‘Boogie Nights’ on 4K UHD offers a time capsule of excess and ambition

Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s Academy Award-nominated 1997 dramedy that focused on the California’s declining pornography business in the late 1970s and 1980s debuts in a 4K disc format in Boogie Nights (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 107 minutes, $49.99).

Specifically, viewers get exposed to the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler aka Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), a well-endowed busboy who becomes an X-rated superstar.

This woeful tale of excess plays out in dark corners of restaurants, disco dance floors, and grimy sets within the San Fernando Valley as a film unfolds with action enhanced by infinite lines of cocaine.

The simple story comes to life, thanks to a phenomenal ensemble cast including Burt Reynolds as X-director Jack Horner in an Oscar-nominated performance (he should have won) and Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, John C. Reilly and Don Cheadle as porn stars Amber Waves, Rollergirl, Reed Rothchild and Buck Swope, respectively.

Equally worthy of mention include iconic cast members William H. Macy as assistant director Little Bill, Philip Seymour Hoffman as boom operator Scotty J., Alfred Molina as drug dealer Rahad Jackson and magician Ricky Jay as producer Kurt Longjohn.

A flood of musical memories also flow from the movie with a phenomenal soundtrack featuring Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” “Three Dog Night’ “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” Eric Burdon and War’s “Spill the Wine,” Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing,” Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” and Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” (blasting in the middle of a drug deal), The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” and Electric Light Orchestra’s “Livin’ Thing.”

“Boogie Nights” offers a trashy jaunt down memory lane for the mature viewer as it chips away the allure of Hollywood stardom and puts the spotlight on a world often wrought by seamy characters and unrealized dreams.

4K in action: The 4K presentation defiantly sourced from the interpositive (a positive film copy made from an original negative), as per the director’s explicit instruction, rather than using the original camera negative, does not scream UHD for pointed clarity or vibrant color.

Rather, viewers get a faithful theatrical experience embracing muddier hues and softer focus with bouts of mild grain that get more intense during the faux porn film sequences.

If I were watching a film from the 1970s, the experience succeeds handsomely, especially in a faux documentary on Dirk, in 4:3 aspect ratio, that’s super grainy and scratchy authentic.

Overall, a faithful recreation of Mr. Anderson and cinematographer Robert Elswit’s vision and enhanced to highlight colorful period vehicles (vans), costuming down to those loud disco shirts and spandex and Dirk’s bright orange Corvette.

Best extras: New to the release is a 50-minute, two-part interview with American Cinematheque’s director of programming, Grant Moninger, from July 2023 and hosted at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, celebrating the 70mm screenings of “Boogie Nights.”

The first night offered Mr. Anderson and Mr. Reilly and the second, a solo with the director. A definite treat for fans, topics covered range from working with Reynolds, rehearsals, creating the 70mm transfer, securing the music of the Electric Light Orchestra and the challenges of editing the film to get an R rating.

Legacy features first include a pair of optional commentary tracks last heard in the 2010 Blu-ray release, starting with a sole effort by the director.

Amid his love for profanity, Mr. Anderson first reveals his appreciation for commentary tracks as a learning tool with his first listening to director John Sturges over the film “Bad Day at Black Rock.”

His topics of discussion, occasionally delivered with a youthful laugh, range from the music, ripping off shots from his favorite directors, influences in creating the story, his fascination with porno movies as a 17-year old, shooting the film short “The Dirk Diggler Story” as a teenager, nerves about working with Reynolds and appreciation of the cast to just name a few.

Second, and just as entertaining though less focused, Mr. Anderson asks questions in separate sessions, beginning with Mr. Walberg (his phone keeps ringing during the talk), recorded in his apartment with many beers near him.

He then mixes in a sober Ms. Moore recorded in the later afternoon in his abode, John C. Reilly and Don Cheadle (recorded late Sunday night) and William Macy and Heather Graham.

Viewers also get 30 minutes of deleted scenes with optional director commentary and Michael Penn’s music video “Try,” set in the longest hallway in America, and also with an optional commentary by Mr. Anderson.