I loved Moulin Rouge, but the characters weren’t what was driving that movie.
I love Magnolia although I admit I didn’t know I loved it while I was watching it. It wasn’t until I ouldn’t really get it out of my head that I realized it was as special film (for me of, of course).
It seems, though, that it is in the top five of all-time most polarizing films (probably right up there with Moulin Rouge (never saw it) and Natural Born Killers (horrible movie).
Thanks. Looks like I was right on the money with my evaluation.
And as I recall the recent multi-page Pit thread in which the OP argued against the value of abstract and ambiguous art forms, I’m going to leave the above “thank you” as my only comment here.
I actually read the script before I saw the film. It reads so much better than it plays. So, loved the script, didn’t care for the film. Has anybody ever had this reaction to any film?
Philip Seymour Hoffman is fantastic, though, and Julianne Moore is very good in her “meltdown at the druggist” scene (or was it at a doctor’s office?).
Sir Rhosis
Really?
Hoffman’s performance, and Moore’s breakdown were the first and foremost examples of the acting I hated in this movie. I felt they were way overdone.
Gee, that was a little backhanded and snarky.
So I happen to think the purpose of art is to either A) entertain, or B) communicate. The movie didn’t entertain, and ambiguity is, by definition, a hindrance to communication. shrug
One of the few movies I’ve watched multiple times… just saw it again last night. The soundtrack doesn’t hurt at all. I went back to see what won that year…Tarzan I think, sheesh!
Now we’ll see if this zombie still has legs…maybe with Hoffman’s death and Moore’s subsequent nominations.
That summed up my reaction pretty well.
I do love Magnolia and particularly Tom Cruise in it. Although, really, I like everyone’s performance. It’s one of those movies I saw in a theatre and came out stunned, trying to understand what I’d just seen. In a good way, obviously.
My take? Two things:
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I thought ***Magnolia ***was a brillaint film.
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I understand perfectly why a lot of people HATE it.
So, I’ve always been very careful about who I recommend it to, because if I told, say, my wife how good it was, I have no doubt she’s watch it uncomprehendingly for a while, then turn it off, glaring at me as if to say, “What the hell is wrong with you???”
It definitely is not for everyone. I won’t even try to convince the OP of its merits. I found it funny and touching, and especially loved John C. Reilly as the hapless, well-meaning cop.
I haven’t seen in in years, but I remember being really moved by it. Tom Cruise was really, really good. He may be a nut, but he is a good actor, and he was terrific in Magnolia. Like astorian, I also loved Reilly’s ineffective cop.
She might have overdone it a skosh, but I thought Julianne Moore’s breakdown about her husband’s death was powerful. After marrying him for his money and cheating on him for years, she finally really loves him and hates the money.
“We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us.”
I saw it and by the end couldn’t really understand what it was about, what the central ‘theme’ was or what had actually happened. The second time I ‘got it’ and have since watched it around ten times. It’s my favourite film of all time, the message really connects to me on a personal level.
Another thing I like about it is that it introduced me to the incredible talents of PSH (RIP), Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, and Paul Thomas Anderson. Oh, and of course Aimee Mann. Julianne Moore’s breakdown in the drug store gives me goosebumps every time I watch it, PSH is absolutely outstanding in every scene he’s in, Cruise almost verges on parody and he could’ve toned down some of his scenes but he - in such exalted company - held up okay.
I’m not sure that I “get it”. Mainly like to watch the characters, performances…and listen to the soundtrack.
Is “it” about dieing literally and figuratively…that there are many ways to do so? That would explain the urban legend beginning…the frogs not so much.
Wow, I thought this movie had the most relatable characters of any movie I’ve seen.
I remember what my father was like when he was in states of dementia and Robards captures that perfectly. Lose him, PSH (maybe his most compassionate performance), Moore & Cruise, and you lose the most moving part of the film. Certainly the most expendable thread is Macy with the barflies, but having Henry Gibson there (and Michael Murphy elsewhere) are nice shootouts to Altman.
Love the last scene, where Reilly (who’s never been better) makes his appeal and you only hear bits of dialogue between Mann’s lyrics, and then at the last second, Walters looks straight into the camera and smiles.
The “Wise Up” sing along is the last time I cried in a contemporary movie. Incredibly powerful way of unifying everyone in an ingenious and touching way. The movie has its detractors for sure, and its pretensions. But it’s such an audacious film that really shoots aims for the bleachers–and succeeds far more than it has any right to. Love it.
I missed the date on this thread, and was thinking, what more do you expect at this point? Instead I’ll just say I think you were right, Harborwolf.
Magnolia does have its faults. It may pretentious at times and a bit overlong, but I felt a great connection to the characters and I’m kind of sad when people don’t get that from it.
I love this too. Love the way it was shot. That smile was great.