By Jacob Cameron

“I will not apologize for who I am.”

Magnolia is the one that made the difference. While Paul Thomas Anderson had success with Boogie Nights, Magnolia is the film that announced his arrival as one of the great modern filmmakers. Magnolia stands out; even though it was released in 1999, one of the great years in film history. Due to its 3 hour length, the film seems intimidating. But the movie sticks the landing on all fronts.

Magnolia, when describing the plot, is a bit hard to describe in a concise fashion. What you need to know is that there are several stories going on at the same time; similar to an anthology film. However, the stories are connected by the characters and events surrounding them. The film has a butterfly effect on it that has effects on every character, large or small. But every character is trying to find happiness, meaning, or some combination of the two.

This is the film that has the most stacked cast of any PTA film. John C. Reilly, Phillip Baker Hall, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, and Jason Robards are just some of the names included. Robards’ final role would be this film. But the standout amongst the talent pool is Tom Cruise as Frank “T.J.” Walker.

Tom Cruise is generally known for Mission: Impossible nowadays. While those movies are generally great, it’s always interesting to see Cruise in a meatier role. Walker is a televangelist without religion; he hosts seminars that teach men how to be men. While this could’ve easily been one-note, Cruise makes the performance truly layered. Watch out for the scene where he is being interviewed about his life story. It’s Cruise at his best.

Other performances include Phillip Baker Hall as the long time host of a game show called “What Do Kids Know?” who is dying of cancer. William H. Macy playing a former winner of the game show wanting to find love and planning to break the law in order to get it. John C. Reilly playing a cop who loses his gun but finds love himself. And Julianne Moore who plays the trophy wife of a man who is also dying of cancer. There is a lot going on in this movie and it is all compelling.

As mentioned, this is a film that is interconnected in ways large and small. Like a magnolia flower, as the petals spread, it becomes more beautiful. As the movie unfolds, it becomes more beautiful in the process. Something such as losing a gun or a conversation at a bar may seem meaningless, but it means a great deal in the grand scheme. 

At the end of the day, this is PTA at his most ambitious. In another directors hands, this would’ve been a colossal mess. But Magnolia is a truly remarkable achievement and, while PTA would continue to make great films in the future, he would never be this great again.

5 stars