Magnolia (1999)

Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson

Writer (WGA):

Paul Thomas Anderson (written by)

Release Date:

7 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Things fall down. People look up. And when it rains, it pours.

Plot:

An epic mosaic of several interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.

Plot Keywords:

Coincidence | One Day | Whiz Kid | Cancer | Cocaine

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Julianne Moore	...	Linda Partridge
William H. Macy	...	Donnie Smith
John C. Reilly	...	Officer Jim Kurring
Tom Cruise	...	Frank T.J. Mackey
Philip Baker Hall	...	Jimmy Gator
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Phil Parma
Jason Robards	...	Earl Partridge
Alfred Molina	...	Solomon Solomon
Melora Walters	...	Claudia Wilson Gator
Michael Bowen	...	Rick Spector
Ricky Jay	...	Burt Ramsey / Narrator
Jeremy Blackman	...	Stanley Spector
Melinda Dillon	...	Rose Gator
April Grace	...	Gwenovier
Luis Guzmán	...	Luis (as Luis Guzman)

Also Known As:

Mag·no'li·a (USA) (promotional title)
mag-no'li-a (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, drug use, sexuality and some violence.

Runtime:

188 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Angelus Oaks, California, USA

Company:

Ghoulardi Film Company

Trivia:

In the film, the main cast sings along to Aimee Mann's "Wise Up", which was used in the film Jerry Maguire (1996), also starring Tom Cruise.

Goofs:

Continuity: Two lights on the back of the ambulance are on and off in consecutive shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: In the New York Herald, November 26, year 1911, there is an account of the hanging of three men. They died for the murder of Sir Edmund William Godfrey; Husband, Father, Pharmacist and all around gentle-man resident of: Greenberry Hill, London. He was murdered by three vagrants whose motive was simple robbery...

Movie Connections:

References "Entertainment Tonight" (1981)

Soundtrack:

Waiting

The best movie of 1999.

Forget American Beauty, The Sixth Sense, Eyes Wide Shut. Magnolia is definitely the best movie of 1999, and one of the best American movies ever made.

Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson's previous effort was already a promising effort, but it was a bit too long. Magnolia is even longer, but it's filled with such a spectrum of touching stories and such a quantity of wonderful characters, that I didn't even notice the three hour length. Magnolia is a mosaic of intertwining and intercepting stories, dealing with such issues as forgiveness, hurt, redemption, sin and the role of chance in our lives. And though the film offers a deep emotional catharsis, it never loses it delicate, humane tone. The people Magnolia displays are not the best of men, but none of them are beyond forgiveness. That, to my opinion, is the most important message the film conveys.

As many have already said, Magnolia is an ensemble piece. Acting is superb throughout the film, and though Magnolia has approximately ten lead role and a bunch of supporting characters, there isn't a single member of the cast who is misplaced. My personal favorites are Philip Seymour Hoffman as the sensitive nurse (compare this role to the sleazy characters he played in Boogie Nights, Happiness and The Talented Mr Ripley and you'll notice what a great actor he is), Tom Cruise as the self-made seduction guru (his best performance ever) and William H. Macy as the former child prodigy who never grew up (his role resembles the one he did in Fargo, but in Magnolia he is redeemed of his sins).

No film is perfect and even Magnolia has it's flaws, but I'm still so stunned by this masterpiece that I haven't even started to think what they could be. That, I think, says it all about the quality of this film.

Rating: **** (of ****)