Wonderland (2003)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

James Cox

Writers (WGA):

James Cox (written by) &
Captain Mauzner (written by) ...

Release Date:

24 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The '80s - unplugged. The murders - unveiled. The legend - unzipped.

Plot:

In the police investigation of a brutal crime scene, one man was at the center of it all: legendary porn star John Holmes.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Police | Porn | Los Angeles | Robbery

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Kate Bosworth	...	Dawn Schiller
Carrie Fisher	...	Sally Hansen
Val Kilmer	...	John Holmes
Kim Marriner	...	Reporter (as Kim Mariner)
Dylan McDermott	...	David Lind
Michael Pitt	...	Gopher (scenes deleted)
Alexis Dziena	...	Gopher's Girlfriend (scenes deleted)
Karen LaKritz	...	Bartender (as Karen Lakritz)
Steve Cox	...	Guy at Bar
Josh Lucas	...	Ron Launius
Louis Lombardi	...	Slim Jim
Franky G	...	Louis Cruz (as Franky G.)
Ted Levine	...	Sam Nico
Russell Sams	...	Cherokee
Chris Cioffi	...	Letterman Meathead

Also Known As:

The Wonderland Murders (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/grisly images, pervasive drug use and language, some sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #39469) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

L.A.P.D. Hollywood Station - 1358 Wilcox Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

In the real life story, John did not call Eddie Nash after the robbery at his place. Rather, John was spotted by some of Nash's associates in Hollywood. They noticed that John was wearing some of the jewelry that was stolen in the robbery and told Nash about it. John was then accosted by two gunmen who then took him to Nash for questioning.

Goofs:

Continuity: Dawn can be heard urinating into the soda can, but when she throws it out of the car, it sounds empty when it lands.

Quotes:

John Holmes: Three men partook in the robbery of Eddie Nash's house that morning. Two of them were killed at the Wonderland house the following night.
Billy Ward: What about the one that's still alive?
John Holmes: A dude from Sacramento, a biker. This guy is a stone cold killer, a liar, theft, and a rapist.
Billy Ward: What's his name?
John Holmes: David Lind. Don't believe a word he says!

Movie Connections:

References "Three's Company" (1977)

Soundtrack:

Maggot Brain

Not too Bad..

I've read many negative reviews of this movie and finally got a chance to see it on DVD. To be honest I really don't know what the problem with it is.

It's a decent murder mystery thriller, shown from various points of view, from an eccentric cast of often drugged out potential killers/suspects, including the late porn king, John Holmes. Please read the plot synopsis for the exact details of the movie's plot - I wish to contribute more to a review than a synopsis.

Many reviewers went so far to give this movie their lowest rating due to violence but I really don't see it. MANY modern movies were worse - Saving Private Ryan was ultimately more violent than this movie, which often relies on implied blood stains than actual brutal slayings (the murders depicted in this film were done with lead pipes, afterall).

I was enthralled with both halves of the movie - the first showing John Holmes as a hopeless cash hungry drug addict, and the second half showing his side as a minor conspirator in a senseless bloodbath. The movie has excellent acting, even though Dylan McDemorant looks more than a bit out of place in his biker-esque personia and goatee'ed bad boy personality.

The soundtrack was also awesome - a fantastic mix of 70's B-side rock and obscure pop, spread out over a couple of hours in all the right places ala Boogie Nights.