Goodness, there was a lot of attention surrounding this film’s release. It's about pornography, certainly, but it focuses on the men involved—and features a very muscular "Marky Mark"! I wondered what they would show and what he would reveal. I recall that the public’s appetite for exploring this previously rather questionable subject seemed limitless. What we ultimately get is an absorbing and energetic look at how the adult film industry might have operated in the late 1970s. A seasoned producer, "Horner" (Burt Reynolds), notices a handsome waiter, "Eddie" (Mark Wahlberg), while dining out, and quickly, the young man becomes a valuable commodity. Rebranded with the memorable name of “Dirk Diggler” (you won’t find that on PornHub!), he rapidly rises to stardom, enjoying wealth, women, and drugs. However, fame is an unreliable companion, and it doesn't take long for trouble to appear for our emotionally vulnerable young man, who never stops to think that this upward trajectory could reverse itself. The narrative introduces a cast of interesting and mysterious personalities—from the composed "Amber Waves" (Julianne Moore delivers a strong performance), who seems to try and promote a sense of balance and accountability, to the wonderfully predictable “Reed Rothschild” (a casting choice I found surprising, John C. Reilly). Mark Wahlberg is the standout here, though. He interacts effortlessly with Reynolds, who’s in excellent form and entirely believable, and for some time their whirlwind of sex and success is captivating and quite pleasant to watch. Is anything genuine about that scene at the very end? Well, it's hard to say—but 2½ hours filled with fantastic disco music passed quickly in a cinema that was completely full.

Source on TMDB