On the other hand, “Boogie Nights” is even more ambitious and provides a much more enjoyable experience as PTA explores the seedy world of the porn industry in the late 70s and early 80s. Like all his movies, the film is visually spectacular as PTA recreates the tacky world of the period, while introducing us to a series of memorable characters caught up in the wild world of porn. Unlike many of PTA’s other films, however, “Boogie Nights” also tells a coherent story that skillfully weaves together the lives of his characters and holds the audience’s attention through the end.

I recently re-watched the film for the umpteenth time and came away with several impressions:

Comeback Role for Burt Reynolds

The casting decisions here are flawless, and it all starts with Burt Reynolds as Jack Horner, the porn director who wants to be taken seriously as a filmmaker. Jack lives in a large, mid-century modern house with a large pool and bar in the back. It’s perfect for parties and porn shoots and just big enough for some of his regular actors and actresses to live there. Burt was 61 when he shot this film, sporting a salt & pepper hair piece and beard. He’s older and looks distinguished but still has sex appeal and loads of charisma. Jack serves as a sort of father-figure to the younger actors and actresses and Burt’s understated and nuanced portrayal of Jack is critical to this film. With that context, it was quite shocking to learn that Burt hated working with PTA and disliked the film.

The plot follows the rise and fall of a young, well-endowed kid who dreams of being a star. Mark Wahlberg does a fine job playing Eddie. He’s a sweet and friendly kid working as a dishwasher in a club in the Valley when Jack discovers him. He then takes on the stage name of Dirk Diggler, joining the band of misfits starring in Jack’s films.

Compelling Female Characters

The female characters in this film aren’t just pretty faces and nude bodies used to titillate the audience. Of course, the actresses are beautiful, and we get realistic glimpses of how their jobs involve having sex on film, but their stories are an essential part of Dirk’s journey and the world created by PTM.

Julianne Moore is brilliant and fearless in her role as Maggie. It’s a crime that she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Maggie is a veteran actress in the adult business and lives in Jack’s house, taking on the role of “mother” to the younger talent. Meanwhile, her chosen profession and drug use has led her husband to win full custody of their child.

Heather Graham plays the beautiful Rollergirl, a high school dropout who enthusiastically embraces her role as the all-natural blonde bombshell of porn. Her nude scenes as she strips down to have sex with Dirk for the first time is an obvious fan favorite. Then the camera cuts to Jack as he calmly and approvingly watches his young talent have sex on the couch in front of him.

Rollergirl’s story takes a dark turn later, offering another example of the damage this industry does to some who get involved. Meanwhile, others fare better and find a path to escape the porn business. Becky Barnett (Nicole Ari Parker) finds a husband who runs an auto parts store, while Jessie (Melora Walters) gets pregnant with Buck (Don Cheadle) along with a lucky break in life.

Plenty of Laughs

Along with telling a coherent story, PTA injects a healthy dose of humor into the characters and story of “Boogie Nights,” making it come across as less pretentious and self-indulgent than his other films.

Dirk has a sweet disposition until fame and drugs take their toll, but he’s an uneducated idiot. He’s sidekick in Jack’s porn empire, Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), is only slightly less clueless. Their “dumb and dumber” routine throughout the film leads to some hilarious scenes, starting with their first interaction by Jack’s pool. Their cringe-worthy scenes at the recording studio are priceless.

Don Cheadle’s Buck is also one of the funnier characters in the film as he ditches his black cowboy look for a ridiculous Rick James wig. Philip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious as Scotty every time he’s on the screen.

Rich Supporting Characters

There are so many layers to this film, and practically everyone in the supporting cast gets the opportunity to steal a scene or two with a memorable performance. Robert Ridgley is brilliant as The Colonel, the creepy financier of Jack’s film. The legendary Philip Baker Hall delivers an unforgettable scene as his character Floyd explains to Jack how the porn industry will be moving to videotape.

Iconic Soundtrack

PTA expertly creates the look at feel of the time period, punctuated by a fantastic soundtrack featuring pop, disco and soul hits from the late seventies and early eighties. One soundtrack was issued at the time of the film’s release, with another released the following year.

Several clips stand out. We’re introduced to Scotty with the playful “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate as Philip Seymour Hoffman brilliantly and awkwardly reveals his man crush on Dirk when he meets him by the pool. Watch the scene here.

Later we’re introduced to more characters at the New Year’s Eve party at Jack’s home with the opening guitar riff from the iconic “Driver’s Seat” by Sniff ‘n’ the Tears. The song kicks off as Philip Baker Hall makes his entrance as Floyd in his powder blue suit and runs into The Colonel. The song continues in the background until we get the classic entrance of the Todd Parker character played by Thomas Jane. Enjoy the scene here.

One of the more bizarre scenes of the film has a young and skinny Alfred Molina singing along to “Jessie’s Girl” by Rock Springfield as Dirk and his clueless friends find themselves in a dangerous situation. The film could have gone off the rails here but PTA pulls it together and makes it all work.

PTA wraps things up in a neat bow at the end, making this by far his most enjoyable and compelling film.

Casinos and Hollywood have a lot in common — bright lights, glamorous people, and the allure of fame and fortune. It makes sense, then, that some of Hollywood’s most memorable and well-received releases center on the world of casinos. Take a look at 5 of the best casino movies ever made and the characters that brought them to life:

Casino – 1995

This film had a big title to live up to and big-name stars like Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone to help carry it. The stars aren’t what makes the movie such a hit, though. It’s the behind-the-scenes portrayal of a mob-run casino that is so captivating. Fans on IMDB.com rank it as the most popular among all casino films. Gambling is a big part of the movie, of course, and slot machines, sports books, table games, and more are featured prominently. The movie made $116 million in the box office.

Rounders – 1998

Regarded as one of the best poker movies ever made, this Matt Damon cult classic follows a yet-unknown player as he tries to get a friend out of debt and make bankroll to enter the World Series of Poker. The authenticity is what fans praise most – from the realistic hands played to the subtle poker lingo exchanged between players. The film brought in $22.9 million at its box office release.

Casino Royale – 2006

Is there anything cooler than James Bond sitting at a poker table? This film was highly-anticipated for its introduction of modern-day Bond portrayed by Daniel Craig and the casino tie-in made him even edgy to fans. According to some critics the film could have benefitted from coaching from a poker expert because of two unrealistic card showdowns between Bond and villain Le Chiffre (portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen). Still, fans weren’t complaining. The film brought in a whopping $599 million USD and ushered in the modern-day age of Bond on the big screen.

The Gambler – 1974

This thrilling casino movie was later remade by Mark Wahlberg but it’s tough to top the original. The film follows Axel Freed (played by James Caan) and he tries to figure out how to pay back $44,000 in gambling debts. The storyline is about more than gambling, however, and delves into the psychology of addiction of all kids. Indiewire says that the film “nails the paranoia of its dark corners and the stylish seduction of winning.”

Hard Eight – 1996

This independent film is based on the Paul Thomas Anderson short film “Cigarettes and Coffee” and expands Anderson’s thoughts to full-length (he directed both). It follows John (played by John C. Reilly) as he tries to win enough in a casino to bury his recently deceased mother. Along the way he meets a hardened veteran gambler who mentors him to success – in gambling and in life. It all falls apart tragically, though, leading viewers on an emotional journey. This film was so well received because of its ability to touch on universal emotions, like grief and intimidation, and how all of that can be tied into a few hours in a casino.

At this point if you don’t know what you’re getting walking into a Sacha Baron Cohen movie, you’ve probably never seen a Sacha Baron Cohen movie. That’s not to say “The Dictator” won’t be funny, but if you’re expecting 100 percent originality, you might want to look elsewhere.

“The Dictator” is the story of a North African, you guessed it, dictator, who’s called to answer for his crimes in front of the UN in New York. Believe it or not, it’s loosely based on a romance novel allegedly written by Saddam Hussein. Yeah, that Saddam Hussein, and yeah, romance. Anyway, when John C. Reilly strips him of his beard, nobody believes he’s a dictator anymore, so he has to find his way working in a food co-op with Anna Faris.

Fish out of water on the mean streets of America? Sounds an awful lot like “Borat,” but if it’s funny, who cares? I guess that raises the question, is “The Dictator” funny? The film is sitting at a 63 percent on the Tomatometer, so it’s probably more “Borat” (good) than “Bruno” bad. One thing the film has to set it apart from Baron Cohen’s previous work is that it’s not in his trademark interview-heavy mockumentary format. This probably means “The Dictator” sacrifices the more outrageous comedy that comes from duping public figures and nobodies alike for a semi-coherent plot.

Battleship

Now “Transformers” I get, theoretically anyway. There are characters, good guys and bad guys. It’s shit, but it makes sense, and more importantly it had Megan Fox. But a movie based on Battleship, the board game?

Apparently “Battleship” has a plot, but I’ll leave that explanation for Jason in his Bullz-Eye review. I imagine there are ships involved. Anyway, this movie looks like a turd. It’s at a 35 percent on the Tomatometer, and the consensus over there is that the film is “too loud, poorly written, and formulaic to justify its expense.” Jason’s viewpoint was a bit more optimistic:

But while the film does feel a little bit too much like a Michael Bay explosion-rama at times, to my surprise, it works remarkably well as a mindless piece of popcorn entertainment. It won’t wow you in any way, but “Battleship” knows that it’s big, dumb summer fun, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything more.

If that’s the case, so be it. But I have a question, and I’m being completely serious here: what is the world of Hollywood writing coming to when we’re getting movies based on 70-year old board games? What’s next, the Monopoly man going on a Godzilla-like rampage through the streets of Tokyo? Terrorists knocking down buildings with a voodoo Jenga tower? Thank you Screencrush for the ideas, but sad as it may be “Battleship” is a real thing, so there’s no more time for mockery, moving on.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

It’s a romantic comedy, so already we know what we’re getting into here, don’t we? There will be cliches, love, a second act rife with conflict, and ultimately, a happy ending. But every once in a while a movie comes along that breaks the mold, throwing all those banal stereotypes into a pot and coming out with something great. This is not that movie. Let me repeat again, because I know eyes can wander over a word or two: this is not that movie.

That fact is especially unfortunate when you look at the film’s star-studded cast, which includes Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Rock, Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911!”), Rodrigo Santoro (like 4 episodes of “Lost”), as well as the recent success of “Think Like a Man,” which was also based on a self-help book.

If I could guess, and I can, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” tells the story of a number of couples, each with their own relationship problems centering around pregnancy and child-rearing. It really doesn’t matter, this movie is at a 23 percent on the Tomatometer. As such, you should avoid it like the plague.

If you’re looking for a recommendation this weekend, I’ll say “The Avengers,” just like last week and the week before, and yes, even if you’ve already seen it. Now, last week I also recommended “Dark Shadows” to big Johnny Depp or Tim Burton fans. The same goes here, “The Dictator” is sure to be enjoyable for fans of Sacha Baron Cohen’s work.

The Extra Man

Louis is duly fascinated by Henry’s eccentric, acerbic ways, and Kline delivers one of the best performances of his career, mining big laughs from lines like, “I’m against the education of women. It dulls their senses and effects their performance in the boudoir.” He also rails against such practices as recycling and charity to the homeless, which makes an interesting contrast to Louis’ newfound job at an environmental magazine, where he develops a crush on his vegan, uber-green co-worker, Mary Powell (Katie Holmes). Louis is also fascinated by Henry’s mysterious, bearded neighbor, Gershon Gruen (John C. Reilly), who can be heard through the vents each morning singing beautifully as he showers. Louis is hiding his own eccentricity from his new friends, and without giving away too much about the course this particular character development takes, I will say it is perhaps the most sensitive, realistic exploration of heterosexual cross-dressing since Tim Burton’s Ed Wood.

Co-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, adapting a novel by Bored to Death scribe Jonathan Ames, clearly share Louis’ attraction to cranky oddballs such as Henry, as evidenced in their excellent first feature, American Splendor. Henry has much in common with that film’s protagonist, Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti), though there is a misplaced sense of class superiority in Henry that Harvey would undoubtedly abhor. Still, as mean-spirited and narrow-minded as Henry often seems to be, it is difficult as an audience member not to share in this fascination; as Louis says at one point, “You have a strange power over people, Henry,” to which Henry replies, “It’s my constant disapproval. People think it fatherly.” He might not be someone most of us would actually want to live with, but Henry is a wonderful cinematic creation, and probably Kline’s funniest role since A Fish Called Wanda. Though The Extra Man has much else to recommend it, it is this central character that buoys the film, and brings added life to all around him.

Hidden Netflix Gems is a new feature designed to help readers answer that burning question, “What should I watch tonight?” It will be updated every Saturday before the sun goes down.

Yep, you did catch Michael Biehn in there. He plays Grace’s policeman dad in the movie.

I’m currently embargoed from reviewing “Take Me Home Tonight,” but let’s just say that as someone who has been tired of the 1980s since the 1980s and has been tired of coming of age films even longer, my expectations were kind of shattered. What do I mean by that? You’ll have to wait. In the meantime, you can see my earlier post on the red band trailer.