Review of Short Cuts (1993) by Alex V — 14 Jun 2014

Many cite Short Cuts as a sort of inspiration for P.T. Anderson's Magnolia, and one can clearly pick out the various thematic similarities: people of varying backgrounds and situations dealing with life, isolation, and human emotions in general, set in the backdrop of Los Angeles.

All comes together in some way in the end, and many people inadvertently brush past each other in the process. I consider Short Cuts and Magnolia, however, to be very different works. Altman's work flows and drifts by, much like the jazz music soundtrack peppered throughout the film.

It's just as expressive, commanding attention when a character experiences something heavy or is overcome with joy. This is the best way to describe what Altman has accomplished here: a 3-hour jazz rhapsody in film form.

That is something Anderson could never accomplish. Then again, I prefer Magnolia over this one, but still...what I mean to say is, they're both incredible in their own right.