Porn star's sorry tale a dull one
The character of Dirk Diggler, the central figure in Boogie Nights, was inspired by John Holmes, the real-life porn star who is the central figure in the misbegotten Wonderland. Any comparison of the two films begins and ends there. For while Boogie Nights was a dirge for the death of pleasure (which coincided with the death of the porn-film industry), Wonderland is death warmed over. Literally.
The character of Dirk Diggler, the central figure in Boogie Nights, was inspired by John Holmes, the real-life porn star who is the central figure in the misbegotten Wonderland. Any comparison of the two films begins and ends there.
For while Boogie Nights was a dirge for the death of pleasure (which coincided with the death of the porn-film industry), Wonderland is death warmed over. Literally.
From three unreliable perspectives, Wonderland, which stars Val Kilmer as Holmes on the downslope of his celebrity, tells the story of the slaughter on Wonderland Avenue high in the Hollywood Hills during the stifling summer of 1981.
Did Holmes (whose nom de porn was Johnny Wadd), desperate for drugs, turn on pals who had supplied him with cocaine? Or did one of those chums, David Lind (Dylan McDermott in biker-boy mode, bearded and tattooed), out of jealous rage finger Holmes for the cops?
A more urgent question: Who the heck cares?
Instead of weaving a tragedy about a onetime celebrity frantic to reclaim his fame, director James Cox imagines that desperate, drugged-addled lowlifes are inherently interesting. While there might be a good movie in the spectacle of bottom feeders bottoming out, this is not it. The handheld camera work and cinematography desaturated of color create the impression of a student film processed in a convertible moving through a car wash.
Although Wonderland isn't much of a movie, it is a parade of exceptional acting, led by a steely Lisa Kudrow as Holmes' estranged wife, Sharon, and a volatile Josh Lucas as drug dealer Ron Launius, a grenade in double-knit slacks. While technically excellent, Kilmer's performance as the charismatic burnout Holmes lacks something crucial - namely, a well-structured narrative that contextualizes Holmes.
Contact movie critic Carrie Rickey at 215-854-5402 or crickey@phillynews.com.
Wonderland * (out of four stars)
Produced by Holly Wiersma and Michael Paseornek, directed by James Cox, written by Cox, Captain Mauzner, Todd Samovitz and D. Loriston Scott, photography by Michael Grady, music by Cliff Martinez, distributed by Lions Gate Films.
Running time: 1 hour, 44 mins.
John Holmes. . . Val Kilmer
Sharon Holmes. . . Lisa Kudrow
Dawn Schiller. . . Kate Bosworth
Ron Launius. . . Josh Lucas
David Lind. . . Dylan McDermott
Parent's guide: R (extreme violence, nudity, drugs)
Playing at: Ritz at the Bourse, Ritz Sixteen/NJ