MovieChat Forums > Boogie Nights (1997) Discussion > Funniest Moments.

Funniest Moments.

posted 6 years ago by Retromogul (1082)
22 replies | jump to latest

This is a rough list of moments I found hilarious in this brilliant film. I'm interested to hear from others sometime this decade...

John C. Reily. His scenes were all fantastic. The moments I enjoyed the most was his introduction to Dirk - the pauses, comparing how much they can bench press, and his "People I say I look like Han Solo"...
There was also his rambling, go nowhere response towards violence in films; his manic booth dancing while Dirk records in the studio; and his attempt to sound professional during the half assed planning into robbing Rashid Jackson:
"Uh, do you have his phone number? Do you have his address?"

Rashid Jackson (Alfred Molina). His outrage towards having to listen to songs in a pre-arranged order and his "My Awesome Mix Tape".

Thomas Jane's breakdown and stumbling during the Rashid robbery.

The pool side fight with Jack Horner. As tense as it was the dialogue was hilarious: "I'm the King of Dirk and this is my big dick" and his "I know karate!".
Dirk's undignified attire also didn't help him much.

Scotty J. His introduction at the pool party and his brief concern for the OD victim:
"Is she alright?".
"Shut the fuck up!".

Little Bill's wife having sex in the driveway, and the frozen expressions of huddled gawkers, as well as his interaction with Ricky Jay:
"My wife is on the driveway, some guy is dicking her, everyone's watching; fucking embarrassing..."
"Oh hey, that's too bad...Anyway..."

Dirk comparing himself to a king and Napoleon in Amber's fawning tribute; claiming that he has enriched lives, and his emotional final statement to the camera: "I'm gonna keep rocking and rolling".

[–] Retromogul (1082) 6 years ago

Bump, bump, bump...

[–] dkgambler (158) 5 years ago

I liked the scene when Little Bill finds his wife getting drilled at the New Year's Eve party. He heads out to the car, gets the gun, then locks the car door before heading back inside to kill his wife, the guy and himself. Like locking the door would matter at that point.

[–] GordianNott (137) 5 years ago

Good catch!

[–] Gd5150 (11827) 5 years ago

The stereo shop scene with Don Cheadle is hilarious!

[–] mikethemartian (6863) 5 years ago

Jack Horner : We're about to make film history, right here... on videotape.

[–] QOK (1504) 5 years ago

Todd Parker's entrance to the party.

[–] dkgambler (158) 4 years ago

Thought of a couple more... when Dirk and Reed are arguing with the record producer to get their tapes before playing, the producer says "that's not MP, that's YP. Your problem!". Reed says something like "look, I don't understand all this industry jargon, YP, MP, stuff like that."

When Dirk is at the pool party and meets The Colonel, The Colonel says "Jack says you got a really big cawk. May I see it?" Dirk's hesitant, asks "really?" "Please". Diggler pulls down his trunks, The Colonel looks down for a few seconds, looks back up.... "well thank you Eddie!"

[–] Retromogul (1082) 4 years ago

I also loved the recording studio scene you mentioned, and Dirk using his karate pose to challenge the producer to a fight before he's dragged away.

[–] Ace_Spade (9601) 4 years ago

All those are hilarious.

I'll add when the guy is freaking out about the girl ODing on coke and says it's happened twice in two days (or something) and the Colonel responds, "Do you think you should get some new sh**!?"

[–] JohnMatrix (723) 3 years ago

Yeah all those are funny scenes. I just watched it on Netflix again and can easily remember a few of them while its still fresh on my mind.

1) Attempted drug robbery going bad. So many good scenes in that just one sequence alone. Where do I start. Rashid Jackson (Alfred Molina) - just a funny dude! The complete jackass clown character himself. Just the way how he behaves all around. Listening to the music while getting high and not minding for the care in the world the firecracker going off loudly next to him when the guys who came to visit him are completely on the edge and ready to jump out of the hair. I loved how Molina enjoyed Night Ranger’s song, pointing out at his favorite part in the song. LOL! Oh, well, can’t blame him either, the song is really for the ages.

2) Shooting porno video in limo scene. I liked how the “hitchhiker”, whatever his name is, the pickup dude offended Jack Horner - the porn director. He told him his movies suck and Jack beat his ass down for that. Just funny how Jack regarded his movies as art and took things seriously. The roller-girl added some ass-besting as well.

3) Rodriguez marquee sign spelled wrong with the letter “Q” instead of G.

[–] Ace_Spade (9601) 3 years ago

1) Agreed. Alfred Molina is *always* great, and he rocks out in Boogie Nights. That sequence is gold.

2) That scene had some comedy, but for me there was also a lot of pain in that scene. It was sad watching Jack and Rollergirl get upset because we're watching them have their self-images directly challenged. Yes, it's funny, but for me there was that cold reality aspect of it as they're forced to confront what they really are - not artistes, but pornographers.

3) Very funny moment.

[–] JohnMatrix (723) 3 years ago

Agreed about your point there on the second moment. Though to add one more thing to that limo scene, here’s what I was also thinking:

1) Jack and Rollergirl might have been actually the pioneers of the gonzo porn! Lol. I’m not kidding. I don’t know really of course. (I need to listen to the director’s audio commentary).
Yeah, it is a sad scene indeed, and on so many levels.

2) You can also interpret it as - here’s what happened to Jack after he was talked into reluctantly moving into shooting on video. To keep up with the times, and that is the result of what it had led to basically. Not to what he was really aspiring to though, to make porn films that they’re valued for their artistic and cinema qualities.

[–] Ace_Spade (9601) 3 years ago

I do think Jack wanted to make true art, and yeah, maybe some of his inability to realize that was due to being lied to, but I think some of it is as much that he's lying to himself. He's not making art, he's making masturbation material. Of course, there's a bigger conversation about when is art art and when is it pornography; maybe Paul Thomas Anderson wants us thinking about that.

[–] chilidoggg (14394) 3 years ago

I'm a simple man with simple tastes, I like lollipops in my mouth and butter in my ass.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Amber and Rollergirl high on coke together making plans together

[–] Lucia2016 (622) 2 years ago

The scene when they record their album is brilliant, when they are 'jamming' to feel my heat and Reilly strikes the guitar just that one more time (out of tune) as if to to say nailed it.

And just after that when Dirk clocks that the producer has tried to drown out his vocal and say's 'do you think the bass is taking away from the vocal?' and Reilly can be seen just off camera behind them enthusiastically nodding in agreement.

Also when Dirk is giving a tour of his house and shows the DD curtains and they ask how he came up with such an idea his response is 'well i was just sitting around the house one day thinking about my name an it just came to me'

Gold

[–] WarrenPeace (2267) 2 years ago

I agree with the recording stuff or when they think they are going to make it in the music biz thinking they are such hot stuff.
The cherry on top of all that is the fight with the owner of the studio.

[–] Lucia2016 (622) 2 years ago

I don't understand all this MP YP industry jargon, you own the tapes that is correct, but the magic, the heart and soul that is on those tapes, that is ours and you do not own that.

[–] Lucia2016 (622) 2 years ago

[deleted]