Magnolia (1999)

Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson

Writer (WGA):

Paul Thomas Anderson (written by)

Release Date:

7 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Things fall down. People look up. And when it rains, it pours.

Plot:

An epic mosaic of several interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.

Plot Keywords:

Car Accident | Multiple Story Line | Apology | Name Change | Growing Up

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Julianne Moore	...	Linda Partridge
William H. Macy	...	Donnie Smith
John C. Reilly	...	Officer Jim Kurring
Tom Cruise	...	Frank T.J. Mackey
Philip Baker Hall	...	Jimmy Gator
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Phil Parma
Jason Robards	...	Earl Partridge
Alfred Molina	...	Solomon Solomon
Melora Walters	...	Claudia Wilson Gator
Michael Bowen	...	Rick Spector
Ricky Jay	...	Burt Ramsey / Narrator
Jeremy Blackman	...	Stanley Spector
Melinda Dillon	...	Rose Gator
April Grace	...	Gwenovier
Luis Guzmán	...	Luis (as Luis Guzman)

Also Known As:

mag-no'li-a (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, drug use, sexuality and some violence.

Runtime:

188 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:18A (Alberta) | Iceland:12 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Brazil:14 | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Ghoulardi Film Company

Trivia:

The title "Magnolia" not only refers to Magnolia Blvd in LA, where much of the movie takes place, but is also similar to the term Charles Fort (who is referenced many places in this movie) coined for a hypothetical region where things that fall from the sky come from - "Magonia".

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Linda Partridge is first placed in the ambulance, the EMT crew is not providing ventilations for her after stating that she has six respirations per minute (norm is 12-20). This would be priority and the crew should have been using an Ambu on scene. Such equipment is not seen until later.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: In the New York Herald, November 26, year 1911, there is an account of the hanging of three men. They died for the murder of Sir Edmund William Godfrey; Husband, Father, Pharmacist and all around gentle-man resident of: Greenberry Hill, London. He was murdered by three vagrants whose motive was simple robbery...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hawaii, Oslo (2004)

Soundtrack:

Momentum

The sins of the father...

That is what this film is about and "Strange things happen all the time" are the best ways I can think of to describe the overall plot of the film. The story of a dozen people, on one incredible day, in one very wet valley, on Magnolia Avenue.

I could list reason, after reason, after reason why this is one of the finest films I've ever seen... I really could. From the fact that every cast member gives an oscar-worthy performance, to the fact that this film has upwards of 10 amazing sequences I have never seen before, and probably will never see again, in any film.

This film gets my highest recommendation and a definite 10. I say see it right now, and see it as many times as possible.