers star reveals that he may not continue acting at the same pace, as he plans to focus on other business ventures and spend more time with his family.

In a new interview with Cigar Aficionado (via The Hollywood Reporter), star Mark Wahlberg discussed his career in Hollywood and reflected on his initial reluctance to star in the 1997 classic Boogie Nights due to concerns about potentially being exploited.

The drama film Boogie Nights was directed and written by Paul Thomas Anderson. In addition to Wahlberg, the film also features Luis Guzman, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Rico Bueno, John C. Reilly, Nicole Ari Parker, Heather Graham, William H. Macy, Don Cheadle, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Welcome to Creators on the Rise, where we find and profile breakout creators who are in the midst of extraordinary growth.

One very small bee changed things for Eddy Adams.

Adams is, in his own words, “a little bit older than the demographic of the new social media in general.” But not being Gen Z doesn’t mean he’s not computer savvy. He was “barely just out of diapers when I was starting to play around in 3D,” he says. His dad was the one who introduced him to three-dimensional design, and by the time Adams was ready for a career, he’d become an expert at 3D modeling and motion graphics. He did a decade of design work at an ad agency in Seattle, and when that shut down, he went freelance. One of his first solo clients was the Seattle Seahawks.

Then he found TikTok.

At the time,...

Mark Wahlberg leads the Father Stu cast along with a few more decorated film veterans and relatively newer stars associated with acclaimed TV shows. A biographical drama based on the life of boxer-turned-Catholic priest Father Stuart “Stu” Long, Father Stu is a tale of faith and redemption. Wahlberg’s protagonist starts off as an aimless slacker who finds a new purpose in life after he falls for a Sunday school teacher and becomes a man of faith himself. For a Christian-themed film, the R-rated biopic proved to be quite heavy on explicit language. Hence, a re-cut version titled Father Stu: Reborn was released a few months after the original’s release.

Despite raking in $21.8 million against a $4 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), Father Stu wasn’t exactly a critical masterpiece (despite a good share of audiences heavily praising Wahlberg’s earnest performance as the titular character). Its audience consensus...

Amy Adams and her Bond Group Entertainment production company have signed a first-look TV deal with Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content).

“Amy’s passion as an artist and her commitment to illuminating our shared humanity through complex characters in all genres aligns perfectly with what we want to do here at Fifth Season,” said Joe Hipps, president of TV development and production for Fifth Season. “We look forward to working with Amy, Stacy, and the rest of the Bond Group team.”

Bond Group Entertainment was founded by Adams and her manager, Stacy O’Neil, with a goal of elevating female creatives. Along with Adams and O’Neil, the Bond Group’s team includes head of development Kathleen Clifford and Eddie Adams, director of development. They will collaborate with Hipps and his team to develop series across all platforms, with many reportedly based on books.

“We are so looking forward to collaborating...

Amy Adams has signed a multi-year first-look television deal with Fifth Season, formerly Endeavor Content, through her production company Bond Group Entertainment.

As part of the deal, Adams will collaborate with Fifth Season’s TV studio team to develop series across platforms, primarily originating from best-selling book IP. She will work with her manager Stacy O’Neil, as well as Kathleen Clifford, Head of Development, and Eddie Adams, Director of Development.

Adams previously signed a first look deal with HBO upon launching Bond Group Entertainment in 2019.

Bond Group Entertainment is currently in development on Kings of America for Netflix as well as Willa of the Wood, Finding the Mother Tree, Nightbitch and Outlawed. Adams executive produced HBO’s miniseries Sharp Objects and the upcoming sequel to Enchanted titled Disenchanted, both of which she also stars in.

“Amy’s passion as an artist and her commitment to illuminating our shared humanity through...

Click here to read the full article.

Amy Adams is putting down roots for her Bond Group Entertainment banner.

The six-time Oscar nominee has signed a multiple-year, first-look TV deal with Fifth Season, the studio formerly known as Endeavor Content.

Under the pact, Adams, manager Stacy O’Neil and Bond Group’s vp TV development Kathleen Clifford and director of development Eddie Adams will work with Fifth Season’s TV studio team to create new projects for the studio, with a focus on best-selling books and on amplifying underrepresented voices.

“Amy’s passion as an artist and her commitment to illuminating our shared humanity through complex characters in all genres aligns perfectly with what we want to do here at Fifth Season,” said Joe Hipps, president of TV development and production at Fifth Season. “We look forward to working with Amy, Stacy and the rest of the Bond Group team.”

Bond...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Boogie Nights" (1997)

Where You Can Stream It: Netflix

The Pitch: "Boogie Nights" follows the story of nightclub dishwasher high school student Eddie Adams, played by Mark Wahlberg. He longs to break free from the confines of his 1970s suburban home, where he lives with an emotionally abusive mother (Joanna Gleason) who doesn't understand him. But when he meets a charismatic porn director (Burt Reynolds) who emboldens something within him, he transitions into a life of celebrity and excess as he becomes the biggest porn star of the decade: Dirk Diggler.

Why It's Essential Viewing

Paul Thomas Anderson's second feature film has a reputation that precedes it. At this point, the movie has certainly achieved its fair share of recognition,...

Chicago – The 9th Chicago Critics Film Festival (Ccff) is on Day Four, and will feature the film “Boogie Nights” – directed by Paul Thomas Anderson – in a special 25th Anniversary screening. The Fest continues through May 19th, click Ccff for schedule and ticket info.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

“Boogie Nights” (1997) not only serves as one of the great films of the 1990s, but also has one of the great casts of that era, many of them early in their soon-to-be-iconic careers. Mark Wahlberg is Eddie Adams, a high school drop out in 1977, who is washing dishes in a nightclub when he is “discovered” by Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), a notorious director of porn films. As Dirk Diggler, Eddie soon has unexpected success, and joins a disjointed “family” of porn stars which includes Roller Girl (Heather Graham), Amber and Reed (John C. Reilly), in addition to production crew “Little Bill” (William H. Macy) and Scotty J.

Susan Morgan Cooper is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and producer. After she had spent her childhood and youth in Wales she went to the USA where she became interested in film editing. In the 90s she spent time in Croatia which resulted in the making of her first documentary “Mirjana – One Girl’s Journey” which was inspired by a 16-year-old girl she met there, her life story and the how she and her family had been affected by the Balkan War. Over the years Cooper has helmed many documentaries, such as the highly acclaimed “An Unlikely Weapon” about Eddie Adams, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, as well as “Hopper: In His Own Words” which tells the story of actor Dennis Hopper.

Cooper also directed “Mulberry Child“, a documentary based on a memoir written by Jian Ping which deals with the relationship with her daughter, her times in China during the Cultural...

Exclusive: Amy Adams’ Bond Group and eOne are to produce a television adaptation of Robert Beatty’s fantasy thriller Willa of the Wood.

The Ya project is the latest development for Adams’ nascent company Bond Group Entertainment, which the Arrival and Vice star established with her manager Stacy O’Neil. It also sees Adams reunite with eOne, with whom she worked with on Sharp Objects, the HBO thriller based on the book by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn.

Willa of the Wood is set in a dark, mysterious forest where its ancient inhabitants, known as the Faeran, don’t trust the destructive, tree-cutting humans. Willa, the clan’s best forager and thief, has been taught to avoid humans at all costs. As Willa’s adventures offer her insight about mankind, she becomes a bridge between two competing worlds, but soon encounters conflict from all sides.

The two companies are to adapt Willa of the Wood,...

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday.

This week’s question: In honor of Lady Gaga’s turn in “A Star Is Born,” what is the best performance by a musician in a movie?

Carl Broughton II (@Carlislegendary), writer for thefilmera

Best performance by a musician in a movie is a tough debate, but I have to give it to Eminem in “8 Mile”. I can’t even tell you how many times I watched this movie in my life, yet alone referenced it. Eminem’s acting is convincing, and when the emotional moments in the movie hit they hit hard. Eminem says the film is loosely based on his life, but it honestly feels like your watching an biography of how Eminem made it to success. I think that is what makes his performance memorable all these years later.

Mark Wahlberg paid tribute to his “Boogie Nights” co-star and friend, Burt Reynolds, who died of cardiac arrest at the age of 82 on Thursday.

He posted a picture of the two in a scene from the 1997 Oscar-winning Paul Thomas Anderson film, captioning it, “Rest in peace to a legend and a friend. #BurtReynolds.”

Others who have worked with Reynolds, such as Reba McEntire and Paul Wesley, also paid tribute to the late star.

Rest in peace to a legend and a friend. #BurtReynolds pic.twitter.com/HnmCCTv1d1

— Mark Wahlberg (@markwahlberg) September 6, 2018

“Boogie Nights” depicted the rise and fall of pornographic actor, Dirk Diggler, whose real name is Eddie Adams. Wahlberg played Adams while Reynolds played pornographic filmmaker Jack Horner, who first discovers Adams and launches him to fame.

The film garnered critical acclaim and landed Reynolds a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor as well as an Oscar nomination for his role.

This podcast focuses on Criterion’s Eclipse Series of DVDs. Hosts David Blakeslee and Trevor Berrett give an overview of each box and offer their perspectives on the unique treasures they find inside. In this episode, David and Trevor are joined by Aaron West to conclude their conversation about Eclipse Series 21: Oshima’s Outlaw Sixties. They discuss Sing a Song of Sex, Japanese Summer: Double Suicide and Three Resurrected Drunkards, the final three films in the set.

About the films:

Often called the Godard of the East, Japanese director Nagisa Oshima was one of the most provocative film artists of the twentieth century, and his works challenged and shocked the cinematic world for decades. Following his rise to prominence at Shochiku, Oshima struck out to form his own production company, Sozo-sha, in the early sixties. That move ushered in the prolific period of his career that gave birth to the five films collected here.

Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Travis Keune, and Tom Stockman

Burt Reynolds, one of We Are Movie Geeks favorite actors, turns 80 today. Happy Birthday Burt!

On February 11th, 1936, Reynolds was born in Waycross, Georgia, before his family moved to Jupiter Florida, where his father served as Chief of Police. Young Burt excelled at sports and played football at Florida State University. He became an All Star Southern Conference halfback (and was earmarked by the Baltimore Colts) before injuries sidelined his football career. He dropped out of college and headed to New York with dreams of becoming an actor. There he worked in restaurants and clubs while pulling the odd TV job or theater role. Burt was spotted in a New York City stage production of Mister Roberts and signed to a TV contract and eventually had recurring roles in such shows as Gunsmoke (1955), Riverboat (1959) and his own series, Hawk...

By Alex Simon

Influenced by legendary names in the movie poster trade such as Amsel, Drew Struzan, John Alvin, the brothers Hildebrandt, and Tom Jung, artist Ciara McAvoy works almost exclusively in oils for her much sought-after movie posters. However, she has built a broad repertoire of skills in other media (acrylic, watercolor, graphite, charcoal, and pastels) as well as storyboarding, animation, character design, and matte painting. She studied at L'École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, where she obtained her Diplôme Supérieur d'Art Plastique (D.S.A.P). Later, she expanded her artistic skill set to include costume design and historical fashion, which now play an integral supporting role in her posters and illustrations. She describes her modus operandi as “photorealism applied to movie posters.”

Her most recent work to soon go public is the poster for Paul McGuigan’s Victor Frankenstein, set for release in November. The trailer for the film,...

If the ‘faith and family’ film-makers’ task is to proselytize, they are doing a wretched job with these cheap, risible films

If you just can’t wait for that first Republican primary debate to get some vague talking points about duty, honor and the healing power of Christ’s love inarticulately blurted in your face, have I got the movie for you! PureFlix Entertainment, the Arizona-based purveyor of (per their subscription-based streaming website) “faith and family movies” that hit big with God’s Not Dead, has followed up the recent Old Fashioned and Do You Believe? with their worst movie yet. At least the others had ludicrous storylines worthy of ridicule. This one is just plain boring.

It’s 1997, and California-based nice guy John Paul George (Kevin Downes) is readying to marry his longtime girlfriend whose sole ambition in life is the preparation of home-cooked meals. John Paul’s mother recently passed and,...

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Shirley Temple, and Oscar movies: Library of Congress’ March 2014 screenings (photo: Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote in ‘Capote’) Tributes to the recently deceased Shirley Temple and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and several Academy Award-nominated and -winning films are among the March 2014 screenings at the Library of Congress’ Packard Campus Theater and, in collaboration with the Library’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, The State Theatre, both located in Culpeper, Virginia. The 1934 sentimental comedy-drama Little Miss Marker (March 6, Packard) is the movie that turned six-year-old Shirley Temple into a major film star. Temple would become the biggest domestic box-office draw of the mid-1930s, and, Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Sonja Henie, Don Ameche, Loretta Young, and Madeleine Carroll notwithstanding, would remain 20th Century Fox’s top star until later in the decade. Directed by Alexander Hall (Here Comes Mr. Jordan, My Sister Eileen), Little Miss Marker — actually, a Paramount...

For the second coming of Jason Reitman’s (Labor Day) now infamous Live Read program to the Toronto International Film Festival, the young auteur has yet again assembled an all-star cast to tackle one of his (and everyone else’s) all-time favorite films. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights premiered at Tiff in the now defunct Uptown Theatre in 1997, the ensuing commotion causing an unpredicted street shutdown.

Reitman himself – his father in supportive attendance – excitedly introduced the event, declaring these reads even more fun than making actual films and announcing he and the cast would be working from a version of the original shooting script that would include select deleted scenes and alternate lines. Then our actors were introduced.

Dane Cook appeared to be at least the second-biggest fan on stage, enthusiastically delivering a spot-on Luis Guzman impression as Maurice Rodriguez, ideally timing Reed Rothchild’s lines – a scant helping...

There is an old saying in Hollywood. If you take it all off, you will win. Well, it may not be a saying, and it may not be entirely true. Though we’ve seen actresses like Halle Berry and Anne Hathaway get a lot of critical acclaim for movies where they showed a bit of skin, men in Hollywood haven’t had as much success winning over critics for their ballsy roles (pun intended). Let’s face it, in this day and age it’s less taboo for a man to go full frontal in cinema than for a woman.

This past week, it was announced that the pinnacle of men baring it all movies, Magic Mike, may be g-stringing its way to the Great White Way in a musical adaptation. In honor of this announcement, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite male celebs who have...

How's Mark Wahlberg done it? When he's not causing ripples on the Graham Norton show, or claiming he knows who's going to win the Oscars Before the ceremony, the artist formerly known as Markie Mark is one of Hollywood's biggest players, with a catalogue of producer credits ('Entourage', 'Boardwalk Empire') as well as his own impressive acting roster.

So how has the former Calvin Klein model with a troubling back-history reinvented himself so completely? To celebrate today's DVD release of his latest film 'Broken City', we chart his transformation in six easy steps...

Boogie Nights (1997)

A major turning point in the career of Wahlberg. Playing Eddie Adams on the verge of dropping out of high school, Adams meets Rick Horner, who works in the adult film industry. Adams is morphed into a rising actor by the name of Dirk Diggler and begins his life...

The new season of Mad Men kicks off this Sunday (read our review of the premiere here). As usual, the plot of the new season remains shrouded in mystery; the only photos that have surfaced so far show Don and Megan Draper lounging on a beach in Hawaii, which could mean that Mad Men is transforming into Mad Men: Hawaii, and the new season will be all about the Drapers’ wacky attempt to run a hotel in Maui. More likely, though, Mad Men’s sixth season will once again track the employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce as they...

Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Travis Keune, and Tom Stockman

We like to celebrate the movie tough guys of the ’70s here at We Are Movie Geeks and at Super-8 Movie Madness. We’ve posted Top Ten lists to tie into Super-8 shows featuring Charles Bronson (Here), Clint Eastwood (Here), and Lee Marvin (Here). This month we’re going to honor the #1 top money-making star for five consecutive years – 1978 – 1982 – Burt Reynolds. On February 11th, 1936, Reynolds was born in Waycross, Georgia, before his family moved to Jupiter Florida, where his father served as Chief of Police. Young Burt excelled at sports and played football at Florida State University. He became an All Star Southern Conference halfback (and was earmarked by the Baltimore Colts) before injuries sidelined his football career. He dropped out of college and headed to New York with dreams of becoming an actor. There he worked in restaurants...

Tweet This! Share this on Facebook Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on del.icio.us Share this on LinkedIn

Boogie Nights (1997, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson) is packed with vintage clothing delights. Even though costume designer Mark Bridges generally eschewed more obvious 1970s/early 80s trends due to a recent retro fashion revival, the movie is still completely identifiable with both of these periods. Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) and Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) are two of the film’s most interesting characters in terms of costume, especially how their outfits seem at times to be simpatico, although, as we discover with exclusive insight from Mark Bridges himself, this was not intentional: “Fifteen years after designing the film you mention something to me I never noticed!”

Of course there are other notable players, such as established porn star Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly) in a tight dirt bike print t-shirt,...

Best known for its outrageous homages to cultural icons, including fun references to films and television shows past, as Psych prepares for its sixth season, stars James Roday and Dule Hill chatted a bit “tongue in cheek” with the press in a recent conference call about to expect as the hysterical series about a fake psychic detective returns.

Could you talk a little about the upcoming Halloween, Indiana Jones, and Cuckoo’s Nest-inspired episodes?

James: Yes, we did in fact deliver on those other ones. Those are in the can. Those are fully produced and being mixed.

Dule: We also have a “Shining” episode this year too.

James: “Shining” is what you get in place of “Clue.” So we still felt like we should swing big. Halloween is the vampire episode. And I think it’s airing the week of Halloween.

Are there any special guest stars in the Halloween episode?...

As with the 2009 original, the basic model for The Hangover Part II isn’t the Ferrell-Sandler-Carrell-Vaughn comedies but the noir quicksands of Maté’s D.O.A. and Nolan’s Memento, where dying or amnesic protagonists scramble to decipher the vortexes they’re in. The first film remained fairly repellent in its view of frat-house regression unquestioningly papered over with massive smirks, so it’s a nifty surprise to see Todd Phillips’s sequel willing to smear a dash of grime on the original’s outlandish morning-after routines even as it virtually recreates them. As the action shifts from Las Vegas to Bangkok and their dazed characters experience severed body parts and invaded orifices, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis amp up their screen personas—Alpha douchebag, elongated nervous Nellie and Zen Lou Costello, respectively—to an interestingly unpleasant degree, positing a stark comic version of the Hostel films...

General Nguyen Ngoc Loan executing a Viet Cong prisoner in Saigon

Photo: Eddie Adams In case you don't know what I'm referring to, at the end of The Hangover Part II, just like the first film, there is a photo montage of what really went down during the forgotten night the film revolves around. Among the debauchery on display there is what appears to be a recreation of Eddie Adams' Pulitzer Prize-winning photo you see above. Two characters from the film (I'm sorry, I don't remember which characters they were, maybe someone can help us out in the comments) recreate the photo with one holding a gun to the head of the other. It's brief, but I saw it and I wasn't alone, though reactions to the photo seem to vary.

When I saw it, I thought to myself, Nah, that couldn't have been an example of the Hangover...

Boogie Nights (1997), Paul Thomas Anderson's follow-up to his stellar chamber/crime drama Hard Eight (Aka Sydney, 1996), is a film that has stayed with me since I saw it as a freshman or sophomore in high school. Contrary to what may be your gut reaction, my favorable reaction to the film was not inspired by the nude beauty of either Julianne Moore or Heather Graham. Rather than being swept away by the sensual presence of the female form, I was dazzled and intoxicated by Anderson's embrace of film form to capture the tone and mood of what is essentially a three-hour version of a VH1 "Behind the Music" special except, in this case, the story is the rise and fall of a porn star primarily; Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) only attempts to be a pop star...poorly.

When the film begins in the late 1970s at a discotheque in the San Fernando Valley,...

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most talented and most frustrating of the artists to emerge from the mid-90’s boom of next-generation film school brats. Though his first film was shuffled and recut, his sophomore effort was launched like the second coming. That film is Boogie Nights (1997), which - without setting the world on fire - became something of a cult hit, doing well enough to launch Anderson as a serious director. His follow up - 1999’s Magnolia - was viewed less favorably, though it too had its staunch defenders. With his cadre of returning players (Julianne Moore, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Luis Guzman, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Phillip Baker Hall, Ricky Jay, and William H. Macy), and stars like Tom Cruise, and Mark Wahlberg, Anderson was both one of the most successful (critically) and least successful (fiscally) of the new auteurs. My reviews of Boogie Nights and Magnolia after jump.

Chicago – Has any director watched their reputation rise as rapidly as the amazing Paul Thomas Anderson? With only five films under his belt - “Hard Eight,” “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” “Punch-Drunk Love,” and “There Will Be Blood” - the man has become one of the most respected and adored filmmakers in the world. Why? He not only hasn’t made a bad film, he hasn’t even come close. His second and third are now available on Blu-ray.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

P. T. Anderson’s incredible eye (and the perfect cinematography of Robert Elswit) makes for a perfect fit with the world of Blu-ray. Put simply, “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia” look amazing in 1080p. These are the kind of films (“There Will Be Blood” even more so) meant to be watched with pristine video as large as you can possibly see it. They are worlds to get lost in. Don’t watch...

The rise and fall of a star is not a tale that is new to cinema screens. Setting that erection (cough, cough) and subsequent deflation of a career within the porno industry is a new diggle though. Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) was born to be a star. It.s not that he.s the greatest actor of his generation, but that his endowment arises from below his waist. He works at Maurice.s (Louis Guzman, character actor extraordinaire) nightclub and is introduced to porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who senses something about the boy and has Rollergirl (Heather Graham) inspect the goods. Horner gets told of Eddie.s talents and invites the lad to be in one of his films.

It seems that Paul Thomas Anderson's breakthrough film will be coming to Blu-ray in the very near future. Warner Home Video just announced today that Boogie Nights will be released on Blu-ray next week, on January 19. The new Bd disc will be priced at $28.99 Srp and you can take a look at the cover art and special features below. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Heather Graham, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy and John C. Reilly. From writer/director P.T. Anderson comes the turbulehnt behind-the-scenes story of an extended family of filmmakers who set out to revolutionize the adult entertainment industry in the seventies. Idealistic producer Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) has always dreamed of elevating his films into an art form. When he discovers young actor Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), Jack begins to turn his dreams into reality. Under the stage name of Dirk Diggler, Eddie...