Magnolia

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Kyle C Magnolia is a deeply thoughtful exploration of loneliness, generational trauma, pain, and regret all wrapped up in a ball of coincidences and parallels. It’s also long. It uses its runtime well, but it’s hard not to get a little bored as minute number 300 ticks around. This is a movie that needs to marinate for a day or two to fully understand and appreciate (a great example of why I never write a review the same day I watch a movie). And even then, there’s so much in this movie and so much of it is up to interpretation that a rewatch is certainly not going to hurt. The performances are all really good, but some standouts for me are Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman (there are a lot of Philips here - coincidence? 😉), and Tom Cruise. In fact, Tom Cruise is so good at being a sleazebag that I wonder how much of it is ironic and how much is just him as a person. Kind of a gross thought. It’s not always an immediately appealing movie, but it’s so thought-provoking and transcendental that I really grew to love it. Go in with an open mind and experience it. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/25 Full Review Isa B Magnolia is, perhaps, the most thought-provoking motion picture I have ever had the privilege to experience. You don't merely watch Magnolia, for it is truly an experience. Paul Thomas Anderson has carved a path in the history of cinema that few before him can claim to have carved. He is a genius with pen and pad just as he is a visual genius with a camera and crew. A visionary. What he did along with this brilliant ensemble cast is unforgettable. So many beautiful performances in this one. The multilayered performance by Tom Cruise, his career best in my opinion. The tender, heart touching performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman. William H. Macy gives one of his career best performances. Melora Walters gives a real standout performance. The sincere, brilliant performance by John C. Reilly. Philip Baker Hall gives one of my favorite performances in any film by any actor. Jason Robard gives such a memorable performance while literally on his deathbed. He wasn't just playing a dying man, he was one. Julianne Moore gives an outstanding, emotional performance. Two thumbs up for Henry Gibson. April Grace gives a stunning performance when her character confronts and exposes Frank T.J. Mackey. I could go on and on. The soundtrack is awesome. The camera work is magnificent. The tracking shot at around the 43 minute mark is quite impressive. The rain, the elevator and round and round it went. There are several of those shots and they are all amazing. My one and only issue that I have with Magnolia is the overuse of Exodus 8:2. Yes, we see 8s and 2s all over the film, which are brilliant little foreshadowing Easter eggs. However, when a man is the audience literally has "Exodus 8:2 on a sign and when we see it again on the sign by the street, that to me is a little too convenient. Of course, it is not impossible, but I personally deem it to be improbable. I mean, it's not like Exodus 8:2 is a common, uplifting Bible verse like John 3:16 or Phil 4:13. I could certainly understand seeing those verses listed in any number of places. Why Exodus 8:2, other than the foreshadowing of what's to come? This is ultimately a minor detail, but once you see it, you can't unsee it. If not for this one, minor flaw, I would definitely consider Magnolia a masterpiece. Even with my harsh penalization, I still give the film a strong 96, near masterpiece score. It is among my absolute favorite motion pictures and one that I insist Amy and everyone who calls themselves a lover of cinema, to watch and watch repeatedly. It is THAT good. 96/100 Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/06/24 Full Review Jeremiah C This is an utterly schizophrenic mess of a movie. There were no likeable characters. The scenes are utterly incomprehensible, and the plot is nonexistent. That anyone can enjoy this movie speaks to their own scattered psychologies and chaotic personal philosophies. At the outset of the movie, there is nothing intriguing about the characters, and by the end there is nothing worth learning about them. Each character is miserable without rhyme or reason, and unless that resonates with you, you’ll find nothing to enjoy here. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review mark g After i saw Boogie Nights I declared it my favorite movie of all time. Then this comes out and I think it might be the greatest movie ever. The acting in this film far outshines any other movie made. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/07/24 Full Review Amir A The stories were simple and beautiful. This movie was about emotions; it guided you to experience the sorrow of each character. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review julie b This was an intense experience. I genuinely had no idea where this was going for most of it, such an original plot that captivated me right from the start. The incredibly emotional performances, the v strong themes, the suspense that builds up to a point of unravel - and once the unraveling begins, EVERYONE and everything breaks down. Even with all the different side plots, every scene moved so seamlessly. I could say more but I won’t so I don’t spoil it. Also, somehow it felt like Tom Cruise was playing Tom Cruise?? Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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