John Holmes, the most iconic male porn star of the 1970s, has left an indelible mark on popular culture. His life and persona served as an inspiration for Dirk Diggler, the fictional protagonist of Paul Thomas Anderson's celebrated 1997 film Boogie Nights. In 2003, James Cox's crime drama Wonderland brought Holmes back to the screen, with Val Kilmer portraying the real-life character.
The plot of Wonderland revolves around the darkest event in Holmes' relatively short life. On July 1st, 1981, Los Angeles was shaken by the news of a brutal quadruple murder that occurred at an address on Wonderland Avenue in Laurel Canyon. The film, told through various and sometimes conflicting points of view, attempts to reconstruct the events before, during, and after the murder, while exploring Holmes' role in the crime.
Comparisons between Wonderland and Boogie Nights are inevitable; the 2003 film is much darker and less pleasant to watch. This is primarily due to its depiction of a vicious violent crime that was never formally solved, leaving the victims' families without proper closure. The unpleasantness of the subject matter – the descent of a quasi-celebrity into a pathetic, amoral, and almost irredeemably immoral drug addict who associates with the lowest criminal scum – was not well-received by critics, who saw it as unworthy of serious drama. Other critics were dissatisfied with the complicated narrative and some of Cox's creative decisions, which made certain scenes disjointed, confusing, and generally unpleasant to watch.
While these criticisms have merit, most of the film's flaws are compensated by its flawless period reconstruction and, more importantly, by the excellent acting. Val Kilmer delivers one of the best performances of his career, portraying the seemingly shallow Holmes as a complex character. He is a pathetic coward, a despicably abusive partner to his girlfriend Dawn Schiller (played valiantly by Kate Bosworth), and at the same time, a skilled manipulator who somehow manages to sidestep the investigation and emerge from the affair almost unscathed.
In addition to Kilmer's standout performance, Wonderland features memorable portrayals by Eric Bogosian as Eddie Nash, a nightclub owner and big-time cocaine dealer whose apparent celebrity fascination with Holmes sets in motion the events that lead to the bloodbath. Lisa Kudrow, still associated with her role in Friends at the time, also gives an excellent dramatic performance as Holmes' ex-wife Sharon Holmes, the only "functional" character and the closest thing to a moral anchor in the film.
Wonderland may not be an easy watch and its dark subject matter and complex narrative may have deterred some viewers, but for those willing to engage with the material, the film offers a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche and the consequences of our actions. With its exceptional performances and meticulous period reconstruction, Wonderland is a film that lingers long after the credits roll.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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