Pros: True, this film is a bit meandering and plodding, but the screenplay is genuinely strong, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns and the acting is filled with top-notch actors and top-notch acting, great music and great film mechanics.
Cons: As this film is about a young Eddie, later Dirk (Mark Wahlberg) breaking into the business of pornography and then drugs and then there is a good amount (okay, probably way too much) violence toward the end, none of which is my cup of tea but at least everything was done well.
Recommend: Probably
Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-The cast is superb including Julianne Moore and Burt Reynolds (truly great), both Oscar-nominated for this film, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nicole Ari Parker, Thomas Jane (an unexpected villain), Phillip Baker Hall, and Luis Guzman.
-Dirk's mom lashes out for no real reason.
-Dirk is tragically not good with money.
-Rollergirl's (Graham's) real name is Brandy.
-Amber's (Moore's) real name is Maggie.
-The film covers roughly seven years of Dirk's life.
-It is amazing that Don Cheadle's Buck wasn't questioned for that crazy bakery robbery. I mean, who would rob a bakery, they give people carbs which make them happy. Why would someone want to ruin that happiness?
-Dirk's car runs out of gas, a similar scene would happen in a far more recent Paul Thomas Anderson film, Licorice Pizza.
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