Magnolia

Composite Score: 82.7

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Melora Walters, Philip Baker Hall, Melinda Dillon, Jeremy Blackman, Michael Bowen, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, and Henry Gibson

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

MPAA Rating: R for strong language, drug use, sexuality, and some violence

Box Office: $48.45 million worldwide

Why should you Watch This Film?

                Magnolia is Paul Thomas Anderson’s film epic about the interconnecting lives of people living in the San Fernando Valley over the course of a single day of unique weather phenomena. It is an ensemble film, following several stories at once – Tom Cruise as the misogynistic motivational speaker Frank T.J. Mackey, Julianne Moore as Linda Partridge, the medicated wife of the dying television producer Earl Partridge, played by Jason Robards, who is looked after by his nurse Phil Parma, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy as the one-time child whiz Donnie Smith who is now a broke, drunk, lovelorn man seeking a place to fit in and be loved, Philip Baker Hall as the lecherous Jimmy Gator, host of the children’s game show that won Donnie his young fame and now is host to Jeremy Blackman’s Stanley Spector, son of failing actor Rick Spector, played by Michael Bowen, and John C. Reilly as the well-meaning cop whose interactions with Gator’s estranged daughter Claudia, played by Melora Walters, leads to a surprising romantic relationship between the two. All told, the interweaving stories of Magnolia tell a story that highlights the coincidences of life that bring us together and the true weight of our actions on the people around us. It is an epic worth taking the time to digest and appreciate.

Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?

                Magnolia is long and requires a lot of mental and emotional commitment from its audience (and time as well) to truly hit home the way that it intends. As such, this is not a film that you can just put on at any time and get everyone in the room to immediately enjoy. I do think that, if watched in the right headspace, there is something in this film for most audiences, but it’s definitely not a watch all the time type of film. The film’s length will no doubt dissuade some viewers who prefer their films closer to the hour-45 mark, and that is understandable. The epic nature of Magnolia makes it difficult to digest and process, so you need to be very intentional in setting out on that journey.

So wait, why should you Watch This Film?

                There’s a lot that I could put here, but I think I’m going to mention just a little bit and then focus on the phenomenal acting that carries throughout this film. Generally speaking, I consider Paul Thomas Anderson to be a better writer than director, telling stories and writing dialogue that no one else probably could or would but not always perfectly executing that vision on-screen (with the obvious exception of There Will Be Blood, his only other film to deliver near perfection with the story that it tells). That being said, Anderson’s full directorial prowess is on display in Magnolia in the way that he weaves the many scenes together, drawing parallels and contrasts and bringing the audience close before elevating the emotion and tension, keeping his viewers fully engaged for the film’s full three-hour runtime. That is not to say that his writing suffers at all from his directorial focus in this film either – the story, characters, and dialogue all feel perfect for what he is trying to accomplish in this film, and it works.

                To that point, Magnolia is stunningly acted from top to bottom. John C. Reilly gives arguably his best performance (maybe second-best) as Officer Jim Kurring, the film’s most emotionally available character and the one least connected to the rest of the characters who nevertheless helps tie the whole thing together with his own brand of charm and vulnerability. Melora Walters as Claudia delivers a performance that is both manic and resonant, serving to elicit both frustration and sympathy from the audience in equal parts (true of many of this film’s performances). Philip Baker Hall plays sleazy and pitiful in excellent balance as the ailing game show host Jimmy Gator, father of Claudia. Bedridden Earl Partridge provided an ideal vehicle for Jason Robards to deliver one of his final performances, dying and remorseful in a way that allows both the characters and audience to root for resolution to the stories of the characters around him. Jeremy Blackman delivers a gut-wrenching and vaguely unnerving turn as the child genius Stanley Spector who wants his teammates, fans, and father to remember and consider his humanity in all their calculations. William H. Macy’s drunken outburst about love as his washed-up character Donnie carries some of the film’s deepest emotional weight, and he plays it off perfectly. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s deeply invested nurse Phil Parma serves as the emotional glue for the story surrounding Earl, his estranged son, and his second wife, delivering responses to his increasingly complex situation similar to those that the audience is feeling as they watch it unfold on screen. Julianne Moore brings one of her best performances to bear as the remorseful and mentally troubled second wife of Earl. Seeking to remedy the fact that she married the man for money, she grows more and more frantic as she scrambles around town, drawing the audience along with her for a wild ride. The film’s best (and only Oscar-nominated) performance comes from Tom Cruise as Earl’s estranged son Frank Mackey who now works as a motivational speaker for men looking to “conquer women”. His misogynistic rants, emotional tailspin, and ultimate catharsis at his father’s bedside serve as the vehicle for what is arguably Cruise’s career-best performance, which honestly should have beaten out Michael Caine at the 72nd Oscars.

                Magnolia is Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic film, showcasing his writing and directorial skill supported by stellar performances from a well-cast ensemble, making its place among the Greatest Films of All Time unshakable. Though some might be daunted by the film’s length and breadth of story, those who take the time to watch it will be rewarded with a resonant story about the interplay of coincidence and connection in the ways that we interact with each other. This film is currently available to stream for free on Kanopy or to rent on most other streaming services. Check it out when you get the opportunity.