Mark Wahlberg Regrets Filming ‘Boogie Nights’
Most people regard Paul Thomas Anderson‘s 1997 drama Boogie Nights as a modern classic. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes rates the movie as 93% fresh, and Roger Ebert gave it four stars and an unqualified thumbs up. Better not tell leading actor Mark Wahlberg, though, because he has recently voiced regret over his involvement in the film. Say it isn’t so, Dirk Diggler!
Speaking as part of a fundraiser for Catholic youth groups late last month, Wahlberg admitted he had misgivings about some portions of his career (and not just his “Marky Mark” period, either). “I just always hope that God is a movie fan and also forgiving, because I’ve made some poor choices in my past,” he said.
When pressed about which specific movies he wished he hadn’t been involved in, he immediately cited his breakout role: “Boogie Nights is up there at the top of the list.” (The movie found Wahlberg playing a John Holmes-esque pornstar whose rise and fall mirrors that of the adult industry in the ’70s and ’80s. While critically admired, it is loaded with graphic sex and violence, neither of which are likely to endear you to the pope.) Taking into account the audience Wahlberg was speaking to, we might be willing to overlook his remarks, but his Nights co-stars were less forgiving.
“That was a great movie,” Willim H. Macy told TMZ. “I rest my case. He doesn’t need forgiveness for Boogie Nights. It’s a great movie. It’s a moral movie.” Julianne Moore was equally startled. “I think he should thank God for Boogie Nights. It made his career!” she said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. “Yeah, my God, it’s a great movie. He was great in it.” Maybe they can smooth everything over by convincing Wahlberg to appear in a sequel?
(Interestingly, Wahlberg is a popular choice among pornstars as their celebrity crush. When asked by Adult Empire, both Aaliyah Love and Kendra Lust mentioned him as the Hollywood star they would most like to hook up with! Read more here.)
Photo by Julien Andrieux on Unsplash
