 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate Films
Salesrank: 25681
Released: February 10, 2004 |
| Our Price: $8.95 |
| Used Price: $1.95 |
|
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
The dark underside of Boogie Nights is tracked in Wonderland, a sleaze-filled look at the notorious "Wonderland Murders" of 1981. The movie attempts to explain how the legendarily endowed porn actor John C. Holmes was involved in the killings, while deliberately suggesting the difficulty of knowing the truth of a murky case. The police procedural aspects turn out to be less intriguing than the weirdly hapless domestic life of Holmes (Val Kilmer at his most dazed), who despite his promiscuity continues to rely on his starchy, clean-cut wife (an unflattering role for Lisa Kudrow, but the most interesting character in the picture). Well-known actors--notably a near-unrecognizable Dylan McDermott--slouch through the story, which rather distracts from the aggressively realistic approach. In the end, the unclean aura makes one yearn for the stylized ingenuity of Boogie Nights, or at least a reason to be watching this story this way. --Robert Horton
Wonderland Reviews:
the extras are better than the actual film! 
2008-06-27 - Presumably the director made this film frantic and confusing on purpose, to better simulate the world as seen through the eyes of coke addicts.
Even assuming that to be the case, though, the technique wasn't successful. Tremendous demands are made on the viewer: unless you know a great deal about the Wonderland murders, you'll simply be on the wrong foot for virtually the entire film.
Unfortunately, if you DO know something about the Wonderland murders, this film has little of interest to add.
What's really great about this DVD, though, is not the film itself, but rather the feature-length documentary that comes on the second disk: "The Life and Times of Johnny Wadd." This is so well done that it alone is worth the price of admission: it will tell you all you ever wanted to know about not only John Holmes, but the Wonderland murders as well.
Dazed and Confusing Look at Graphic Murder Case
2008-02-07 - I had read a few things about this bizarre case before seeing the film but "Wonderland" basically goes nowhere fast. The story is presented in two versions - neither of which make a lot of sense. This is an ugly story of drugs, sex, and blackmail that revolves around the totally unattractive but well-endowed porn king John Holmes (Kilmer, in a dizzying performance). The supporting players range from a tattooed and over-the-top Dylan McDermott to Josh Lucas and Eric Bogosian doing their standard sleazy guy routine. The best performance in the film belongs to an uncharacterically subdued Lisa Kudrow as Holmes' suffering wife. This film reminds me of Al Pacino's ugly "Cruising" and it is'nt better.
Pay attention! 
2008-01-26 - Some reviewers have had problems with the movie's continuity, but pay close attention and it will be worth it! Told from two viewpoints, Wonderland allows you to develop your own answers about the murder case. Kilmer was great in this role (his only better performance was as Doc Holiday in Tombstone) and McDermott was incredible as such a low-life!
Great historical fiction film about an american subculture icon 
2007-12-17 - I saw this movie in the theatre, and liked it, but not as much as re-watching it on dvd. Seeing it a second time made me really appreciate the decent story that was woven by this tale. John Holmes (AKA Jonny Wadd) was a legend in the adult film industry. This is the tale of how the mighty have fallen. The story is what Boogie Nights is loosly based on, which is also one of my favorite movies. I was impressed by the performance by dillon mcdermott and val kilmer, and the overall cinematography of this film.
The real treasure of this edition is the "WADD" feature on the second disc, an almost two hour documetary of the life of John Holmes with his wife, his girlfriend, and many of the actresses that he had involvment with over the years. Very well made with people who viewed his life from both sides. I highly recommend viewing this movie if you like historical drama and liked boogie nights.
Sad but True.
2007-09-21 - Excellent work from a gifted cast and kudos to the director for an inescapable, pervading sense of darkness and evil throughout this picture. Val Kilmer is a longtime favorite of mine and delivers a great, effortless performance as an addicted, sad and confused man at his wit's end who (unwittingly?) gets involved in an impossible situation that spirals out of control and ends in murder. Of particular note in this film are; Josh Lucas as a crazed drug fiend who lights up the screen every time he appears, Dylan McDermott as David Lind whose version of the Wonderland caper we hear first(the version I believe)and Lisa Kudrow as Sharon Holmes who at first, seems to underplay her role but in later scenes reveals layers of hurt, resentment and inner strength that break your heart. "Wonderland" is a jolting, fast-paced film that will repel some viewers with it's violence, coarse language and overall air of sorrow, after a while you are truly disgusted by and feel sorry for these people and the sad state of thier lives. Compulsively watchable and engagingly acted.
