Magnolia (1999)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Kase V

  
  Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Magnolia' is a great achievment for the director. The acting from the great ensemble cast was brilliant (Tom Cruise= WOW), the camera work was the usual PTA top notch, and the surprising, unexpected climax was appalling. Fans of Film should… More
  Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Magnolia' is a great achievment for the director. The acting from the great ensemble cast was brilliant (Tom Cruise= WOW), the camera work was the usual PTA top notch, and the surprising, unexpected climax was appalling. Fans of Film should relish such a multi-layered film, but the casual movie watcher may find the 3 hour run time too much to handle.

• Graham J

  
  PTA uses what he learned from watching Robert Altman and creates an epic, operatic masterpiece. With an ensemble cast that is second to none, this one blew me away.

• William D

  
  I finally sat down and watched the three-hour epic "Magnolia" from Paul Thomas Anderson ("There Will Be Blood"). I found it to be a sterile, overblown intellectual exercise with no characters that had any authenticity. All the characters, and there are about 20,… More
  I finally sat down and watched the three-hour epic "Magnolia" from Paul Thomas Anderson ("There Will Be Blood"). I found it to be a sterile, overblown intellectual exercise with no characters that had any authenticity. All the characters, and there are about 20, were caricatures intended to convey the filmmaker's ideas. Not one of them felt like a real person to me. Furthermore, the filmmaker's ideas weren't interesting. The legendary frog shower at the end struck me as a pretentious device from a screenwriter running on empty. Rarely have I seen a filmmaker try so hard and come up so empty-handed.

• moon r

  
  Forgiveness, like anything truly important in life, is all too easily spoke of and ruminated over but oh so difficult to come to. Anderson boldly attacks this consideration with a masterpiece of an ensemble work that's perhaps not for everyone and yet nonetheless sublimely… More
  Forgiveness, like anything truly important in life, is all too easily spoke of and ruminated over but oh so difficult to come to. Anderson boldly attacks this consideration with a masterpiece of an ensemble work that's perhaps not for everyone and yet nonetheless sublimely stunning and magnificent.

• Liam G

  
  When watching Magnolia, many emotions go through your head at different stages. There are times when you might laugh, times when you might cry, but the final scene provides an emotion greater than any other. Hope. When a certain character smiles, you smile, as you know that even in… More
  When watching Magnolia, many emotions go through your head at different stages. There are times when you might laugh, times when you might cry, but the final scene provides an emotion greater than any other. Hope. When a certain character smiles, you smile, as you know that even in difficult times there is always someone who cares about you and help you get through it. Paul Thomas Anderson made a film where everything falls into place beautifully. You follow 9 characters apart of one storyline, and not one feels out of place or under developed. This is one of the best ensamble casts in a film I've ever witnessed. Everyone gives a truly magnificent performance, with Philip Baker Hall, Julianne Moore and especially Tom Cruise, who gives the performance of his lifetime, standing out. The screenplay proves to have incredibly moving moments, which Anderson executes in a way that shows his genius. You will be able to identify with the characters, you can connect with all 9 of them. Certain scenes will always stick in my mind, as will the incredible soundtrack. All of these stories lead to an unforgettable climax and to the scene I mentioned at the beginning of this review. It is a film essential for you to watch, it may help you at a time in your life. P.T. Anderson said that, for better or for worse, Magnolia will be his best film. It is, arguably, his best film.

• Spencer S

  
  The keywords given to describe this film are perfect: deep, weird, depressing, and complex. In the very beginning we're told that the lives of these people all somehow intersect to make a type of tapestry that weaves the events of the film together. Some of the characters are… More
  The keywords given to describe this film are perfect: deep, weird, depressing, and complex. In the very beginning we're told that the lives of these people all somehow intersect to make a type of tapestry that weaves the events of the film together. Some of the characters are nicely put together, including TJ Mackey (Cruise), a misogynistic self help guru for likewise heterosexual men trying to claim women as possessions. Cruise is intertwined with Earl Patridge (Robards) a wealthy man on his death bed, awaiting closure with his son, TJ, before he dies. Tied into all of this are the stories of Earl's wife (Moore) a woman utterly hysterical at her own stupidity and certain newfound love for her aged husband, a cop who loves a woman who is secretly a junkie, a dying game show host, and a former boy wonder who is left with less intellect after being struck by lightening. Nothing here is the type of weirdness that infatuates the hipster breed, but instead a strange series of events that are both nonsenical to the average person, but also scope the quite average person's take on death, love, addiction, possession, and leaving the past to dwell in said past. Besides the ridiculous ending (SPOILER ALERT: frogs rain down from the sky) everything is shown to be building to some form of resolution. It caters to everyone's mindset, without belying the point of happiness and forgiveness, central to all of Anderson's films.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Magnolia is proof that Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the best directors working today. P.T.A. achieved not only an impressive film, but he managed to put together an undisputable classic. He made two otherwise ridiculous scenes work, and actually made them seem necessary… More
  Magnolia is proof that Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the best directors working today. P.T.A. achieved not only an impressive film, but he managed to put together an undisputable classic. He made two otherwise ridiculous scenes work, and actually made them seem necessary (they're, of course, the singing bit and the frog rain). Beautifully shot and scored, by Robert Elswit and Jon Bryon, respectively, Magnolia flows smoothly, while it successfully moves you with its strong portrayals of diseased and troubled lives. The film is a beautiful work of art on so many levels: the cinematography, the score, the editing, Anderson's master-class direction, and of course, its most popular asset: the unbelievable ensemble cast. Tom Cruise gives his best performance here, but other actors stand out too, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Melora Walters, Philip Baker Hall, Jason Robards, William H. Macy and April Grace.

• Shawn E

  
  An emotional and complex film with some terrific performances by an all-star cast. The film might run a little long and the story might be a bit strange, but there's definitely something special here.

• Steven C

  
  Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" is a powerhouse of a film. It's complex, probing, emotional and unforgettable. Every actor in it's large ensemble turns in a riveting performance. "Magnolia" is as much of an opera as it is a film, with is epic… More
  Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" is a powerhouse of a film. It's complex, probing, emotional and unforgettable. Every actor in it's large ensemble turns in a riveting performance. "Magnolia" is as much of an opera as it is a film, with is epic emotional scale and larger than life but always intensely human performances.

• Lewis C

  
  I've watched this three times in the last few days, and I feel like watching it again as I write this. It's extremely complex; even more so than the other Paul Thomas Anderson movies. I know how I feel about it, but it's almost impossible to communicate it with words.  … More
  I've watched this three times in the last few days, and I feel like watching it again as I write this. It's extremely complex; even more so than the other Paul Thomas Anderson movies. I know how I feel about it, but it's almost impossible to communicate it with words.   There are so many characters and so many loosely connected plotlines, but I  never once felt lost. The fact that this three hour movie never once feels tedious or drawn-out, is absolutely amazing. It's incredibly easy to watch and get swept up in the events of these people's lives. Some of them are much more interesting than others. A few of the characters and storylines held little interest for me, but what John C. Reilly, Tom Cruise, and (especially) Melora Walters do here is just amazing. I never thought I'd see a movie with Philip Seymour Hoffman and William H. Macy in it where they weren't the best actors, but as good as they were, they can't hold a candle to the three performances I just mentioned. This isn't for everyone. That's an understatement. Some people will find it pretentious. Others, will find certain events absurd. And most people will find themselves searching for the meaning of it all, after it ends. Magnolia is the kind of movie that requires repeated viewings, so be aware of that. Every single time I've watched it, I've understood and loved it a little bit more. Once you watch that final scene and feel something click inside you, you'll know that you've seen something special. Something so ambitious and unique that there's really little I can compare it to.

• Eric S

  
  "You can forget the past, but the past won't forget you." Quite a briliant film that has a lot to offer, and is what I believe to be an educational piece of cinema by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film consists of a series of poignant vignettes of nine interrelated… More
  "You can forget the past, but the past won't forget you." Quite a briliant film that has a lot to offer, and is what I believe to be an educational piece of cinema by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film consists of a series of poignant vignettes of nine interrelated characters through coincidence, past history, human action, and divine intervention in the San Fernando Valley. There is a lot going on in this film that touches on many issues which are problems in our society, and how certain individuals choose to deal with them. As John C. Reilly's police officer character says, "Sometimes you forgive people and let them off, and sometimes you send them to jail." This pertains not to only prison, but to the containment which dwells within each of us which keeps our emotions behind bars that are so desperately in need of freedom.

• Creep F

  
  "I have a feeling, one of those gut feelings, that I'll make pretty good movies the rest of my life. And maybe I'll make some clunkers, maybe I'll make some winners, but I guess the way that I really feel is that Magnolia is, for better or worse, the best movie… More
  "I have a feeling, one of those gut feelings, that I'll make pretty good movies the rest of my life. And maybe I'll make some clunkers, maybe I'll make some winners, but I guess the way that I really feel is that Magnolia is, for better or worse, the best movie I'll ever make." - Paul Thomas Anderson P.T. Anderson, alongside of Tarantino, is one of Hollywood's new greatest writers. I am by no means comparing P.T's style of filmmaking to Quentin's, because in fact they are both unique, but on two different levels entirely. And as I do find Anderson to be far superior in the technical standpoint of storytelling, there's no denying that Tarantino has an exquisitely, intellectual ability of his own. And to put Anderson ten steps above him is saying a lot. Magnolia, written only for screen by P.T. Anderson, plays off more like a masterfully skilled, in dept, detailed novel, with the visuals to tour us through each and every chapter. It was written with fresh, immense honesty, with every word standing true to us, even holding a personal note to each owns individual experiences and aspects we hold at hand. It's pure genius to say the least, and P.T.'s best work yet. Magnolia tells us of a forthcoming, an act in nature's fury, or maybe even a blessing, a turning point for things to come, or maybe even an act of God? Who's to say? Is there an answer to this riddle? Whatever lies beneath, one thing for sure that comes to surface, is the possibility of any unforeseeable act, putting a crack in any coincidental circumstance. It's like P.T. Anderson's personal bible, his own take on faith and human understandings, written in his own blood and sealed with undeniable certainty. Storytelling (and much deeper), simply at it's best. "The film begins with a narrator telling us three separate stories based on the theme of coincidence. From there, we meet 9 characters whose lives are all connected in one way or another. We follow them all over the course of one day and watch their lives change forever." The acting here, from each person involved, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Robards, and Tom Cruise (especially Tom Cruise)...all phenomenal. It's a powerhouse display of sadness, rage, and regrettable lifestyle, that doesn't just rock the boat, it sinks it. It'll effect you in one way or another, but by touching you in the deepest of places, either moving you with intensity, from the vibrant realism sweating off each characters forehead, to the blood pulsating in their veins, running with fear. Or it'll fill you with sadness, maybe even animosity, and sometimes tickling your funny bone, but either way...it'll all come from the heart. Filmmaking wise? Choice of style, usage of lighting, the (untarnished and stylish) long dolly shots, and overall pacing and tone?...Fabulously structured! Beautifully flawless! P.T. Anderson is the real deal when it comes to filmmaking, as he's proven himself with his first, remarkable feature, noir piece, "Hard Eight", and then the dementedly funny, but hard hitting and provocative, Oscar nominee "Boogie Nights" (which clearly, Martin Scorsese was of much inspiration), but of course P.T. was able to pull that off just right. ...Now his third feature Magnolia. A slightly deranged, powerfully emotional, and funny motion picture. It's an epic of storytelling. One of the best films of 1999! Character driven study of lonely desperations, and the possibilities of life turning ultimatums through the darkest, and most aberrant, occurrences of chances that life sometimes has to offer. In the end, Magnolia doesn't provide any simple answers, but yet leaves an idea that promise isn't always a search of endless misfortune, and maybe when all hope has failed us, and we stop trying to find any meaning, maybe...just maybe, it will find us. - Exodus 8:2 reads, "And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs." <img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/Horror/Magnolia.jpg">

• Conner R

  
  Paul Thomas Anderson's most unique film and also probably one of his most powerful. It gives you a series of characters that you inevitably fall in love with and relate to. Not only is it a triumph in Anderson's style, but also a series of flawless performances from Tom… More
  Paul Thomas Anderson's most unique film and also probably one of his most powerful. It gives you a series of characters that you inevitably fall in love with and relate to. Not only is it a triumph in Anderson's style, but also a series of flawless performances from Tom Cruise, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore.

• Wahida K

  
  Things fall down. People look up. And when it rains, it pours.

• Anthony L

  
  For me, this is maybe the most overrated film ever made! Tom Cruise's performance is cringingly awful. Only William H. Macy it seems is acting, and, I'm sorry, but the 'frog rain' ending is not a clever twist, It really annoys me thinking about it, I have so many… More
  For me, this is maybe the most overrated film ever made! Tom Cruise's performance is cringingly awful. Only William H. Macy it seems is acting, and, I'm sorry, but the 'frog rain' ending is not a clever twist, It really annoys me thinking about it, I have so many reasons why I hate this film that my brain hurts! Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most overrated directors ever.

• Jens S

  
  After a really amusing and curious beginning with three short stories of unbelievable coincidences, this ensemble drama requires quite some patience from the audience over its three hours. There are mostly just conversations, scenes switch from character to character with little… More
  After a really amusing and curious beginning with three short stories of unbelievable coincidences, this ensemble drama requires quite some patience from the audience over its three hours. There are mostly just conversations, scenes switch from character to character with little progress in the action and total uncertainty about where all this is going while the score buzzes threateningly in the background. It's the characters and the actors filling these roles that keep you on the edge of your seat anyway. by the end you feel as if you've known them for a very long time, although we only see one day on their lives. The acting is some of the best you could have seen in the last 10 years. Tom Cruise gives the performance of his lifetime showing how underrated as an actor he is, Jason Robards really looks and talks as if he is about to die and P.S. Hoffman is fantastic as always, just to name a few. Aimee Mann's songs add a very special feeling to the film, the scene where the whole ensemble sings along to one of them in different places is pure movie magic. Intelligent, moving, well written and gloomy but not without hope. A must see.

• Dan S

  
  An extremely well-acted ensemble piece by ten actors in a story drenched in sadness and regret. Leading the way is Tom Cruise as a charismatic self-help maniac, this is his best performance. Although the story is incredibly depressing, the parallels these characters share with one… More
  An extremely well-acted ensemble piece by ten actors in a story drenched in sadness and regret. Leading the way is Tom Cruise as a charismatic self-help maniac, this is his best performance. Although the story is incredibly depressing, the parallels these characters share with one another is a work of art, thanks to director Paul Thomas Anderson. The last twenty minutes are not meant to be taken literally, but figuratively, and you can't say when you think of the movie, the word "predictable" comes to mind. All in all, a fascinating character study, with a Biblical-like ending to boot.

• Cassandra M

  
  A dazzling epic of coincidence and fate during one day in the San Fernando Valley. This opens with a short story about some "true-life" examples of coincidence designed to show us that these things can't "just happen" and that there must be more to it than… More
  A dazzling epic of coincidence and fate during one day in the San Fernando Valley. This opens with a short story about some "true-life" examples of coincidence designed to show us that these things can't "just happen" and that there must be more to it than that. It then flies into the lives of a handful of different characters in a exhilarating introduction to a game show host, a sex guru, a police officer, a dying father, a male nurse, a drug addict to name a few. After this the speed slows down slightly and the characters are given time to develop and the stories begin to interlink. Paul Thomas Anderson continues to get better and better with Hard Eight, Boogie Nights and now this. Here he gives a human touch to the director where someone like Altman would have been colder and more clinical. He seems to care about these characters and encourages us to do likewise. The direction is astonishing - it moves at a fast pace when it needs to, it is still and watching when appropriate and, at times, it is downright beautiful in a visionary way. Anderson's tries some audacious tricks and manages to pull them off - a scan round all the main characters singing an Aimee Mann track while they contemplate what's become of their lives is not only daring but works as one of the most moving moments in the film. The acting is flawless - Cruise deserved the Oscar for this performance, but he is only one of an amazing range of actors including Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards, Philip Baker Hall etc. They are all excellent in their roles and make you care for all their characters - no matter how terrible they seem or how bad their crimes. Direction is faultless, performances border on the brilliant, the script is totally convincing and moving. The only weak link is the biblical ending which may annoy some but I think fits in well with the tone of the film, after all, like the film says, "but it did happen". If only all films could meet the standards achieved by this beautiful piece of work.

• Ken S

  
  A little too long and a little too clever for it's own good. Magnolia is full of terrific performances and complex emotion. PTA's script effortlessly dances from one thread to another. I didn't really appreciate this until a 2nd viewing.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Things fall down. People look up. And when it rains, it pours."</i> Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson followed his critical and commercial breakthrough Boogie Nights with this wildly ambitious story of lives intertwining on a single day in… More
  <i>"Things fall down. People look up. And when it rains, it pours."</i> Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson followed his critical and commercial breakthrough Boogie Nights with this wildly ambitious story of lives intertwining on a single day in California's San Fernando Valley. Earl Partridge (Jason Robards), a successful producer of television game shows, left his wife when she contracted cancer to marry the younger and more beautiful Linda (Julianne Moore). Now, Earl has cancer himself, and Linda spends her day fetching medicines and trying to deal with the imminent death of her husband, whom she has only now come to love. Earl asks his nurse Phil (Philip Seymour Hoffman) to arrange a meeting with his estranged son, Frank Mackey (Tom Cruise), known for his self-help program "Seduce and Destroy," in which he preaches the importance of male sexual prowess; he cared for his mother after Earl left her, and he has no desire to see his father again. Earl's best-known show is hosted by Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall), who also learns that he is dying. Jimmy's show pits bright adults against unusually smart kids; one of Jimmy's child contestants, Stanley (Jeremy Blackman), arrives late for a taping after being left stranded by his father Rick (Michael Bowen), who is supported by his more successful son. Meanwhile, Donnie Smith (William H. Macy), who was a champ on Jimmy's show as a child, is not having as much luck as an adult; he's just lost his job and needs to pay for some expensive dental work. Jimmy wants to reconcile with his estranged and emotionally fragile daughter Claudia (Melora Walters), who despises him and who will become involved with well-meaning police officer Jim Kurring (John C. Reilly), who has been desperately lonely since his divorce three years ago. Magnolia reunites much of the cast and crew of Boogie Nights and features eight original songs by singer/songwriter Aimee Mann and a musical score by Jon Brion. <u><b>Review</b></u> This is one of the most wonderfully complex and intricate movies I have ever seen. The characters range from some of the most noble I've seen in a movie in a long time to some of the most pitiful. The director is able to simultaneously capture some of the best and worse qualities of human nature. The dialogue and interaction between the characters is certainly among the most 'real' and genuine that I've seen. Also, the film has one of the most unexpected yet brilliant climax in movie history. I mean, I didn't really see it coming. wtf. Don't miss this one.

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