When I was reading Boogie Nights, I actually thought to myself: Wow. This is really, really graphic. The second that thought crossed my mind, part of me instantly quipped: What's wrong with you? You're a film major. This is a film. Suck it up.
But if something is so sexually graphic that is effects me, it effects me, and it tampers with my enjoyment of the script. That's all there is to it. I remember watching The Shawshank Redemption with my grandma. At the end of the movie, I turned to my grandmother and asked, "Wasn't that amazing?" She gave me a puzzled look. "I don't really know. I was too distracted by the language."
It's not my grandma's fault. She can't help it.
Frankly, it is kind of embarassing to be admitting that some scenes in Boogie Nights caused me to scroll down to the bottom of the page. We've read some other racy screenplays but none so explicitly, visually pornographic. With Boogie Nights, it wasn't any specific sequence, it was the pervasiveness. So while I want to discuss technical directions, key elements in the script and the overall story flow, I, the reader felt too shell shocked to fight for analysis. What's wrong or right with this confession? I did think it was interesting and brought up some good points - but I don't really know.
Bethany Dickens
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think Jack is the one who causes Eddie/Dirk to fall (lose his relationship with his parents, etc.) or was he already on the road to ruin?
2. When Jack takes Eddie to his house for the first time, he tells him he wants to make a movie with an actual story that effects people. Do you agree with him that those types of films have said potencial? Because the pornography industry is associated with red light values, do you view it as a destructive part of that culture or an actual art form?
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1 comment:
Jack simply presented Eddie with an opportunity. Albeit, Eddie had every intention of exploiting "Dirk." I do believe that there is an element of personal responsibility involved. Eddie wanted to make something of himself and did the best he could with what he had. His problem was his ego, not the fact that he was a porn star.
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