WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Paul Thomas Anderson
CAST: Julianne Moore
Tom Cruise
Jason Robards
Philip Seymour Hoffman
William H. Macy
Philip Baker Hall
Melora Walters
Jeremy Blackman
Michael Bowen
Alfred Molina
MPAA: Rated R for strong language, drug use, sexuality and some violence. Runtime: USA:188 / UK:188 / Argentina:188 / Finland:188 / France:184 / Japan:187 Language: English Color: Black and White / Color (DeLuxe) Sound Mix: Dolby / SDDS Certification: USA:R / UK:18 / Germany:12 / Hong Kong:IIB / Mexico:B / Netherlands:16 / Singapore:PG / Norway:11 /Sweden:11
RATING: 9/10 - BEST PICTURE - #6
"..We may be finished with the past, but the past is not finished with us.." - MAGNOLIA
Paul T. Anderson's 'Magnolia' is truly an exotic flower, dazzling with its freshness and beauty. And the closer you look, the more you see of its splendor. Other critics have already written many reviews depicting its length and dullness. There are many stories. Some even fall asleep in the theatre. So if you were discouraged by such remarks, think again! Because this picture is one of the most interesting and original films of the year.
To sum up 'Magnolia' is impossible and unnecessary, since I trust you'll see this film anyway, but I'll try. On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father (Jason Robards), a young wife (Julianne Moore), a male caretaker (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a famous lost son (Tom Cruise), a police officer in love (John C. Reilly), a boy genius (Jeremy Blackman), an ex-boy genius (William H. Macy), a wealthy game show host (Philip Baker Hall) and an estranged daughter (Melora Walters ) will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story. Through a collusion of coincidence, chance, human action, shared media, past history and divine intervention they will weave and warp through each other's lives on a day that builds to an unforgettable climax. Some will seek forgiveness, others escape. Some will mend frayed bonds, others will be exposed. Magnolia is a mosaic of American life woven through a series of comic and poignant vignettes. It is a portrait of a lonely city sometimes called up short on love. It is a personal exploration of the hidden elements of crisis. It is a story about putting things right again.
P.T. Anderson had his debut with "Boogey Nights" in 1997 -- a strong and shocking peek into the porn industry. As many other original films, it was underrated and unfairly treated, robbing Anderson for a deserved Oscar nomination. "Magnolia" is his second venture into the world of filmmaking. Anderson is an "actors' director". His cast consists of many great stars and some not so great ones, but everyone gives an award worthy performance. That includes Julianne Moore as the hysterical young beauty, Jason Robards as the alienated and forgotten father. And then you have Tom Cruise , that gives a mesmerizing and completely unexpected performance that is probably the best I've seen this year. He plays Frank Mackey, a sex-guru that has gained enormous popularity in the "underground". He is the leader of confused men that are scared, hurt or dumped by women. His only problem, underneath the sparkling facade, is dealing with his past. This is Tom as you've never seen him - with a pony tail, leather clothes and an energy that would make Muhamed Ali look like a slow turtle in comparison, Cruise magnetizes the audience with his best performance in years. The reason that the acting is at such high level has a lot to do with Anderson's fabulous script. He creates characters that are so colorful and real, that they almost jump out of the screen. There is a cop - an idealist that lives to help people out of trouble. He dreams of a perfect world. Despite of his goodness and genuine kindness, he is unappreciated and unlucky. Coincidentally (?) he meets a girl and falls in love, but is too clumsy and shy to tell her how he feels. There is a wiz-kid that can answer any question, besides how to win his father's love. There is a young wife that married her husband for money and only realizes that she really loves him when he is dying. You really want these guys to be well, so that they can finally find happiness.
'Magnolia' has resemblance to 'Eyes Wide Shut', in its story and character development and surrealistic components. The film starts fast, almost hysterically, with cameras moving quickly back and forth, and events overlapping. After a while Anderson slows down and we can dive into these people, although we only get to see one day of their lives. Each person and event is like one unique beautiful leaf, each sprung out of one common source, that somehow binds and connects them. It is simply a different expression. You can't just observe it from a distance. You have to let yourself go, and when Anderson has you, he doesn't let go. And then you'll cry and laugh and walk out of the theatre enlightened.
"Magnolia" is a day in our lives. A fragment. It is a story about love, regret and forgiveness. It is about coincidences and how they affect our lives. It questions whether things "just happen" or whether everything is a part of a big and complex plan. Is the universe laughing with us or at us? Chance or Fate? Coincidence or Destiny? Yes, strange things do happen.
The review above was posted to the
rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup (de.rec.film.kritiken for German reviews).
The Internet Movie Database accepts no responsibility for the contents of the
review and has no editorial control. Unless stated otherwise, the copyright
belongs to the author.
Please direct comments/criticisms of the review to relevant newsgroups.
Broken URLs inthe reviews are the responsibility of the author.
The formatting of the review is likely to differ from the original due
to ASCII to HTML conversion.
Related links: index of all rec.arts.movies.reviews reviews