this film be a masterpiece . it be exhilarate from begin to end . writer director paul thomas anderson story about a porn star be tell with style and grace and humor and even poignancy . the actor and the character they play be all first rate and include mark wahlberg in the lead and who prove himself a solid actor and can carry a film . burt reynolds give perhaps his best performance ever a a porno director who discover wahlberg . the film recreate the late 70 and early 80 with dead on accuracy and from the disco scene that begin the film to wahlberg don johnson miami vice outfit that he wear in the final scene . most regular moviegoer who see this film will no doubt compare it to pulp fiction and but it really have much more in common with the film of robert altman and martin scorsese . the film be a triumph in style . the opening track shot that begin the film be just as impressive a the one in the player and absolute beginner . the editing by dylan tichenor be simply phenomenal . i couldn not believe the edit do not receive an oscar nomination ( good will hunt be a good edit film . ) . the best scene in the film have to be the one with the firecracker . i have butterfly in my stomach because the scene be incredibly intense . when i saw the film a second time and i have the exact same reaction to the scene . unfortunately and it may not have the same impact on tv a it do in a theater with good stereo sound . it a shame that many people do not see this movie during it theatrical run and because it be the best way to watch it . anderson use of widescreen will suffer on tv ( so get the dvd or a letterbox tape ) . it be amaze how easy anderson make it all look and because this be only his second film . the music and set and costume and photography and offbeat character and sex and violence and happiness and heartbreak be capture by a guy who be clearly in love with filmmaking .