Paul Thomas Anderson's second film is a fascinating, intentionally sprawling examination of the lives of those sucked into the California porn industry in the late 1970s through the early 1980s, and not only provides a unique lens in which to view the time period, also manages to humanize these characters, while still highlighting the exploitative and demeaning elements of the industry, coupled with the allure of stardom and fame that it promises.

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Rating Scale:

12/10—a complete masterpiece; flawless and outstanding
11/10—Excellent, near-perfect film
10/10—the standard rating; awesome film with a couple of flaws
9/10—a wonderful film with several flaws
8/10–a great film with numerous flaws but not enough to ruin it

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