Review of Magnolia (1999) by Anna U — 19 Apr 2012
Sometimes, there is no greatness in pain or suffering, no pathos, superiority or tragic nobility at all. There is only inescapability and shame. Then we're not refined by pain, because pain is dirty. And there is no sense in pity then. "Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven. And sometimes they need to go to jail. And that is a very tricky thing on my part... making that call [...] You can forgive someone. Well, that's the tough part. What can we forgive? Tough part of the job. Tough part of walking down the street".
And the thing is, it's okay. Things happen. We may make catastrophic mistakes, stupid, stupid things, but, you know what, there is also smiling and humor, and beauty. We have place for everything on this planet.
It's just that "when the sunshine don't work, the good Lord bring the rain in". And when it starts to rain, it pours. Rain of frogs, eh? "And it is in the humble opinion of the narrator that strange things happen all the time".
It takes hell of an experience for a movie director to create such a living breathing picture of life. You can't just make it up, you have to feel it. And then invite some marvelous actors for every single role in the movie, make them play like they have never played before, and write for them the smartest, genuinest and catchiest lines you could only imagine in this situation. It takes a lot of love for people, I'd say.
"My name is Donnie Smith, and I have lots of love to give. I just don't know where to put it".
This review of Magnolia (1999) was written by Anna U on 19 Apr 2012.
Magnolia has generally received positive reviews.
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