An ambitious ensemble drama about a series of interconnected lives, Magnolia is beautifully paced, emotionally engaging, and unexpectedly bold.
I have a curious relationship with Paul Thomas Anderson films. I absolutely love There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread, Boogie Nights and The Master are good, and I couldn’t stand Licorice Pizza. One Battle After Another has phenomenal cinematography and an excellent soundtrack, but I don’t think it should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture. And I’ve always meant to watch this film, but it’s only now that I’ve finally gotten to it.
Magnolia takes place on one day in Los Angeles, where a multitude of characters are experiencing their own stories. Quiz Kid Donnie Smith, who was well-known for being on a game show hosted by Jimmy Gator (who is married and suffering health issues), is now a loser with very little money, trying to ride out his childhood fame. New prodigy Stanley Spector is on the show and under pressure from his dad. Earl Partridge is dying, with his caretaker Phil by his side, and his young wife Linda Partridge spiraling out with anxiety. Frank T.J. Mackey is hiding his true story while giving classes on misogyny and dominating women to other men. And officer Jim Kurring meets secret addict Claudia while on the job, and hopes to see her again.
This is a sprawling drama that is both character-driven and fluid. You never quite know whose story will cut in next or how they are all connected, but the unconventional narrative leaves you confident that you are getting somewhere. That, in the end, you will see how everything connects.
Magnolia has most of the earmarks of a Paul Thomas Anderson film, and, although his style hasn’t always worked for me, I loved this movie. There are gorgeously long camera takes, staying static in a kitchen as characters move in and out, or walking through the television studio. The story moves in a fast-paced fashion without the audience being aware, but time continues to pass, and you’re never aware that you’re watching a 3-hour movie. And the characters are complex.
Which brings me to the next point, and the messaging that I found most resonant in the film. Many of the stories begin and end with how our lives are shaped by our parents and our relationships with them. Parents being absent, parents being hurtful, parents putting themselves first – all of it leads to children (young and old) who are damaged, as some are able to emerge from the internal struggles and others who can’t.
The cast is incredible, with Tom Cruise, Melinda Dillon, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Jason Robards, to name a few. This is a true ensemble piece, with every actor spending nearly equal time on screen, carrying their stories both independently and together.
Magnolia is a well-paced film with an excellent soundtrack that slowly builds tension. There are unexpected events and distinctly designed moments (I loved the entire cast singing “Wise Up”) as well as subtle choices, as when the caretaker offers an invisible cigarette to a dying man. I went into this movie not knowing what to expect – and if I’m honest, I had some reservations – but I left it a huge fan. This is a great film and well worth your time.
Runtime: 188 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? I got choked up
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
I have a curious relationship with Paul Thomas Anderson films. I absolutely love There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread, Boogie Nights and The Master are good, and I couldn’t stand Licorice Pizza. One Battle After Another has phenomenal cinematography and an excellent soundtrack, but I don’t think it should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture. And I’ve always meant to watch this film, but it’s only now that I’ve finally gotten to it.
