Magnolia

Name: Magnolia
Genre: Drama
Released: December 17, 1999
Duration: 188 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Jason Robards, Jeremy Blackman, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall

1999

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 668 Ratings

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4.5

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4.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 668 Ratings

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Magnolia

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 17, 1999 | R

Starring: Jason Robards, Jeremy Blackman, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Cruise, William H. Macy

Summary: On 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]

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 188 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

F. X. Feeney

Part poem, part jungle blossom, all brilliance. Read full review

100

Lou Lumenick

Hands-down the best movie of the year. Read full review

Peter Travers

One of the best movies of the year--startling, innovative, hugely funny and powerfully, courageously moving.

Kenneth Turan

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. Read full review

Jay Carr

Magnolia is "Short Cuts" with hope. It's my kind of mess. Read full review

Emanuel Levy

A remarkably inventive and audacious film that almost overcomes its flaws. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

A three-hour-and-10-minute exercise in slight characterization, pointlessly showy editing and vapid plotting. Read full review

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User Reviews

seancriswell

Oct 7, 2012

Every so often a movie that you have heard a lot about but never seen blows your mind. Magnolia is one of those movies for me. Immediately after viewing this film I knew that it would be on my mind for weeks and that it would become one of my top 10 films. Every character in this movie isEvery so often a movie that you have heard a lot about but never seen blows your mind. Magnolia is one of those movies for me. Immediately after viewing this film I knew that it would be on my mind for weeks and that it would become one of my top 10 films. Every character in this movie is interesting on multiple levels. Every scene in this movie is thoughtful and poignant. The scenes that opponents of this film have problems with, the frogs and the musical interlude, work for me in every way. Both these scenes do seem out of place in this story, but for me that is what makes them amazing. They come from nowhere, but interlock these characters in a visceral, interesting way. There is so much to unravel in a film this large, with multiple plot lines and characters running both separate from each other and together at various times. You could probably write a book trying to accurately review this movie. I look forward to watching this movie again and again over the years, and trying to unravel all the characters and premises in my mind.… Expand

5 of 30 users found this helpful525

KyleS

Jun 20, 2008

My favorite movie ever. A beautiful, bold and downright astonishing exploration of a group of realistic and convoluted characters with so many interlocking themes, similarities and events you could fill a book. Incredible acting, an ingenious and entrancing ending sequence, praiseworthy My favorite movie ever. A beautiful, bold and downright astonishing exploration of a group of realistic and convoluted characters with so many interlocking themes, similarities and events you could fill a book. Incredible acting, an ingenious and entrancing ending sequence, praiseworthy direction, a wonderful script and original songs by the terrific Aimee Mann all bolster this into a hypnotic masterpiece. One thing I will say, though, is that you need to watch this film when you have 3 free hours and nothing on your mind. Let it suck you in... if you are not paying attention, or if you are overthinking, you will hate it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

netflic

Nov 2, 2020

Oh boy, oh boy. I don't know where to begin.
They cannot make movies like this nowadays.
One percent of what is there would be considered too politically incorrect. And that is a shame, because it is a masterpiece. I watched it 20 years ago when it just came out, in a theater. And I lovedOh boy, oh boy. I don't know where to begin.
They cannot make movies like this nowadays.
One percent of what is there would be considered too politically incorrect.
And that is a shame, because it is a masterpiece.
I watched it 20 years ago when it just came out, in a theater. And I loved it.
Since then I forgot what it was about, I just remembered that I loved it 20 years ago.
Decided to watch it again. So happy I did.
The movie is intensely packed. The script is enough to make at least three good dramas of
Shakespearean quality. The ensemble of actors... All the best of the very best is there.
Performances vary from very good to breathtaking.
Some would say it is too intense, too intermingled. Maybe.
The clear advantage of watching it at home is that one can take a break when it becomes unbearable, and it does. That is when you know it is not just a good movie.
Plus you could read subtitles and not miss any word they sometimes mumble.
'Nough said.
It is a must-see movie.… Expand

0 of 11 users found this helpful011

filmdude

Jan 18, 2008

I was speechless after watching this film lately. I heard good things about it and never had the chance to watch it. At first I thought it felt like experienmental film. Then I realized this film wasn't the conventional single-story driven film that an average hollywood films portray. I was speechless after watching this film lately. I heard good things about it and never had the chance to watch it. At first I thought it felt like experienmental film. Then I realized this film wasn't the conventional single-story driven film that an average hollywood films portray. It was expressing life as a community. Well, a community of a small group. This LIFE felt CHAOS from start to end. To smile it off at the bitter facts of life it decided to throw in the frogs.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Spangle

Aug 23, 2014

Who would guess that a film like this would be successful? However, it absolutely is. Magnolia explores the themes of loneliness, regret, forgiveness, the past, and parent-child relationships, with snapshots of the life of a group of broken and troubled people who are all linked, even ifWho would guess that a film like this would be successful? However, it absolutely is. Magnolia explores the themes of loneliness, regret, forgiveness, the past, and parent-child relationships, with snapshots of the life of a group of broken and troubled people who are all linked, even if they do not know it. Thanks to great acting from the ensemble cast featuring Tom Cruise, Melinda Dillon, Jeremy Blackman, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards, and Melora Walters, Magnolia's diverse (yet not as diverse as you may think) are brought to life brilliantly. It also does not hurt that the writing is superb and the depth we go to with these characters in just three hours is amazing. On that note, this one comes in at three hours and in spite of it, it feels like it was nothing more than an hour and a half, as the runtime just flies by. The ending is incredibly odd, though it brings the biblical references and the freak happenings of this one to conclusion nicely, as odd as it may truly be. Overall, Magnolia is a beautiful and brilliantly made film that will move and entertain you.… Expand

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

rotku

Feb 19, 2012

Interesting interwoven tale of numerous lives although the Tom Cruise character dominates the movie. A superbly acted and directed movie which everybody should see.

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

JonW.

Jul 7, 2006

I thought "The Village", "Random Hearts" and "Intersection" were the worst movies of all time. Now they're only the 2nd - 4th worst movies of all time thank to this hunk of junk. The most interesting part of the film was the first 1 minute when 3 coincidences were summarized - the only I thought "The Village", "Random Hearts" and "Intersection" were the worst movies of all time. Now they're only the 2nd - 4th worst movies of all time thank to this hunk of junk. The most interesting part of the film was the first 1 minute when 3 coincidences were summarized - the only coincidence involving the actual characters in the movie were the boredom in which they inflicted, the pointlessness of their stories and the over-the-top acting by all of the cast members. By the end of the movie, I was praying that they all would die together, quickly because I cared nothing for any of them and only wanted to stop my pain. It will be tough to top this one as the worst ever, but I'm sure some Hollywood genius is already hard at work.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful

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26	#26 Best Movie of 1999
14	#14 Most Discussed Movie of 1999