Magnolia - 1999 - Paul Thomas Anderson

I thought about making a sequence of special posts, with all P T Anderson films, but I think it would be good for me to review it first, especially his first films, because not only will I see it with different eyes, but I will probably be much more surprised with this one. time of maturation of his works. And that happened even with Magnólia, who I decided to review a little while ago. For those who don't know, Magnólia is possibly the most iconic film by Paul Thomas Anderson, this incredible and enigmatic director, aesthetically and philosophically rich in his choices and details. Honestly, I couldn't find any bad films from him. But maybe it's a fan vision problem. I decided to start talking about him for Magnolia because he was my gateway to that world, and I believe that of many other people too! I remember well the experience of finding that double VHS on the shelf of the movie rental, with an exotic flower on the cover and those mentions of awards. I have always been a video rental mouse, I spent HOURS analyzing each film cover until I decided without haste or tension which film I would take home that weekend, I even remember the smell of that place!

[source](https://pgcooper1939.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/magnolia-poster.jpg)

Times have changed, but all is not lost, thanks to the technological ease and an internet speed that didn't even exist at the time, we can download full HD versions of these great classics that fueled our youth. But of course, maybe you liked the action and explosion movies with Jackie Chan, etc. more. All good! I loved it too, but my sensitive and melancholy side was passionate from an early age for the complex and intense plots of drama films or even those that could not even be categorized as drama. And Magnolia is more than a drama. The plot provides an overview of the lives of various characters and their direct or indirect connections, the film makes this clear from the beginning, with its absurdly unconventional introduction to a standard audience of cinemas in that year of 99. Impossible not to be moved and immerse the life of each of the characters approached, from the megalomaniacal irreducible sex coach played by Tom Cruise, to the smart little boy who is struggling with the absurd pressure of the television culture of the question and answer programs. The whole plot is very finely tuned, full of great interpretations. As the three hours of the film go by (quickly, given their exceptional quality of holding our attention), the relationship we create with the characters becomes more intense, for example in the captivating and distressing pair of the dramatically flustered cop who ends up falling in love with the addicted to cocaine that lives in a continuous state of craving and agoraphobia. But everything ends up converging to the classic scene, the scene in which ... Well, even though it is not a secret, I prefer to leave in the air what is the most intense and impacting scene of this great classic, who knows how I can make you there that has not yet watched, being interested in finding out what happens in this film, in addition to all the drama of lives, pains and loves, something surrealist but not more than life itself. Paul Thomas Anderson managed to rule the perfect work in this film. Definitely.