SummaryOn one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story. [New Line Cinema]
SummaryOn one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story. [New Line Cinema]
I thought PTA couldn't possibly surpass his achievement in Boogie Nights, but Magnolia has proved me wrong, and I couldn't be happier.
Treating forgiveness and past through various subplots, Magnolia is one of the most narratively-ambitious films I recall watching, with a neverending cast, hipnotic camera work (which mutates through the film, alongside its dramatic tone) and a OUTSTANDING screenplay.
The "frog" moment is probably my favourite scene from PTA's whole filmography.
The length flies by. Great look at how we overcomplicate and **** up our lives over **** that doesn’t really matter — and how much better it would be if we could simplify our lives down to what truly counts.
Drunk and disorderly on the pure joy of making movies. A frantic, flawed, fascinating film that is both impressive and a bit out of control, often at the same time.
Exhausting at times, frustrating in others, Magnolia is mostly just exhilarating, the product of a raw, vibrant talent finding his footing in an adult world -- and unafraid to make mistakes.
I keep trying, but I cannot connect with Paul Thomas Anderson supposed genius and mystery. This film is a fantastic formal exercise. Editing, music, acting, characters ... but, I cannot feel anything else. For me, it lacks depth and exploration, heart and truth. Maybe it is there, but I certainly cannot see it.i
Idk what to say. I hate it but I liked it. I enjoyed the ride. The movie was very well written and coherent all the way up to the end and it isn't until you've invested 2hr 30min. of your life that you realize it was all for naught. All you can think about is 3 hours for that... It was at an 8 and could have been higher with an "identity" ending but it is what it is.
Magnolia has some good performances, some good cinematography, was Oscar-nominated, but what about its **** some worthiness? If you enjoy a lot of actor abuse, verbal abuse (even professional child abuse) you could somehow like this movie. If you've ever wondered what a movie might be like that's written and directed by a self-confessed cocaine user, under-aged pornography addict, as well as being, Quote; “my favourite filmmaker copycat” - then this could be getting close to realising your dream (perhaps this might also sadly sum up Hollywood today and some audiences) Have tried to sit this through several times (only because of the cast and the hugely conflicting reviews!) but each time was left wanting to throw something at the screen or run screaming from the room. 'Over-everything' is one description that readily comes to mind but, other unprintable ones are first and foremost. Many others have neatly summed-up this tosh very well but few can ever do it the justice it deserves. Writer/director P.T. Anderson can’t even write a single paragraph that's not filled with vulgar language or unnecessary four-letter words and 90% of his characters are not worth caring for.
Maybe this could be another example of the modern Academies short-sightedness spotlighting one of the reasons why so many patrons stopped going to the movies around this time, also why many movies of this ilk don't deliver the good returns expected. If your life is so uneventful that you can throw away over three (yes 3) laborious hours of visual splendour being wasted on a theme so repugnantly ugly - then you're welcome to this excruciatingly heavy-handed overindulgence. The movie plays out like several movies in one, with none of them much good or making much sense when edited together - mild interest soon gives way to boredom. As for the director’s favourite singer being played endlessly in the background, this just becomes another annoyance. When a moviemaker publicly makes a statement like: "I'll make pretty good movies the rest of my life but I guess Magnolia is, for better or worse, the best movie I'll ever make". Then please let me say: Stay out of our lives P.T. Anderson - way out. But of course, those either on the payroll or who consider themselves as knowing better than most will disagree.
This movie drags on for over 3 hours. A note for the director, if you're going to make a 3 hour and 8 minute long movie make sure the actors have great chemistry & that the movie has a message. Magnolia has neither of these crucial elements.