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DVD Wonderland
The dark underside of Boogie Nights is tracked in Wonderland, a sleaze-filled look at the notorious "Wonderland Murders" of 1981. The movie attempts to explain how the legendarily endowed porn actor John C. Holmes was involved in the killings, while deliberately suggesting the difficulty of knowing the truth of a murky case. The police procedural aspects turn out to be less intriguing than the weirdly hapless domestic life of Holmes (Val Kilmer at his most dazed), who despite his promiscuity continues to rely on his starchy, clean-cut wife (an unflattering role for Lisa Kudrow, but the most interesting character in the picture). Well-known actors--notably a near-unrecognizable Dylan McDermott--slouch through the story, which rather distracts from the aggressively realistic approach. In the end, the unclean aura makes one yearn for the stylized ingenuity of Boogie Nights, or at least a reason to be watching this story this way. --Robert Horton
This is a movie about a murder that porn star John Homes was involved in. Its a true story and the girl that was with him Dawn is writing a book about this to come out in 2006.
Must see movie highly recommend it once you see it will will want it for your collection.
Thoroughly Mediocre and Disappointing....Get Boogie Nights Instead !!!
I am going to make this review rather short and to the point, which is the absolute opposite of the movie. If you think that spending about 2 hours listening to a group of drugged-out degenerates offering conflicting, confusing, self-serving viewpoints about a brutal murder is entertaining, then by all means watch this disjointed nightmare of a movie...but please be warned:
There is no attempt to filter any of the information and it is presented with no regard to sequence or source: at times, three different viewpoints are presented almost simultaneously. You never know who is thinking what, and to be very honest, you rapidly cease to care. You cannot draw any logical conclusions, because the information you are receiving is garbled and, at times, incomprehensible. It is much like being on the jury in a trial that is presided over by a group of crack addicts....in Chinese.
If you are tempted to watch the movie due to the lurid reputation of "porno king" John Holmes, be advised that it is completely devoid of any real insights into that portion of his life. The movie depicts only his post-career slide into serious drug addiction and (possibly) murder, and for that reason could be about any loser. "Boogie Nights" portrays the full spectrum of his life in an infinitely better, more entertaining manner.
I have heard comparisons of this movie to Rashomon, which is a cruel insult to an infinitely greater movie. Yes, Rashomon presented its story through conflicting viewpoints, but each of the viewpoints is clearly presented and its source is known. The audience becomes acclimated to the characters their conflicting viewpoints, and can draw valid conclusions. Such cannot be said for this pasted-together, tangled-up assault on the senses. It is just a mess....an inkblot on a dirty canvas. If you are at all interested in a truly skillful, entertaining retelling of the "ups and downs" of the "porno king" please (for your own good) avoid this travesty and get "Boogie Nights"....it is like comparing skid marks to a Picasso.
Covincing Feeling of the Early 80s LA, But Offers Little as to John Holmes and the Murder Case
In the summer of 1981, four people were found dead, brutally murdered, in the apartment at Wonderland Ave., LA. Another woman was also in critical condition, unable to talk about the incident.
The LAPD started investigation, and found out the connection between the victims and one legendary porno star John Holms played by Val Kilmer. Now John is no longer in the movie business, but is doing drugs and causing troubles with his girlfriend Dawn played by cast-against-type Kate Bosworth. Thus 'Wonderland' wisely skips the days when John Holmes (on whose life 'Boogie Nights' is loosely based) was famous, and offers possible versions of what really happened to John Holmes when he suddenly left the motel, and came back there, terribly shocked.
[RASHOMON STYLE] So the film does not solve the bloody murder. Using the mouth of characters testifying before the police, 'Wonderland' offers its own plausible version(s) about what really happened to John Holmes, and the inmates of the apartment who, the film desribes, robbed a local magnate. In whatever versions, the film shows, crimes were committed before the murder, but the film's real concern is in what way John was involved.
And in what way? Guilty or Not Guilty? Not exacly. To be honest, I still don't see the point. There are different versions, to be sure, but the frequent use of flashy cameraworks and awfully complicated narrative structure prevent us from understand how different. Yes, they are differenct, but I couldn't see the impact of the differences because they are not presented clearly. Some things are only suggested, but not suggestive enough forus to be intrigued. I know, they made the film that way to avoid being sued, but it's a pity because the film has two interesting names -- the associate producers Dawn Schiller herself and consultant Sharon Holmes, wife of John.
But as far as the realistic air of the frivolous 80s, just before we face issues related to HIV, 'Wonderland' is convincing, and so is the acting. Also, the cast is very interesting -- Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Lisa Kudrow (as John's separated wife), Josh Lucas, Tim Blake Nelson, Dylan McDermott, Christina Applegate, Eric Bogosian, Carrie Fisher, Ted Levine, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Michael Pitt (whom I cannot remember) and even Janeane Garofalo. And, wow ... cameo of Palis Hilton. What can I say?
'Wonderland' conveys the feeling of belated summer of love in the 80s LA, but as to the central characters John Holmes and two women who loved him, the film shows mo more insight into their relationship than the murder itself. But perhaps it should be so.
In the real world, drug use is unimaginably boring to watch--but it inspires spectacular visuals in movies like Trainspotting and Drugstore Cowboy. To this list add The Salton Sea, a moody thriller starring Val Kilmer as a musician who goes undercover into the world of speed freaks to find the men who killed his wife. Though that plot summary may sound trite, creative direction, strong performances, and a solid script that shifts to and fro in time make The Salton Sea worth a look. Kilmer has an erratic track record but he's always an intriguing on-screen presence; Vincent D'Onofrio has a field day playing a noseless speed dealer called Pooh Bear. The cast is full of excellent character actors, including Anthony LaPaglia (Lantana), Peter Sarsgaard... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Val Kilmer Director(s): D.J. Caruso DVD Release Date: Released the 10 September 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Even if the notorious 1970s porn-filmmaking milieu doesn't exactly turn you on, don't let it turn you off to this movie's extraordinary virtues, either. Boogie Nights is one of the key movies of the 1990s, and among the most ambitious and exuberantly alive American movies in years. It's also the breakthrough for an amazing new director, whose dazzling kaleidoscopic style here recalls the Robert Altman of Nashville and the Martin Scorsese of GoodFellas. Although loosely based on the sleazy life and times of real-life porn legend John Holmes, at heart it's a classic Hollywood rise-and-fall fable: a naive, good-looking young busboy is discovered in a San Fernando Valley disco by a famous motion picture producer, becomes a hotshot movie star, lives the high life, and then... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Burt Reynolds - Julianne Moore - Mark Wahlberg Director(s): Paul Thomas Anderson DVD Release Date: Released the 29 August 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Writer-director David Mamet (House of Games, The Spanish Prisoner) applies his gift for con games to the world of politics with Spartan. A super-duper Secret Service agent (Val Kilmer, Wonderland) is assigned to find the kidnapped daughter of the President of the United States; was she kidnapped because of who she is, or as part of white slavery ring? Is she dead or alive? To find out the answers, Kilmer puts on disguises, engages in elaborate ruses, and kills ruthlessly--only to discover that he himself may be the one being fooled. Mamet pushes his macho/cryptic dialogue into laughably bad territory and some plot twists seriously test one's suspension of disbelief, but that's part of the game; like any con artist, Mamet knows how to hook you and reel you in,... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Derek Luke - Val Kilmer Director(s): David Mamet DVD Release Date: Released the 15 June 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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