If you were to ask me to list my ten favorite movies (in no specific order) that list would definitely contain Magnolia. I don’t recall having seen a drama that is so intense and rich story-wise than this one. Everything is (nearly) perfect about Magnolia, the acting, the script, the development of the characters, yes even the length that extends to over 3 hours.

The reason why I hold this movie so dear may lie within the fact that I am a huge fan of its directing genius, Paul Thomas Anderson. Although his last installment, Punch-Drunk Love may not have been as strong as his previous ones, Boogie Nights and Magnolia, I am of the opinion that Anderson may be considered one of the strongest assets to today’s pallet of young movie directors.

I remember reading a review dating from about the time Magnolia was released stating that this was the first movie in which Tom Cruise did not play Tom Cruise, but was in fact playing someone else. Julianne Moore’s performance as the regretful wife of an old, dying man however, is what makes this movie Academy Award material. I don’t think I have ever been more overwhelmed by a scene than the one in the pharmacy where Moore asks for her husband’s prescriptions and is bugged by all kinds of intimidating looks and questions by the personnel, which causes her to flip completely. The cast is completed with the amazing talents of actors like William H. Macy, the late Jason Robards and the unforgettable Philip Seymour Hoffman (the fact he never won a single Academy Awards is an absolute Hollywood disgrace).

Magnolia was set up as a collage of stories as a tribute to the music of American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann. Funny detail: Mann’s records are produced by Jon Brion, who did Magnolia’s score and who is also the producer of singer Fiona Apple, who happens to have made some of the paintings seen throughout the movie and who also happens to be the girlfriend of director Anderson, which completes the circle.

This review deliberately doesn’t elaborate on the various storylines of this movie, because I could try to begin to explain these but you have to go see it for yourself. If you’ve already seen it, watch it again! Yes you will be dazzled by the amount of main characters (over 20) but take it easy, things will eventually fall into place. The movie is filled with all kinds of funny trivia (frogs don’t fall out of the sky for nothing – remember that or read the various references to the Bible on www.imdb.com). Oh, and if you buy the two disc DVD set you’ll be amazed by the movie’s diary on disc 2 that gives you an enormous amount of insight on how this production was realized.

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Julianne Moore, Jason Robards, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly

‘Magnolia’ runs about 188 minutes and is available on VHS and DVD (one or two disc edition)
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