Boogie Nights

With Boogie Nights, a 27-year-old Paul Thomas Anderson was thrust into the limelight and hailed as one of the most gifted filmmakers of his generation. Recreating ’70s and ’80s San Fernando Valley, he marshals an all-star cast to relate the rise and fall of the adult film industry through the personal stories of its performers and producers, centering around the well-endowed porn actor Dirk Diggler (based on the real-life John Holmes). Energetically told with bravura filmmaking, the ensemble drama is also Anderson’s homage to Altman and Scorsese, both of whom have deeply influenced his work.

Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor