Is it just me, or does William H. Macy get fucked over in some way in evey single one of his movies? Regardless, this scene is an example of that. From "Boogie Nights", one of the best scenes in the movie.
This was a very important scene, as it basically symbolizes the end for not only him, but Dirks career, and the end of the golden era of the adult film industry
This scene was incredible. All in one shot. From Macy's emotion, to him walking to and from the car, to the music building up and finally the ending. Every time I see this I'm still shocked.
@@mperrotti76 Why tf, did they tamper with a classic? And where was the shot of Nina Hartley, his wife? I hate it when they pull shit like this. Same thing with the original Bad Lieutenant with Harvey Keitel. I had to seek out the original nc17. Netflix. What a joke.
I remember being impacted by this scene the most out of any other in the movie. Mainly because he seemed really out of place in that world and was there to be taken advantage of. He was probably the most innocent and pure hearted person up until the murder. I was 18 and remember thinking as the takeaway, "how do you stay kind in life without becoming that oppressed?". Don Cheadle's character seemed like the only other genuinely kind person, but for some reason people didn't walk all over him.That's how life goes sometimes.
Absolutely, dear Mike-descended-of-Post ... there was the 'most pure hearted' character you spoke of ... and Don's character that just seems 'confused and finding himself' through his active imagination and general 'nice-guy-ness'. I can only agree with you emphatically on your comment!!!
The only guy who never seemed to really have anything bad happen to him was cameraman Kurt Longjohn (Ricky Jay). Everyone else had the rug pulled out from them in one form or another over the years (and more than once!), but he came out relatively unscathed. He had the thankless chore of doing the quality-control when they went to videotape (when he sighs "It is what it is!"), but that was about it.
I believe the murder/suicide scene was an on screen way to let the audience know that the good times are over. Afterwards the movie gets darker and more depressing as the character’s lives start to spiral down.
Nice touch at the end of the film when Jack Horner is walking around the house and there is a portrait of bill hanging on the same wall where bill blew his brains out
chazbukowski hence the term “you can’t turn a hoe into a housewife” little Bill was a good guy yet he made the wrong choice,no one forced him to marry her nor kill her even. He made that choice w/the end results.
@chazbukowski I thought that also when I first saw it. Most guys fantasy is to be with a porn star but they don't understand is you have to let your emotions go and not get attracted to her.
People who have committed suicide in front of witnesses have been observed to do routine things in the moments leading to their suicide, almost as if they’re completely on auto pilot, things like taking shoes off coming indoors somewhere, brushing their teeth moments before shooting themselves in the head, closing a door behind them so no one will have to see. It’s odd and yeah it can be definitely taken down the road of dark humor
This was the point in the movie where everything started going to complete shit for everyone. This scene really hit me hard because you knew Little Bill was loved by everyone as he was just very charismatic and chill. He had bottled up a lot of intense emotions about his wife's continued infidelity which finally reached a climax before she did.
I had the honor of shaking Macy's hand at a film festival back in 2013 and got to tell him he was awesome as Little Bill. Best suicide in a movie. He smiled and thanked me 😆
I was amazed by Macy's acting in this scene and loved the details of him still locking up his station wagon after retrieving the gun and ammo knowing full well what he was going to do with them.
@@sitdowndogbreath This has nothing to do with feminism. Simply look at American genealogy and you will find this type of thing been going on since and before Colonial Times.
That haunting little grin before he does it. It falls somewhere between "Go in the back room...you'll see why I did it" and "Well, might as well finish the job!".
No the grin was more like, "What a relief, it was good to finally get that weight off my shoulders and express my true discontent with all the disrespect. Now just one more thing left to do. Happy New Year's phuckers."
That smile on his face right before he puts the gun in his mouth. Bill felt good killing them (probably the only time he felt in control and powerful the entire movie)
Paul Thomas Anderson is genius film maker. Using this particular song to build tension towards the suicide scene. Also extremely well-acted by William H. Macy. You can see the depression and despair written all over his face without him barely saying a word.
@@stacksgillespie1818 In this scene, I don't think having her name in his mouth was the issue. Other things in his mouth, maybe. Kinda like August did.
@@shrapnel77Bobby. EXACTLY. "I didn't want to cause any problems" mf what exactly so you think you're doing hiding it and inviting her in the first place? Let people handle their business, don't make it about you.
I feel sorry for Bill. Usually marriage should be joyful but it ended up destroying him because his wife really never gave a shit about him and he actually seemed to love her at one point.
@Reluctant Human And your secret power is... misogyny! Congratulations! You're a real superhero now, Timmy! (Seriously, there are actually some pleasant women in the world. I even know some. They're not all cancerous, gold-digging, emasculating shrews. Maybe... get out more?)
The director made a commentary about this scene and was glad that audiences shut up really quick about Little Bill's death because you like the character and what he's doing even though he commits suicide
He got nominated for Fargo the year before, funnily enough Boogie Nights was the first script that came to him afterwards and he thought his agent was joking with him given how explicit the original draft was before they told him New Line were going to tone it down and keep it under 3 hours. It was in a film page’s interview with him and they even asked him about the complete mangling of his line “My wife has an ass in her cock!” that PTA left in!
I like how they make sure to include the picture of Little Bill in the end scene on the wall as if he's still a part of their family and has stayed with them throughout the years.
Probably was cheaper than having to get the blood completely out and the wall repainted not to mention having to patch up the bullet hole that was no doubt left as well. Lol
All in one shot. You can see this technique a few times during the movie: The opening sequence, the pool party, etc. Great. The death of Little Bill is the sign that the "Golden Era Of Porn" (the Seventies) are over, and the Eighties are beginning. A bad omen.
Not exactly fully in one shot. When little Bill shoots his wife there is a cut to the rest of the party. But still a great long shot none the less. Actually my favorite thing about this long shot is the other things that could be missed if not looked for. For example when little Bill is walking to his car we see Gandolini and his "Hot bed of fucking action" kids leaving the party at 1:52 to 1:55, then a few seconds later when little Bill gets his gun out of the car and closes the door, in the background Scotty, after saying "I'm a fuckin idiot", is getting out of his orange Camaro 2:18 to 2:21 and going back to the party.
@@75aces97 Nice job missing the point of the joke in the comment. The murder suicide happened at midnight and the comment asked about what else happened at the party.
@@imaouima yep two before the countdown finish for the new year (1980) hence why they died in the 1970s (year 1979). Then one who shot himself after the countdown finished meaning it was now the new year 1980.
TheStewieOne Actually it's the women who kill themselves by cheating on their husbands. If they don't like their husbands then they should just divorce.
This movie takes place in the porn industry which essentially shows the alternative lifestyles of these people. Little Bill does what he feels is right for him but its kind of stupid. Oh my goodness your wife in the porn industry has sex with lots of men? The hell you say!
subsamadhi I don't remember her working in the porn industry. Her husband did. If she actually worked in porn, she shouldn't be fucking all the time outside of the job. In addition, if she works in porn she should practice sex with her husband. Women will use any excuse to cheat on their husbands. "Oh, he's not noticing me at every single moment of his existence." "He's too busy at work providing for my lazy ass." "We work in porn, so that means it's ok for me to cheat on him by fucking men outside of the actual pornographic job."
subsamadhi You wouldn't know the high range of emotion without having been in the situation yourself. Perhaps he could've calculated his murder and made it look like an accident but who could possibly resist doing something stupid in that emotionally hideous moment?
0:55 - You can see it start to dawn on Little Bill's face - "Don't even tell me she's....." and then he heads right for a bedroom. Great performance by William Macy.
For the character of Little Bill, his wife's latest indiscretion was the final straw of humiliation for him. Loving a woman and knowing full well that she was sleeping around with other men finally chipped away at his last shred of dignity and self respect. You can see in that moment as he's walking back to the car to get his gun that he has been pushed beyond the point of no return..... Not that murder is the right thing to do mind you! Kudos to William H Macy's brilliant work......
I was nearly pushed to that point. Instead, I packed my shit, including the gun I damn near used, and left that town forever. It was a very close call, glad I made the right choice.
I always liked when she snaps that photo of him as he's walking through the house. I imagine they'd look at that photo a lot afterwards. Taken seconds before his death.
The wood panel station wagon is a great metaphor for how out of place Bill seems in that environment, way more Middle America reliable than West Coast cool. I am also haunted by the way he closes the glove box and locks the car door, I can't decide if it was just routine, if it shows how he really didn't trust the people he worked with, or if he was undecided if he would be coming back or not
When they originally shot this scene they showed the two lovers getting their brains blown out. Good that they cut that because it would have lessened the impact of Bill blasting his own brains out.
this must be a master piece, i mean it, never get tired of this film and have the greatest perfomances i ever seen in my short life, loved this film, Mark Whalberg deserves an oscar for his perfomance...
I'm sure the characters did, just off-screen...and remember..this was 1970's California: Frankly, it may NOT be the most horrifying thing a lot of them had seen
To constantly talk about it would probably have driven them crazier with guilt earlier. Everyone loved Bill they just thought he was super laid back and open with his wife, they had no real idea of how much it actually hurt him let alone the verbal humiliation and outright lack of any respect she had for him. Granted Bill needed to put those issues out there and not simply be nicer as a coping mechanism
I think the turning point was that she was no longer doing it for the spectacle. Previously she'd been doing it with a crowd watching, but this time it was just her in the back room with another man. I think Macy overlooked it when it was for show, but now that she was just doing it on the side, he'd had enough.
I remember watching this the first time and remembering: "This is how you say 'The party's over'' while telling a story on screen. And just before that, the scene that made Philip Seymour Hoffman, these two were the most memorable scenes.
citizenbobx Definitely. Before this scene the movie was pretty lighthearted and fun but after the whole tone shifts into something way darker. It lets you know that the party’s over and all the characters are gonna start facing the consequences of the lifestyle they’ve chosen
This flick does that very well w Amber Waves in particular. They show her at the child custody hearing and the judge asks when she was last arrested and what the charges were. Cut to her sobbing in front of a brick wall while people pass by. Ouch.
@@brinsonharris9816 YES!! It’s a brilliant bit of editing and minimising exposition in that one shot you see her composed when she’s asked when she was arrested before cutting to the next shot outside where she’s sobbing uncontrollably having lost the custody of her biological son.
Bill ULTIMATE 70'S dude! Takes himself out six seconds after and of the decade! He so regretted not shooting just a bit sooner. Ultimate 70s man now has a 1980 on his tombstone.
I like how Jack ended up putting a nice pairing of Little Bill in his house years later, and it appears he hung it in the exact same spot Bill blew his brains out on the wall.
Wow. Excellent question. Im thinking 1/1/80 But just by a hair. The wife was shot in the middle of the countdown. Then he took another 30 to 60 seconds to walk into the room and shoot.
I love it’s all one camera shot up to the crowd reaction. Outside to interior, through the house, back outside, to interior again... It’s like being there. This and the ‘drug dealer’ scene are 2 of the best!!! 💙#boogienights
The first person to do that kind of filming was Alfred Hitchcock. His movie Rope was all one take, except in 2 or 3 parts where the film had to be replaced. An amazing movie. I agree with you, that was a great scene in this movie.
Boogie Nights is like a time machine, transporting us back to that era, we're just observers i like how the direction of this film puts you there, invites you in, wants you to experince it with the characters, it is quite intimate ;)
I'm a pretty conservative person and I generally liked this movie. I really thought that this was going to be a flashback movie about the 70s and I didn't expect it to be about the porn industry of that era. I liked it because it kind of showed the human side of these people. There was a woman who lost custody of her kids because she was a porn actress, a guy couldn't get a loan because of his affiliation with the porn industry (which is something I quite understood), and this scene. I didn't know who to blame for their situations because on one hand why would the bank deny someone a loan to a person who was employed in the porn industry. The woman was destroyed as a bad mother because she was a porn star and she lost her kid because of it. I didn't know who to blame for the murder/suicide. On one hand, I could understand why someone would feel so enraged to kill two human beings in that situation but I know it was wrong what he did. I guess that is the whole moral point (if there was one) of the film which was that these people were in a bad industry but they were still human beings with feelings.
I’m glad I’ve never seen this movie. Nor would I be inclined to. Although I was in my 20s during the 1970s, this “boogie nights” disco era was waay after my time, thankfully!
Sure they both covered their point of topic, being the mob life and the porn industry life, but common dude Goodfellas is way better and more entertaining hands down
This scene best demonstrate the concept of "Its all really just fun and games until...." First nobody, even the audience really empathizes with bill. The idea that he has to watch his wife get fucked around even on a driveway is funny to everyone. Not even the audience would think that this is emotionally scarring for little bill. Why? Because like all the characters, we are all mesmerized by the carefree lifestyles they have. When the movie begins, there is so much optimism, feel-good music, positive outlook on the porn industry. Then we transition to the characters living in their primes, enjoying the best of times, achieving celebrity status for performing and filming sex acts. Its all really fun and games. Its only until we get to this scene when we realize just how filthy, and dark the pornography business is. We all saw them have a life because of pornography, but at the same time from here on we get to see how their lives will be taken from them because of it.
A man shoots himself with a handgun, blood is shown. The scene where Little Bill kills his wife and then kills himself is easily the most disturbing and graphic part in the movie.
Poor guy was humiliated and emasculated constantly by his wife. I have a dark sick sense of humor, but even someone as fucked up as me found this scene sad.
Watched the movie again after listening to the awesome Rewatchables podcast on it. What got me on this rewatch though, is how nice everyone is being to Little Bill in this scene as his whole world just falls apart.
He didn't belong in that world, especially during that time. He was the outsider forced to endure from within. Ironic as well that his wife was played by Nina Hartley.
When you think about it, revenge doesn't really work. If you try and hurt someone you're just going to ruin your own life or make your own life miserable. All you can do is just leave and try again once you realize you aren't respected.
His life was already ruined, and her was going to kill himself anyway. This isn't really the classical idea of "revenge", as he didn't even pretend he would gain any satisfaction or closure.
This scene takes place on New Year's Eve 1979-80. Back then HIV hadn't been discovered (that came in 1984) and the first clinical observations of AIDS were made by doctors and written up in medical journals in 1981. It was initially called GRIDS (Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome) because the initial reported cases were all gay men. In 1979-80 nobody worried much about STDs because the ones people knew about were all curable.
I seen a documentary about 10 years ago, where a teenage boy from the Bronx slept with a prostitute in 1956. He started getting weird symptoms and his testicles swole up to the size of grapefruits. They ran test after test after test, and found nothing recognizable. They assumed it was a form of elephantitis. Well, I wanna say it was around 1960 he died. They ran an autopsy and could not figure out what caused it. They eventually cross-sectioned his body and stored it in a freezer. Well when the AIDS epidemic broke out in the 1980's, a doctor realized that the symptoms of AIDS was identical to that of deceased teenage boy from 30 years prior. Well, he went and had some of the samples from that boy tested, and low-and-behold it turned out to be AIDS. Also, upon further investigation, the prostitute said boy slept with had previously visited a relative in Uganda (I believe) in 1956. Crazy stuff right there.
Eamon Wright there is evidence that AIDS goes as far back as the mid 1800s in Africa. And there are now 4 confirmed cases from the 40s, 50s and 60s in the us. There may be more.
- This is a single, master, steadycam shot, which took all afternoon to set up and rehearse. - He takes the time to lock the station wagon, but leave his drink on the roof. - The audio track would have been nice to include. Sound is 50% of the film. - I really hope that PT Anderson reads these discussions and debates about Little Bills character, and what he should and shouldn't have done. He would get a hoot! - Lastly, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the greatest directors of our generation
No it's not. After he shoots his wife the shot cuts, which makes sense because how else would they have done the blood spatter? That element meant it needed to be a different shot as you would've noticed whatever mechanism it is that allowed blood to spray the walls after pulling the trigger
