"Magnolia" (1999) Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

“I don’t know where to put things, you know? I really do have love to give! I just don’t know where to put it”.

Seen on far too many occasions for me to admit. OK, the old joke is I watch this once a month just to keep my hand in, and there’s a little truth to the joke. But where to start with this modern classic? Vague and bizarre weather reports? CHECK. Raining frogs? CHECK. Bizarre, interwoven but seemingly unconnected historical events? CHECK. Tom Cruise acting his arse off? CHECK. Melora Walters providing an acting master class of immense proportions? CHECK. A beautiful yet haunting musical score from Jon Brion? CHECK. I could go on (Philip Seymour Hoffman is incredible) but I am exceedingly biased and simply blown away every time I watch this. However, in the fairness of balance(?) some have criticised this as way too melancholic, confusing, upsetting and a plodding over long drama. To those I retort, it is uplifting beyond measure and with a screenplay from director Anderson that resonates through every character and central performances that astound me every time.

This is but the tip of a very deep iceberg, again covering relationships, human frailty, desperation, loneliness, despair, but intermingled with joy, redemption, recovery and the triumph of the human spirit. Whenever you’re settled into the film, a seemingly unconnected “event” is interwoven into the narrative to make you question the event and it’s relevance. Oh, and there’s 7/8 interweaving stories from rich, seemingly unconnected characters all taking place at the same time, in the same city, which slowly and deliberately come together to produce a sublime piece of cinema. The DVD “extras” has a feature length documentary on the making of this masterpiece which is as essential a watch as the film itself. I can’t possibly do this film justice, it truly is a masterpiece, and the starting point for my cinematic love for Paul Thomas Anderson.

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The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Magnolia" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 22nd January 2023 and which can be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/magnolia-1999-5d508944ca84

This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 3 of my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book form, each substantial volume of numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free:

Volume 3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1

All 7 Volumes

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

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