Review of Magnolia (1999) by Ritesh S — 11 Sep 2011
Ambitious film, cop-out ending. I'm not saying the actual twist was stupid, I'm saying it invalidates the basic message of the film. Small coincidences connect us. Not an original concept, but one that can be interesting. However, there are no real coincidences at all in the film, other than that all the characters share some common characteristics. Then, the ending features an encompassing unexplained coincidence which becomes the catalyst for change in many of the characters lives. What has been two-and-a-half hours of elaboration on the traits these people share and how interconnected they all are is overshadowed, by a crazy event which causes them to come to personal epiphanies. It doesn't add up. I won't belittle it for the contrivance, but I feel that it turns the film into something that doesn't quite work.
However, I can't fault it for its direction. If you ignore the one central problem, it is a very well made film on all fronts.
This review of Magnolia (1999) was written by Ritesh S on 11 Sep 2011.
Magnolia has generally received positive reviews.
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