Magnolia on DVD (1999)

mixed views..

Daniel Johnson from london, UK , 23/05/2004

I have trouble reviewing films like this. I was really unsure what rating to give this.

It is, without doubt, a very inventive piece of filmmaking from Paul Thomas Andersen.. the characters are well developed and the storylines are interesting. At the beginning you feel a bit confused, but then you realise that the film isn't asking too much of it's audience, you just need to sit back and enjoy the different storylines (some of which collide later on, but not in some important Tarantinoesque way, they just naturally collid).

So, if I was to be a typical film buff I could call this film genius and all the rest of it; but I will restrain myself because the truth is.. I didn't enjoy it enough.

The film is 2hr 54mins long.. after two hours it does start to drag; despite the nine different stories going on. I'd say the first two hours are very very good, very original (well, maybe.. it does afterall steal quite heavily from Altman's 'Short Cuts') and entertaining.. but towards the end it just seems to try and be a bit too deep. The character arcs are a bit too blatent and the audience is force-fed this emotional journey of self-discovery within the characters. These moments of self-realisation could have been a little bit more subtle. I mean- anyone who is truly enjoying 'Magnolia' is going to be a film fan who can intelligently read the text- therefore there's no need to turn to a layman piece of filmmaking near the end. Unfortunately, it did.. and that bothers me. It bothers me because i'd already sat there for over two hours and I thought the film was the greatest thing ever.. and then it dipped quite strongly.

That's just my opinion. By all means- see it, make up your own minds.. afterall any film by this writer-director is always going to be worth seeing.

dan

dj152@aol.com

Read all reviews

Modern masterpiece.

A customer from London , 06/02/2004

A masterpiece of modern cinema from director PT Anderson, DoP Robert Elswitt and the ensemble cast.

Technically outstanding, visually stunning, superbly acted - there are not enough superlatives to throw at this film.

I would not trust anyone who does not like this film or is not moved by the Aimee Mann inspired 'Wise Up' sequence.

Breathtaking and innovative filmmaking on the grandest scale. If you enjoy this, also check out Anderson's little known gem of a debut 'Hard Eight'.

'We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us'

Read all reviews

Wonderful

Roy Martin from London , 20/02/2005

I don't know about you but I have a simple way of judging a film, music or art. If it makes me feel something it's a job well done. Magnolia does this for me. All of the characters, compromised in some way or another, meander through a set of circumstances until the films conclusion with the soundtrack of Amy Manns voice and guitar washing over the life of each one of them in the film.

Remember the first time you walked down the street listening to your walkman and the whole landscape changes.That's what happens here. I had an overwelming empathy for all the characters in this and follow the careers of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Juliane Moore since this because the acting was outstanding.

If you watched Donnie Darko and can honestly say that, not understanding it ruined everything, then don't watch this film. If you consult a book everytime you have a strange dream because you need to understand everything about it,don't watch this film. If, like me you enjoy life, stranger than fiction, then rent this immediately.

It changed my life, a little. Wonderful and inspiring.

Read all reviews

I want those Three Hours Back

Sam Duthie from Northampton, England , 28/01/2007

This film was dull, much too long and extremely unrewarding. I felt really let down by the pretentious ending. There are some good moments to this film of course but when the credits dawned I felt cheated out of three long gruelling hours.

Don't believe the hype!

Read all reviews

An overpowering, all-encompassing view of people at a cross-roads...

James from Nottingham, England , 07/07/2006

An incredible film and a brilliant achievement. The acting is spot-on throughout, and the many interweaving strands are superbly interlinked. Many people will dislike this film, but give it time and you'll appreciate it. Also gets plus points for having Tom Cruise prance around dementedly screaming 'Respect the c*ck!!'

Read all highest rated reviews

I just could not turn it off

David Carty from High Wycombe , 28/11/2004

So many times was I tempted to end this film, but I didn?t, I just kept on watching it. I recommend it, not because I think that you will enjoy it. I recommend it because I think that you will endure it and on reflection maybe appreciate it.

Read all highest rated reviews