Between his origins as a musician with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and his extensive, Oscar-nominated acting career, chances are at some point you've been familiar with Mark Wahlberg's work.
The brother to New Kids On The Block performer Donnie Wahlberg got his start a little bit later than his brother, but has without a doubt had the more illustrious career. With prolific roles in movies like Three Kings, The Departed, The Fighter, and Lone Survivor, as well as roles in massive blockbuster franchises like Transformers, we love his roles and can usually forgive him for showing up in The Happening. Usually.
However, one movie that's pretty much ubiquitous with Wahlberg's Hollywood career is Boogie Nights. Directed by superstar filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia, There Will Be Blood), Boogie Nights was Wahlberg's big break into movies, where he played Dirk Diggler, a young up-and-comer (no pun intended) in California's pornography scene in the early 80s.
Featuring an all-star cast of not only Wahlberg, but Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle and Heather Graham, the movie was a critical darling and received three Oscar nominations, including Best Writer (Anderson), Best Actor (Reynolds), and Best Actress (Moore).
You'd think that Wahlberg would have fond memories of his big break coming from such a beloved movie, but it turns out he might have some problem with it, and people have been commenting on that fact...
Speaking to the Chicago Tribune ahead of an event with Cardinal Blase Cupich, Wahlberg stated that "I just always hope that God is a movie fan and also forgiving, because I've made some poor choices in my past." He then elaborated on those "poor choices," explaining that "'Boogie Nights' is up there at the top of the list."
Wahlberg, who has recently been very active regarding his Catholicism, seems to clearly take issue with the film's explicit subject matter, and what he worries could be the impression it leaves on people. He elaborates on other aspects of his life too, saying that:
"I've never been shy about sharing my past and the bad decisions I've made and being affiliated with gangs, being incarcerated, so absolutely I think they can identify with me on a personal level, and that's why I've continued to try to do as much as I can to help young people."
However, to some internet commentators, it's not his racy movie that Wahlberg should be asking for forgiveness or making amends for, but other elements of his early life, including his infamous incarceration for assaulting and blinding a Vietnamese immigrant while yelling racial epithets.
What do you think? Does Marky Mark have bigger things to apologize for than Boogie Nights?