Our first view of Rahad has him wearing nothing but a silk gown, Y-fronts and flip flops, whilst swaying his outstretched arms to the ’80s pulse of Night Ranger’s ‘ Sister Christian‘. Jackson is hopped up on something a lot stronger entirely – cocaine – and by the looks of it he’s dosed up to the eyeballs. In stark comparison to the wonderfully clueless and weed-addled recent PTA protagonist Doc Sportello, Mr. With Boogie Nights‘ leads living through a nightmare, it’s Alfred Molina’s twitchy, volatile dealer Rahad Jackson who acts as the monster at the end of it.įrom the exterior view of his tacky suburban palace, it’s clear that Rahad is a big player in the Californian underground drug trade – the kind of fellow our leads should be steering well clear of and definitely not the sort to try ripping off, which is sadly the reason we’re making his acquaintance in this scene. A truly destructive display which leaves audiences anxiety-ridden for his ten-minute screen time and catching their breath long after he disappears from view.Īcross the film’s 150+ minutes, Anderson drags us down the rabbit hole with each member of his wonderful cast wrung out and, in some cases, strung out by the time the film’s brutal third act emerges. The term “tour de force” is often bandied about but when referencing the Paddington-born actor’s role here, it’s imperative. Though surrounded by Hollywood stars, one of the film’s most enduring and memorable performances comes from dependable Brit thespian Alfred Molina in a truly transformative role.
Looking back eighteen years later, it’s hard to think of many better casts captured on film. In 1997, Californian auteur Paul Thomas Anderson shone a spotlight on the American adult entertainment industry with his second feature film Boogie Nights. “You want somethin’ to drink? A little pill, a little coke, a little dope? I got everything!”