Boogie Nights

“I am a star. I am a big, bright, shining star.” So ends Boogie Nights, PTA’s colorful, explosive second feature, with pornstar Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) hyping himself up in a mirror before a shoot. That brashness and nervous energy defines both film and director, as PTA shifts from the relatively small-scale production of Hard Eight to the much more expansive setting of the porn industry of the 1970s and 80s San Fernando Valley. Dirk’s self-affirming proclamation may as well be a statement of intent for the director in releasing his proper introduction to the world.

Along with chronicling the rise, fall, and potential redemption of the young Dirk, Boogie Nights also traces the shift from analog to digital media and cements PTA’s enduring thematic interest in found families. He draws on his love of Robert Altman’s films to assemble a cast of characters as dynamic as they are broken, and a propulsive energy drives the film with the drug-fueled chaos of their lives occasionally collapsing into moments of despair, delusion, and, in the best moments, self-awareness.

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A lit theater marquee with the words
A lit vertical sign that reads
A street with people walking and driving and the words
A man kisses a woman on the cheek as another man stands beside her.
A man greets a group of people on a dance floor.
A girl stands before a couple sitting at one of a nightclub's booths.
A teenage boy works in a nightclub.
A man sits at a table in a nightclub.
A teenage boy works in a nightclub.
A man stands in a nightclub.
A man sits at a table in a nightclub while another man kneels next to him.
A man peeks through a serving hatch in a nightclub's kitchen.
A teenage boy works in a kitchen.
A man stands in a kitchen doorway.
A teenage boy talks to a man in a kitchen.
A man shakes a teenage boy's hand.
A neon sign that reads
A teenage boy walks down a dark sidewalk.
A teenage boy crosses a crosswalk while looking behind him.
A woman enters a house as a man closes the front door behind her.
A man and woman kiss.
A dark living room.
A man stands at his at-home bar.
A hand on a cup with ice.
A hand pours out pills from a bottle.
A rotary dial phone.
A pair of manicured hands snorts drugs with rolled up money.
A woman talks on the phone as she sits on her bed.
A man walks through the front door of his home.
A man enters his bedroom in shock.
A man and woman having sex look up at a man offscreen.
A teenage boy enters his dark home.
A man shuts his bedroom door and reaches for a light switch.
A teenage boy's bedroom.
A teenage boy stands in front of his mirror in his underwear.
A gas burner
Sausages being fried
Coffee being poured into mug
Woman in kitchen preparing breakfast
Boy sitting at table eats breakfast
Man kisses woman on the cheek
Man and boy sit at table and eat breakfast
Close-up of plaque reading
Picture of a man in a cowboy hat smiling
Close-up of nametag reading
Close-up of stereo controls
Man wearing nametag speaks to man
Man crosses his arms, looks dubious
Man at desk side-eyes men off screen
Man gestures passionately
Man resting on stereo equipment watches man walk away
Two men speak to each other
Man looks scared
Close-up of speaker
Close-up of American flag and chalk board
Drawing of two men wrestling
Boy passes something to girl behind him
Boy makes inappropriate gesture in classroom
Girl side-eyes boy
Girl walks out of classroom
Close-up of horse sculpture
Different figurines on a mantle
Horse figurines
Boy bounces on top of girl in bed
Girl smokes joint under boy
Boy looks down
Boy and girl face each other in bed
Man whispers in girl's ear
Man smokes cigar and looks offscreen
Girl skates down hallway
Boy stacks rack of glasses, looks at girl in roller skates
Girl presses hand against boy's chest
Girl unbuttons boy's jeans
Girl looks up at boy
Boy on street speaks to group in car
A group of four sits at a diner
Woman and man sit next to each other
Boy looks across table
Boy and girl sit next to each other
Man speaks to boy
Man and boy sit in living room, woman stands in bar
Girl crouches in living room
Boy looks in awe
Girl smiles and grabs skirt
Naked girl lays on top of boy
Man watches boy and girl off screen
Woman sits in darkness
Boy walks into living room, looks at woman
Boy looks at woman with shocked face
Woman yells at boy off screen
Woman squeezes boy's face
Man sits and listens to commotion off screen
Woman tears down posters
Boy cries dramatically
Boy grabs onto woman
Boy leaves house
Woman yells from door
Man opens door
Boy walks toward door
Man and boy walk toward pool
A group of four speak
A group of three speak by the bar
Close-up on camera reading
Boy and man look off screen
Girl takes photo
A group of cars
Driver opens car door
Man in suit steps out of car
Old man in sunglasses
Woman in pink sunglasses smiles
Man introduces woman to man
Two people sit at table, party goers walk behind them
Man and woman have conversation at table
Woman comes up to man at table
People swimming in pool
Heads poking out of pool, party goers sit around pool
Man braces himself before jumping into pool
Man flips into pool
Man makes a pained expression underwater
Party goers swim in water and sit around pool
Two men talk in kitchen
Man answers phone
Man asks crowd question
Woman snorts line, people around her smoke cigarettes
Boy jumps into pool
Woman watches boy
Man walks downstairs
A group of people stand around a couple on the floor
Man watches group off screen
A group of people look down
Woman underneath man speaks
Two men speak, man looks at group behind him
Two men in suits walk
Woman with intense nose bleed lays on top of shirtless man
Three men look down
Three men look down at woman with nosebleed
Man cries
Man speaks
Man looks down at unconscious girl with nosebleed
Men carry woman outside
Man with sunglasses
Camera lens zeroes in on man in chair
Man standing talks to two men sitting down
Man speaks
Boy smiles
Man speaks
Three men speak
People stand around
Three men speak
Two men shake hands
Man in sunglasses speaks
Boy looks confused
Man smokes cigar
Boy runs to pool
Boy jumps into pool
Two men sit in hot tub
Man takes off shirt to get into hot tub
Boy faces two men in hot tub
Man smokes cigar in hot tub
Neon blue sign with yellow stars reading
Sign reading
Three men in hot tub
An empty office.
Two men stand talking surrounded by filming equipment.
Two men look though books as they stand in a filming studio.
A man lights a cigarette while surrounded by people on a film set.
Two men talk to each other.
A woman in a white bathrobe exits a film studio as a man watches her walk away and another man sits writing something down.
A man sits alone in a dressing room.
An assistant walks into a man's dressing room.
A man looks down.
A man practices poses in front of a dressing room mirror.
Two men walk down a hallway.
Two men enter a film set.
A man leads another man onto a film set.
Three people stand talking to each other as one of the trio looks away.
Three people stand talking to each other on a film set.
A man leans in to speak in another man's ear.
A man and a woman stand in a film set of an office.
A woman places her hand under a man's chin.
Two men stand behind a film set.
A man stands behind a prop closed door.
A woman sits at a prop desk.
Two actors in a scene on camera.
A man stands behind a film camera as another man stands beside him.
A man looks down.
A man holds a boom to capture a scene's sound.
Two actors sit in chairs as they lean to the side to watch a scene being shot.
A woman looks up at a man offscreen.
A man and woman kiss.
A man and woman kiss naked.
A man stares at actors offscreen.
A film camera zooming in.
A film camera lens.
The inside mechanism of a film camera.
A film crew filming a scene.
Two actors listen to a film crew member talk to them.
A man turns away from two actors.
A man stands behind a film camera as another man sits in his director's chair.
Two actors have sex on camera.
Two actors have sex.
A film crew watches actors offscreen.
A crew walks onto a film set that just stopped filming.
A crew walks onto a film set that just stopped filming.
A director talks to his assistant.
Actors and a boom operator on a film set.
A needle on a record player.
A group of people in a house.
A girl takes a picture with a camera.
A group of people pose for a picture.
A camera flash.
A trio of men look at shoes in a shoe store.
Two men look at a shoes in a shoe store.
A man pulls out a shirt from a clothing rack.
Men try on shirts in a clothing store.
A man looks uncomfortable in a shirt he tries on.
A lit up dance floor.
A group of people sit around a booth in a nightclub.
A group of people sit around a booth in a nightclub.
A man kisses a woman's hand.
A man and a woman talk.
A man and woman in a nightclub.
A man walks into a nightclub.
A man performs a magic trick for another man.
A man looks perplexed at another man.
Two men talk in a nightclub.
A film crew sets up a shot.
Two men and a woman in a bedroom.
A director talks to his actors offscreen.
A man and a woman on a bed looking over their shoulders.
A group of people running outside of a theater.
A theater marquee showing a movie called
A red background.
Two men sit in a living room.
A man reads a film review.
A group of people sit in a living room.
A man reads a film review aloud.
A film review.
A film review zoomed in on the word
Part of a word on the left side of the screen with a man sitting in a chair at a hair salon on the right.
The screen broken into thirds showing scrawling words, a man in a salon chair, and a woman laying on a bed.
The screen broken into thirds showing scrawling words, a man fluffing his hair, and a couple in a bedroom.
The screen broken into fourths showing the same man posing, fluffing his hair, having sex with a woman, and dancing.
A packed nightclub.
A group of people dancing on a dance floor.
A group of people dancing on a dance floor.
A man dances on a dance floor.
A van driving down the road.
A man smokes a cigarette in the back of a van.
Two men sit in the back of a van.
A man smiles awkwardly.
A man talks to another man offscreen.
Three men sit in the back of a van.
A podium on a stage for the
A women cheering at an awards show podium.
A man standing behind the podium of an awards show.
A woman smiles as she announces the winner of an award.
A man looks stunned as he looks at the woman next to him.
A man walks through a crowded room to accept an award.
A man raises his hand in the air in thanks after winning an award.
A man gives a speech as he accepts an award.
An awards night with a room of seated people.
People sit intently as they listen to a man give a speech.
A man gives a speech as he accepts an award.
A bright flash.
A man raises his hands in the air in celebration after winning an award.
A man celebrates on stage after winning an award.
A film crew member setting up a shot with the date
A couple seated at a restaurant table as another woman stands next to the table.
A woman approaches a man at a bar.
A bartender.
A man and woman at a bar.
A woman crawls on a bed in a dark room.
A man stands in front of a woman naked.
A woman looks down.
Two men walking in monochrome outfits with the words
A man running angrily with a pistol.
A man aiming his gun at the camera with the words
A man kicking his leg up with the words
A man with a gun and the words
Two men fight another man on the ground.
The words
Two men talking.
Establishing shot of a house
Three people chat and drink
Curtains with the initials
Man and woman kiss in front of painting
Woman smooths out wrinkles on bed
Woman walks underneath mirror
Man and woman stand next to each other
Man examines car, woman watches him
Three men stand around a set
Two men watch off screen
Man smiles nervously
Man holds up award and grimaces
Woman stands in front of sign, sign reads
Man and woman hold hands and speak
Man frowns
Man speaks
Two men speak while group behind watches them
Woman and boy speak
Woman looks off screen
A man sits at a table alone and frowns
Woman stands in front of man, he smiles
Two men speak with drinks in their hands
Man and woman speak
Man and woman sit on bed and have a conversation
Man and woman kiss
Man speaks to man off screen
Three men speak in a room
Man speaks to man across desk
Man smokes cigar/blunt (?)
Man grabs other man in excitement
a group of men speak
Man crossing his arms sits on car
Man walks toward man on car
Man attempts to kiss man
Man speaks to man
Man walks away
Man sobs in car
Man exclaims something with his arms out
Man walking turns around
Man walks into room
Man exits car
Man points gun into room
A crowd of people gasp and look scared
Man shoots himself in the head
A black screen reading
Man smokes a cigarette and sits at table
Two people wrestle in bed, text reads
Man smokes a cigarette and gestures with his hands. Text reads
A girl looks toward off screen, text reads
Two men sit in a room, text reads
A man speaks and points his finger
A man looks into the horizon, text reads
Woman presses a button
A man and woman speak
A man looks off screen as another man talks to him
A man picks up the phone
A man on the phone smokes a cigar
A man speaks on the phone
Man speaks on the phone sternly
A man sobs behind a glass divider
A woman smiles
Man speaks
A camera flashes (?)
A man and woman kiss
Black and white photo of a wedding party
A man cuts a slice of cake, caption reads
Woman and man speak as a woman sits in front of them
Three people sit around a table
Man looks down
Two men sit in a booth
Three men speak at a table
Two men walk through a door
Two men sit on couch and snort cocaine. Text on screen reads
Sweaty man watches something off screen
Woman kneels down and talks to boy in pool
Man sweats profusely
Man looks at himself in the mirror and rubs his face
Man walks toward group of men
Man yells at boy while others watch
Man surrounded by group of men speaks sternly to a man in front of him
Man holds his hands up and is held back by woman
Man holds man's face back with his hand
Man walks off into distance, other man yells toward off screen
Woman looks off to the side
Man crosses arm across his chest nervously
Man sings in recording studio
Two men in recording studio, text reads
Man sings passionately
Men looks into recording space, one man dances
Two men speak in recording studio
Man speaks, other man looks toward other man
Three men listen to song, one covers hands with his mouth
Two men in a recording studio, one plays guitar and the other sings
A woman lays naked on the couch
Man and boy talk
Man stares off screen
Two women sit on bed, one woman snorts a line
Woman speaks excitedly
Woman smiles
Three people talk
Man presses push button
Man holding camera yells
Woman licks thong while other woman is handcuffed to her
Boy stares off screen, text reads
Boy squats, text reads
Boy points gun at camera, text reads
Man comes down hallway, other man stands at counter
Two men sit on couch and chair
Man runs down hallway, other man reaches in cabinet
Man in shirt holds coke bag
Two men look up in shock and confusion
Man snorts line
Sweaty man stares
Man snorts line
Man speaks
Groups of people in a bank
Man stares across desk
Man and woman look at each other
Woman snorts line
Two women speak in bed
Woman cries and speaks to other woman
Two women hug while woman cries
Two women hug
Three men speak in hallway
Man speaks earnestly
Three men speak
Woman scrapes coke residue from plate
Woman paces across room
Woman sits on the bed and looks off screen
Woman cries manically
Man yells at man off screen
Men stand around hallway
Man speaks with woman next to him
A man speaks across a desk
Man snorts a line of cocaine
Man walks through warehouse
A man writes on clipboard
A man talks to man off screen, a movie plays on the TV behind him
Fade of a man walking down a hallway and a woman sitting at table
A woman sits at a table
A woman shakes another woman's hand
A woman scratches the back of her head, text reads
Two men take their places at table
Three people sit at a table, one man stands and prepares his papers
Two men sit side by side at a table
A woman speaks
A woman sobs
Recording of man speaking in limo, text reads
Recording of man and woman in limo
A man stands on the sidewalk and speaks to man in car
A car parked in an empty lot
Man looks at other man in car
Recording of man in limo speaking to a man outside through car window
Recording of woman in limo
Man speaks to man in car
Recording of man and woman in limo
Recording of man speaking
Recording of woman
Recording of woman smiling awkwardly
Man watches man jerk off in car
Man jerks off in car
Recording of a man and woman having sex in a limo
Man and woman covered in lipstick look at each other
Three men sit in back of limo
Man looks at something off screen
Man gets pushed to the ground
A group of menacing looking men sit in car
Man attempts to stop man from punching man on the floor
A group of men pull men from truck
Bloodied man on the ground
Woman sits in car with the door open and watches off screen
A group of men beat up man on the ground
Man gets pulled back by two men
Woman stomps on man
Man gets out of car
Man lays unconscious on street
Man grabs money from man's pocket
Man looks down with disgust
A group of men pulls a woman away
Cars drive out of lot
Car parks outside
Man and woman speak in car
Pregnant woman sits in car, man gets up to shut door
Man places order with cashier
Man examines donut selection
Man stands in front of cash register
Man comes into store holding gun
Man looks off screen
Man points gun and yells
Man held at gunpoint holds hands up
Man reading magazine watches off screen
Man ducks down toward safe while a gun is pointed at him
Man sits in booth
Man puts in key to safe
Man unlocks safe
Man grabs money from safe
A man points gun at cashier while another man points gun at the gunman
A man gets shot while holding gun
A man gets shot while holding gun
A man with blood on his face holds his hands up and cries
Man looks at three dead men in donut shop
A man covered in blood holds his hands up
A bloody dead man lays on the floor next to a bag of money
A man covered in blood looks down
An empty spot on a floor covered in blood
A black screen with text reading
A car drives past a building labeled
A red car parked outside motel
A red door labeled 15. Sign next to it reads
Three men sit around a table, one man stands in the back holding a deck of cards
Three men sit around table
Man makes shocked/ confused face
Man with scratches on his face speaks
Large bag of cocaine
Man grabs brown bag
Three men sit in car, one man holds up gun
Three men walk upstairs
Man grabs onto gate
Man looks through hole in door
Three men walk through gate
Man stands in front of fireplace
Three men walk into living room
Twi men shake hands
Man in a robe and underwear stands in front of men on couch
Three men sit on couch
Man points fingers up
Man speaks to man across from him
Two scared men look off screen
Gun hangs in man's robe
Man lights candle
Man smokes crack pipe
Three men sit on couch, two of them raise their hands
Man whispers into man's ear
Man looks through bag of cocaine
Man lights candle
Man holds with case
Man places case on table
Man picks up gun from satin lined case
Three men sit on couch
Man holds gun to his chin
Man holds gun and smiles maniacally
Speaker system
Tape reading
Speaker reading
Man makes gesture with his hands
Man stares blankly off screen
Two men look toward man off screen
Man sits on couch
Three men look toward off screen
Man speaks
Man points gun while two men stand behind him
Man points gun at man in robe
Man points gun toward off screen
Man falls down after getting shot
Man shoots guns off screen
Two men duck to avoid gunshots
Man points gun toward off screen
Man falls down after being shot
Two men hide behind a table and yell
Man speaks while crying
Man gets shot in chest
Man points rifle and screams
Man covers his head with his hands
Two men run towards car
Man on top of stairs holds rifle and looks down
Empty car, driver's seat door is open. Man far behind the car holds rifle
Man gets into car, back of car sparkles from being shot
A house with fairy lights out front
Man drives with one hand and covers his ear with the other
Sneaker pressing on gas pedal
Man holds rifle and watches car drive away
Man cries while driving car
Gas tank showing low gas
A red button reading
Man gets into of car
Exasperated man stands in front of car
Man walks toward man in kitchen
Man speaks to man in front of him
Two men hug in hallway
Woman cradles crying man in her lap
Woman cradles crying man in her lap
Man holds his hand up to his ear as if he can't hear
Three men stand outside stereo store. The sign above them reads
A man holds a sign reading
Girl in pink tank top looks out the window of a classroom
Man sitting on the floor of a jail cell cries
Neon pink sign reads
Man in magician outfit on stage holds hands on the side of his face
Woman in hospital bed giving birth while man holds her from behind
Man films woman giving birth
Hinges on back of truck
Three men unload back of truck
Two men talk in smokey kitchen
A man and woman talk
A man plays with a baby in a pool, a woman paints a picture
A man unpacks new speaker materials
A painting of a man
A man rests his chin on top of a woman's head
A woman looks at herself in a mirror
A man sits in front of a mirror
A man smokes a cigarette and looks at himself in the mirror
A man looks at his penis in the mirror
A man walks out of his dressing room
Black screen. Text reads
Black screen. Text reads
Black screen. Text reads