Film Review : MAGNOLIA * * * *

Magnolia (1999)

CAST Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Jason Robards, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Phillip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Melora Walters, Melinda Dillon, Michael Bowen, Jeremy Blackman

DIRECTOR Paul Thomas Anderson

"We may be through with the past, but the past isn't through with us."

This passage is spoken a few times in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. It also rings true for some of the main characters of this brilliant film.

The movie has several small stories that make one big one. First, we have Tom Cruise as Frank T.J. Mackey. An infommercial success with his "Seduce and Destroy" seminars. He is the son of one Earl Partridge (Robards), who is basically are focus for the second story. He is dying of cancer. He's married to Linda, played nicely by Julianne Moore. Earl's nurse is Phil Parma, played by the great character actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman. William H. Macy plays "Quiz Kid Donnie Smith", a guy in his late thirties who once was a kid genius. Now he is disgruntled and bitter. Jeremy Blackman plays Stanley. A kid who is also a genius and is also involved on a game show. Phillip Baker Hall is Jimmy Gator, a game show host who has been unfaithful and he's dying of cancer, like Earl Partridge is. John C. Reilly is Jim Kurning, a lonely cop who falls for Claudia, played by Melora Walters. She is the daughter of Jimmy Gator, who she has had a falling out with.

There are more characters, but these are the main ones. They all have ordeals they are dealing with. Earl wants to see his son Frank. Frank is mad at his father for not being there when his mother died. Linda is wanting to change Earl's will because she would feel guilty because of her cheating on him in the past. Donnie wants to impress a bartender named Brad by getting braces.

The acting is top notch and the direction is super. P.T. Anderson uses continuous shots and pans that directly affect the mood of the film. Aimee Mann's songs are a plus. In one scene, her song "Wise Up" is sang by all the main players, each taking a couple of verses. It is used in a pivotal part of the film. It puts closure on one part of each of their lives. The ending is original. It basically tells us, you never know what to expect. This movie is filled with heart felt emotions that will test the biggest of men. A wonderful movie.