MAGNOLIA
Written and Directed by P.T. (Paul Thomas) Anderson

By Jeff Derrickson

***1/2 -- "It's not going to stop 'till you wise up..." Perhaps that is the lesson all the characters (and fathers especially) in Magnolia need to learn. It's from the song "Wise Up" by Aimee Mann, and all the characters in this audacious movie sing this song at the same time.

Magnolia intertwines the stories of many different characters in one nice day in California. The standout story is the relationship between a dying television producer and his estranged son, Frank Mackey (played hilariously by Tom Cruise). Mackey teaches seminars on how to get women into bed, but he has a mysterioius past.

The other stories in the movie have similar themes: A father who is pushing his bright quiz-kid son too far, and who treats him like property. A guy who used to be a quiz-kid on TV (William H. Macy), but now is just a loser. A TV host (Philip Baker Hall) of the popular quiz show, whose daughter won't talk to him. See the connections?

Sure, but some people don't really care for them. I liked this movie, though. I've always been intrigued by P.T. Anderson's films, and this one I plae right up along his two previous--Hard Eight and the much more popular Boogie Nights. Watching the movie, you'll notice many returning faces from Boogie Nights (and Hard Eight). They're all part of P.T. Anderson's talented troupe of actors and actresses.

Some people think the movie is boring and long... and that's their right. The movie is 3 hours long, but then so are many movies these days; The Green Mile and Any Given Sunday are both 3 hour movies that opened in the same month as Magnolia. Magnolia is a long movie, but it didn't bore me. I found myself interested in the characters, and the way their stories would connect.

And some people don't really see the connections at all and are let down by the movie. Or perhaps they let the movie down??? It's all up to you to decide. I'm not arguing their opinions (or your opinion) is wrong on this one. Usually, I'm not so lenient (evil evil grin). I just happen to think the movie did not let me down in any way, shape or form, and neither did I let it down in my ability to understand it.

And most of all, I love its unpredictable surprise at the end. DON'T LET ANYONE SPOIL THIS MOVIE FOR YOU!
That goes for the movie LIMBO and THE SIXTH SENSE as well.

MY FAV. CHARACTER: John C. Reilly as the cop
TRIVIA: Magnolia was written with Aimee Mann's songs in mind. In fact, you could say her songs were the inspiration for Mr. Anderson to write this movie. Read the liner notes on the Magnolia soundtrack.

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