Movie Review :: Magnolia

Movie Review :: Magnolia
Posted :: Apr 30, 2004 by Impact

Movie :: Magnolia
Director :: Paul Thomas Anderson
Genre :: Drama
Rating :: 9/10

If you take anything away from this movie, it would be this: don't mix stimulants and anti-depressants together, not all cops should die, and finally, when its raining frogs, get out of the open and into under some sort of cover. This epic 3 hour-ish movie takes place in one day, and as the irrelevant first five minutes point out, is about coincidence, chance, and irony. (Actually, I lied, at the end of the movie there are several scenes that take place the next morning, but its nice to think it all happened in one day). The first hour is somewhat confusing as it is hard to keep track of the 15 or so main characters that are introduced. But as their horrible day progresses, everyone's separate stories come together and their commonalities are revealed. It is one of the best screen plays I've ever seen.

The cast includes: Philip Seymour Hoffman (a nurse) , William H Macy (an ex-gameshow champion), Tom Cruise (a twisted and perverted men's confidence speaker), Julianne Moore (the wife of a rich, old, dying man), Philip Baker Hall (a nurse), and John C Reilly (the best cop in any movie, ever). This is the kind of movie that makes you realize that people like Cruise and Moore aren't just beautiful people, they can act (in my opinion, it is Tom Cruise's best performance). The movie is very intense if you get into it, and over all it is very depressing. The perfectly developed characters, as well as the brilliant dialogue, make the three hours fly by in seemingly half the time. I must apologize for not summarizing the plot, but it would A) due to its complexity: ruin part of the movie, and B) taken at face value: not inspire you enough to be excited about seeing the movie.

And, while this is one of the best movies ever made, it is not for everybody. First off, if the "F word" offends you when used several hundred times, avoid this movie. Also, if your patience doesn't allow long dramatic thinking movies, stay away from it. But anyone who likes a very strange, complex, emotional, and absolutely amazing movie, should see it.

Quotes:
And the book says: 'We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us'.
Exodus 8.2: …I will plague your whole country with frogs.