Review of Magnolia (1999) by Mitch H — 05 Jan 2015

Definitely a very unique experience, I like movies with this kind of structure and it was done masterfully. Cruise was phenomenal, as was Reilly and the entire ensemble. Though he was a very important piece, I didn't feel very into the old man (Robarbs) and his story didn't strike my emotional chord, which would have made his chunk more effective.

Cruise nailed the scene with him, and PSH was great, but unsure as a whole. The sequence of everyone singing was great, I like that risk. The raining frogs was also a great sequence obviously, a fantastic way to reach a dramatic peak.

As an unexplained events, coincidence type of film, I almost wish more of that strangeness played into it. It sort of felt like a beautiful mess to me, which in many ways was the point. I think when PTA says this is his greatest movie, it might be because this was his take on universal humanity.

Filmmakers only get one chance at films like this, usually. It's his epic, it's his painting of life. Everything else he has done touches on universal themes and experiences, but are far more specific and zoned in.

For its scale and what it tries to do, I really appreciate this movie.