A day in the lives.

“This cannot be one of those things.”

Paul Thomas Anderson has been making great cinema since the mid-90s. With Magnolia, not only does Anderson create his first masterpiece, but also the last cinematic marvel of the previous millennium.

The movie follows several characters throughout a life-altering evening. The stories start small and scattered, but then are slowly drawn towards each other by the powerful force of coincidence. I was mesmerized by the tension of knowing that inevitably these characters will clash. Something wild was going to happen and the audience can feel it. It is this tension that makes the movie great; the journey to the conclusion is just as griping and interesting as the conclusion. In the hands of another director the labyrinthine storylines would have created a meaningless mess; I’m looking at you Crash!

Director Paul Thomas Anderson and cinematographer Robert Elswit understand how to use the medium of cinema. Instead of simply following characters and actions around, putting some music in the background, and call it a movie (e.g., the slow as molasses but still enjoyable Night Moves from 2014), Anderson and company create a true cinematic experience. The camera is kinetic when we are to get lost in the frenzy, then steady and true to allow us to take in the emotions. As for the music, let’s just say I finished the movie as an Aimee Mann fan.

In my reviews, I often gloss over the actors, but I want to make this clear: the ensemble cast performs spectacularly. Tom Cruise puts on the performance of his career, while reliable actors Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Philip Baker Hall, and William H. Macy deliver strong performances. Is it just me or was William H. Macy born to play losers? Macy was memorably aloof in Fargo, and his performance as Quiz Kid Donnie Smith is no different. Macy was born to lose in the best possible way.

Finally, let’s talk about Philip Seymour Hoffman. The man never had a subpar performance in his career. No matter the movie, no matter his role, Hoffman always shined. He had the ability to make bad movies enjoyable (Along Came Polly) and good movies great (The Talented Mr. Ripley). His performance in Magnolia starts subtle and builds to a powerful crescendo. He was a true actor.

A word on the finale (spoiler free of course): from the beginning of the movie, Anderson prepares the audience for the unexpected. The movie goes wild, so consider yourself warned, whether you realize it or not. Buckle up, because this movie is still talked about 15 years after its release.

The past, the present, and the future all exist together. Everyone we meet and everyone we don’t meet are connected. The decisions we make create ripples felt by everyone across all time. It is time we realize this fact. It is time we see our oneness. And so on, and so on…

Run Time: 188 minutes

General Release: 1999

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Cast: Tom Cruise / Julianne Moore / John C. Reilly / Philip Baker Hall / Philip Seymour Hoffman

Language: English

Trailer: