Review of Magnolia (1999) by Paul B — 28 Jun 2014
Of all the P.T. Anderson films I've seen, this one, somehow, is the only one that has really connected with me. But oh boy. Put simply, this is one of the absolute best ensemble films I've ever seen.
It is astonishing to see how well the cast members rise to the occasion, every one of them. Anderson puts them into a web of relationships, as their lives reach crisis moments of enormous emotional power.
There is terrific editing throughout, balancing the storylines perfectly and playing them off of each other; there are also one or two fantastic, complex tracking shots taking us from one character to the next, and back again.
From the very intriguing opening to the final second of the final shot, Anderson tells the stories in his own quirky and complex way. These three hours are well-spent.
This review of Magnolia (1999) was written by Paul B on 28 Jun 2014.
Magnolia has generally received positive reviews.
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