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Title: Boogie Nights: New Line Double Platinum Edition
Region: One
Genre: Drama
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, Nicole Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Feature length: 155 minutes
Extras: Feature Length Audio Commentary Track By Director Paul Thomas Anderson, Feature Length Audio Commentary Track With Paul Tomas Anderson And Actors Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, Luis Guzman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Mark Wahlberg, and Meldora Walters, The John C. Reilly Files, Ten Deleted Scenes, Cast And Crew Filmographies, "Try" Music Video, Bloopers, Music Selection Menu
Languages: English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 and English Stereo Surround 2.0
Subtitles: English Captions and French and Spanish Subtitles
Packaging: Box Slip Case
Chapter Stops: 37
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 1997/DVD Re-release: 2000
Theatrical Distributor: New Line Cinema
Home Video Distributor: New Line Home Video
MPAA Rating: R
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
It may be too early to say for sure in the next twenty years what young future filmmakers who are still in the crib will watch for inspiration the way people of my generation looked to Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, and Steven Spielberg as role models to study the craft of filmmaking among many other talented Writers and Directors alike, but I predict that Paul Thomas Anderson will enter that category of filmmakers, who will have his movies screened in film classes like the works of the Directors I have listed above have appeared on the screens of film classes across the country. While I think "Magnolia" is a better film, I think Anderson's "Boogie Nights" will ultimately be the film most aspiring filmmakers will watch aside from whatever he may produce in the future.
Now back on August 29, 2000 New Line Home Video released an excellent Double Platinum DVD release of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" and re-released "Boogie Nights" as a Double Platinum Set as well with a brand new anamorphic widescreen transfer in the film's (2.35:1) aspect ratio supervised by Lou Levinson and Paul Thomas Anderson. The results of the transfer are almost indistinguishable because the previous 1998 DVD release from New Line Home Video was very good to begin with, but evidently Mr. Anderson wanted it to be even better and has achieved a transfer is a bit darker and sharper than the previous release and even goes so far as to distinguish this new release as the definitive DVD release of "Boogie Nights" and this new version is not only the perfect companion for DVD buyers who have or are going to buy "Magnolia" on DVD, but it is definitely worth the upgrade if you are a fan of the film.
The soundtracks include a dynamic and full English Dolby Digital 5.1 Track and even a French Dolby Digital 5.1 Track as well as an ambient English Stereo Surround Soundtrack that will keep audiophiles happy and compliments the new transfer nicely. Also on the first DVD is the feature length audio commentary track by Writer Director Paul Thomas Anderson, which has more four letter words than a David Mamet play and imported from the previous Criterion Collection Laserdisc, the group commentary track featuring Paul Tomas Anderson and Actors Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, Luis Guzman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Mark Wahlberg, and Meldora Walters, which is great fun to listen to and shows the chemistry that made this ensemble film so great to watch.
One can also jump through the film to their favorite song from the soundtrack and view a listing of all the music that is available on three Audio CDs in stores now. The menus feature subtle animation on both discs, but is more esthetically in tune to the 70's styled artwork and design that can be found on the cover of the slip case box and within as well. The packaging is the same kind of packaging that can be found in New Line "Magnolia" DVD release. In the midst of the color bar options are some blooper outtakes that run only a few minutes, but are colorful to watch to say the least.
On the second DVD is some scratchy letterboxed video featuring Actor Jon C. Riley and there are also ten deleted scenes that are presented with great picture quality and feature the option of listening to Director Paul Thomas Anderson's commentary on the scenes, which is an option also made available in the anamorphic (2.35:1) presentation of the Michael Penn music video "Try" directed by Paul Thomas Anderson during the production of "Boogie Nights." The Cast Filmographies feature fiction background for the characters they played and both the cast and crew filmographies are extremely detailed. An essay entitled "The Swollen Boy" written by Film Comment Contributor Chuck Stephens appears within the insert disc holder.
The new edition of "Boogie Nights" is a great DVD release worth buying even if you had the previous release.
© Copyright 2000 By Mark A. Rivera