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Published on Thursday, December 23, 1999 - 5:19am |
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Mysterio looks at MAGNOLIA
Hey folks, Harry here with Mysterio's look at MAGNOLIA. A brilliant film with far more on it's mind than you will ever read in print. I love this film, but have been digesting it ever since BUTT-NUMB-A-THON.... I've been having to take my time with it because... well I choose to. I'm pondering the significance of the seemingly insignificant details in the film that somehow struck me as being significant in a strange sort of way. I highly recommend this film, and... someday soon I'll be putting my thoughts into print about this film and many others coming soon. But for now, I'll leave it to Mister Cuff-links here.... Mysterio...
“A Menacing Merry Christmas” to you and your readers, Harry. For it’s I, Mysterio materializing back out of your subconscious.
Ahhh, the Christmas season is once again upon us. And oh how I do love this season. People EVERYWHERE! Makes my guise in the daytime much less noticeable. Put a Santa cap on over this bulky globe of mine, and no one seems to even notice. So much so, that I able to partake in a rare afternoon matinee of one of the most astonishing films to come out this year. That film being “MAGNOLIA”, that director being, P.T. Anderson.
Now unfortunately I missed the opportunity to have seen it at “Butt-numb-a-thon”, but I’m fortunate enough to keep residence in the two most crime ridden cities (outside Detroit that is), LA & NY, where it’s playing in limited release before going wide in January.
Having watched P.T. grow and establish himself as a filmmaker over the past years, (mostly from the shadows, although our paths have indeed crossed more than once), it’s easy to see why his films are so huge in scope. He has an indelible energy for films, both his as well as others that’s contagious. He loves the camera; he loves both the visual and audible aspect of his actors in their performances, and most of all he loves storytelling.
Now, I’ve been a big fan of P.T.’s, no make that a HUGE fan, of his since viewing his first work, “HARD EIGHT”.
A small film, but intriguingly, brilliant character piece, showcasing some outstanding performances and giving us an insight at what a wonderful ear for dialog P.T. has as a writer. Not to mention how his dramatic visual style would make leaps and bounds into his next feature, “BOOGIE NIGHTS”.
“BOOGIE NIGHTS” proved to be a hugely over-ambitious film. It proved that P.T. could forge ahead with multiple characters, and story lines, and craft them into an engaging work of film. Clearly, P.T. has done his homework, and references to his idols such as Altman & Scorcese, are definitely in evidence here. Having read the script many months prior to the release of the film, I was bowled over by how easy P.T.’s rather large scripts are to read. Everything is on the page, and the characters are easily identifiable through their given prose. I knew that if P.T. had succeeded in making that script as it read, it would become his calling card to the ranks of a highly respected filmmaker. So respected in fact, that Tom Cruise felt the need himself to be a part, any part, in Anderson’s next film.
Now having loved the script, and finished film for “BOOGIE NIGHTS”, I was overjoyed to have received a copy of “MAGNOLIA”, as far back as last May. But as I began to read into the script, a strange feeling overcame me that caused me to stop within the first 20 pages. It wasn’t the fact that it sucked, or I felt indifferent toward the material, or voices presented on the page. It was just the opposite. I felt that with the knowledge I read within the first 20 pages, I knew too much. I did not want to know any more. I felt this was going to be a wonderful experience that I wanted to visualize on the screen first, so I could be overtaken and manipulated by pure joy and surprise. But this came with reservations. Could it possibly be better than “BOOGIE NIGHTS”? Am I setting my expectations too high, consequently dooming my overall opinion of the film? These were questions that I patiently waited on, until the other day when I would finally get the answers to the questions that I had pondered upon over the past months.
*** SLIGHT SPOILERS DOWN BELOW ***
“MAGNOLIA” opens brilliantly with describing strange past accidents that seem to have happened simply by an odd matter of chance. It’s a perfect setup in describing that theme of chance that inherently segues its way into the basis of events, which surround the main characters that we’re introduced to in the film.
From there, we quickly jump from the past to the present where we meet Anderson’s main cast of characters. Earl Partridge (Jason Robards), who’s a dying TV mogul, stricken with cancer, his caring day nurse, Phil (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and his much younger, emotionally, off-balanced wife, Linda (Julianne Moore).
Then we have love struck LAPD cop, Jim Kurring (John C. Reilly) who enjoys helping people and having a “good day” at his job; where a routine call later leads him having a “good day” in meeting Claudia (Melora Walters). Claudia, herself is somewhat a beautiful mess, shutting herself out as far as she can from the world outside, by divulging in a high amount of narcotics and loud music.
We also have TV game show host, Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall), who hosts a game show for young geniuses who compete intellectually again their adult counterparts. Stanley Spector, is just that one kid whose currently at the point of diminishing the show’s winning record. Then there’s an ex-wiz kid, Donnie Smith (William H. Macy), whose become less the wiz after being struck by lightning, and whose life has suddenly become pre-occupied by the notion of having oral surgery for braces, although he has perfect teeth.
And lastly, is Frank “T.J.” Mackey (Tom Cruise) whose wheeling and dealing self-confidence, through his tapes and seminars, to guys who can’t get laid..
These are the characters in a nutshell, but what’s fascinating is that P.T. has expertly crafted and woven an intricate web where each character has a relationship either knowingly or unknowing to one another. Each with their own personal demons, wrought guilt and insecurities that haunt their daily lives.
The focus or rooted tree of the film centers on Robard’s dying character, Earl. It’s from his character’s illness that each other is a branch from his tree, or a branch from another. Each have they’re own distinctive formations, some longer and more emotionally twisted than others, some not.
But the film really marks a triumph in dealing with human tragedy and the hope and redemption that ultimately succeeds and grows from it.
It’s a intriguing 3 hours of character study, watching each character come to a certain point in their lives where each has made a change. This point comes no less in a surprisingly odd, but genius point where each character sings along to Aimee Mann’s hauntingly “Wise Up”. Mann’s songs seem to compliment the film and their scenes so wonderfully, that’s it’s no wonder P.T. used her songs as a template when writing. Her lyrics are simple and ring true.
Performances are outstanding on all levels, but the one that would have to stand out amongst the crowd, because of the high amount of energy displayed in the character, is that of Cruises’. His performance is the one that you’ve waited to hear about in the sense of a “this is Cruise like you’ve never seen him before” quote. It unfortunately didn’t ring true in last summer’s “Eyes Wide Shut”, but by god, this is him at his best, since “Born on the Forth of July”. It’s a striking performance that commands your attention. His T.J. Mackey begins as such a highly wound ball of energy, inside a hard self-made outer shell, that it’s fascinating to watch his character’s shell slowly crack open, revealing the individual that he once was. In one scene where Mackey is being interviewed, he’s assaulted by questions of his past, which he’s not quite ready to face. Feeling forced to say something, he instead just sits there quietly staring, across from his persecutor.
When asked what he’s doing in being non-responsive, his only reply back is, “I’m quietly judging you.” A line that’s said with such power and conviction that the scene just floors you.
It’s my hope that indeed this film finds it’s audience and gets the notice and recognition that it so surely deserves.
The film runs just over 3 hours, and for some may run a bit too long, but it’s a film that demands it. And for those who are patient and willing, “all good things will come to those who wait…”
And by the way, keep your eyes on the skies above when traveling through the San Fernando Valley. Particularly down Magnolia Boulevard.
-Mysterio
e-mail @:
Mysterio_9999@yahoo.com
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Reader Talkback
MAGNOLIA is the year's best
film... by Doughboy | Dec 23rd, 1999 04:36:25 AM | just saw it for 2nd time by Lazarus Long | Dec 23rd, 1999 05:46:20 AM | this is gonna rule by kev | Dec 23rd, 1999 06:20:15 AM | The UK release date, and the
not-so-secret ending by Mickey Finn | Dec 23rd, 1999 06:45:54 AM | Poster Spoiler by CountZero | Dec 23rd, 1999 07:31:16 AM | Funny by smilin'jackruby | Dec 23rd, 1999 11:03:48 AM | P.T. Swings>>>P.T.
Connects.... by theabrahamclan | Dec 23rd, 1999 11:21:29 AM | It's nice to see talk back
being so sensitive by SCOTT1458 | Dec 23rd, 1999 11:27:38 AM | This one time, I was at band
camp and... by Homer Wells | Dec 23rd, 1999 12:37:24 PM | "P.T." Anderson: The greatest
fraud in Hollywood by Emerald Eyes | Dec 23rd, 1999 01:18:25 PM | grrr by Maniac Cop | Dec 23rd, 1999 02:29:58 PM | A few questions for those who
have seen it by CastorDurden | Dec 23rd, 1999 02:42:53 PM | 3-hour root canel by webslinger48 | Dec 23rd, 1999 03:18:38 PM | butt-numbathon update part
2(where is it)???? by moondoggm | Dec 23rd, 1999 03:27:40 PM | Magnolia sucked the big ass
hairy one!!!! by GEEKBASHER 3.0 | Dec 23rd, 1999 03:38:51 PM | three movies that equal= PURE
CINEMATIC TORTURE by GEEKBASHER 3.0 | Dec 23rd, 1999 03:44:15 PM | You're a mean one, Homer Wells by TillUWiseUp | Dec 23rd, 1999 04:04:13 PM | Woops by TillUWiseUp | Dec 23rd, 1999 04:06:38 PM | EYES WIDE SHUT DVD by CastorDurden | Dec 23rd, 1999 04:57:25 PM | Magnolia Uk release date 3/3 by Murrkin | Dec 23rd, 1999 05:05:20 PM | love Magnolia or hate it, but
see it! Drama is a dying
artform by Fatal Discharge | Dec 23rd, 1999 06:19:18 PM | Sure Hope MAGNOLIA is better
than EWS by The Taitdog | Dec 23rd, 1999 06:55:39 PM | poor, lost souls by Austin Powers | Dec 23rd, 1999 07:12:04 PM | TO AUSTIN POWERS by GEEKBASHER 3.0 | Dec 23rd, 1999 07:35:45 PM | Hey, EMERALD EYES, read this by Vanilla Bob | Dec 23rd, 1999 07:52:18 PM | Magnolia Mayhem............... by GEEKBASHER 3.0 | Dec 23rd, 1999 09:45:40 PM | Bad Grammer....above....what
can I say? by GEEKBASHER 3.0 | Dec 23rd, 1999 09:47:20 PM | ...........I'm only in the
seventh grade............ by GEEKBASHER 3.0 | Dec 23rd, 1999 09:47:58 PM | A question for Emerald Eyes by eeksmith | Dec 23rd, 1999 11:59:34 PM | Syd Field should belong in the
humor section of your
bookstore by Lester Diamond | Dec 24th, 1999 02:47:44 AM | To MQBLANK - ever seen Short
Cuts by Robert Altman? by Fatal Discharge | Dec 24th, 1999 04:14:01 PM | Great...Terrible by Parlo | Dec 24th, 1999 06:15:12 PM | Why so many have been duped by
this horrible film by Keyser195 | Dec 25th, 1999 05:01:28 AM | Setting Out by CountZero | Dec 26th, 1999 12:24:21 PM | magnolia by greenlightscafe | Dec 26th, 1999 07:05:31 PM | Great Art? by CountZero | Dec 27th, 1999 12:17:12 AM | Who cares? by shaithis77 | Dec 27th, 1999 12:45:44 PM | Magnolia is the Best Movie of
1999 by bswise | Dec 27th, 1999 04:57:34 PM | What was with all the the
Masons references? by reverto | Dec 27th, 1999 05:34:35 PM | Freemasons Run The Country by CountZero | Dec 27th, 1999 06:27:50 PM | REVERTO by CountZero | Dec 27th, 1999 06:47:05 PM | Ooops by CountZero | Dec 27th, 1999 06:48:34 PM | Magnolia by keropi | Dec 27th, 1999 10:06:48 PM | Magnolia-Great! by BrianSLA | Dec 28th, 1999 12:44:54 AM | The trouble with Oscar. by bswise | Dec 28th, 1999 02:43:12 PM | The Oscar Game by CountZero | Dec 28th, 1999 03:41:55 PM | Oh, The Irony by CountZero | Dec 28th, 1999 04:09:39 PM | Symbolism? by taxi | Dec 29th, 1999 01:07:20 AM | re: symbolism by reverto | Dec 29th, 1999 03:54:22 PM | Tom Cruise winning the oscar? by gilmour | Dec 29th, 1999 04:16:16 PM | Gilmour by CountZero | Dec 29th, 1999 05:10:11 PM | Ooops by CountZero | Dec 29th, 1999 05:11:45 PM | I don't think he will win. by gilmour | Dec 29th, 1999 09:55:49 PM | Roger Ebert by Don_Incognito | Dec 30th, 1999 12:53:58 AM | Cruise Control by CountZero | Dec 30th, 1999 01:20:10 AM | Out Of Whack by CountZero | Dec 30th, 1999 01:23:36 AM | symbolism by taxi | Dec 30th, 1999 02:10:04 AM | PT and Fiona are perfect for
one another by Absolut | Dec 30th, 1999 07:01:39 PM | P.T. Anderson = P.T. Barnum by Lord Summerilse | Dec 31st, 1999 01:18:10 AM | magnolia rocks by greenlightscafe | Jan 8th, 2000 04:17:59 PM | the frogs and Exodus 8::2 by greenlightscafe | Jan 8th, 2000 10:16:52 PM | zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zz by Mr.Shufflebotham | Jan 10th, 2000 10:34:59 AM | Let My People Go! by Tir Na Nog | Jan 17th, 2000 03:53:15 PM | Magnolia - an actor's wet
dream by Ted Terrific | Jan 21st, 2000 01:20:01 PM | omigod this movie is so
amazing! by Jubieloo | Sep 2nd, 2000 07:28:50 PM | Respect the cock! by CuervoJones | May 14th, 2008 09:56:36 AM | I am quietly judging you by gotilk | May 14th, 2008 10:09:05 AM | I think I'm stuck in a TB time
warp.. by Flying Spaghetti Monster | May 14th, 2008 10:27:30 AM | Magnolia rules by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYan
ks | May 14th, 2008 10:35:13 AM | WTF Nixon by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYan
ks | May 14th, 2008 10:57:43 AM | In the immortal words of Rocky
Balboa by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYan
ks | May 14th, 2008 11:03:09 AM | I drink your milkshake by Darth Busey | May 14th, 2008 11:04:27 AM | It's not Angelina Jolie after
all, just boredom by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:11:13 AM | Magnolia Talkback
Ressurrescted! by Stereotypical Evil Archer | May 14th, 2008 11:13:10 AM | Is this Tom Cruise? by ricarleite | May 14th, 2008 11:21:21 AM | Nobody works at work anymore by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:25:01 AM | That's my stapler... by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:29:21 AM | Two Chicks At Once! by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:30:14 AM | The talkback challenge, are
you ready? by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:32:20 AM | GO by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:32:45 AM | SoylentMean by Series7 | May 14th, 2008 11:35:16 AM | this is so fucking stupid!!!! by Stickman83 | May 14th, 2008 11:35:58 AM | Tips: type something in
subject line by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:40:55 AM | no comment, still a post by SoylentMean | May 14th, 2008 11:42:08 AM | I'd always wondered if it was
possible... by ExcaliburFfolkes | May 14th, 2008 11:50:26 AM | First by The Old New | May 14th, 2008 12:07:01 PM | Use the force, Luke. by Chilli815 | May 14th, 2008 12:09:18 PM | Highly larious by Napoleon Park | May 14th, 2008 12:13:46 PM | Dogma by Chilli815 | May 14th, 2008 12:16:59 PM | Obi Wan by Chilli815 | May 14th, 2008 12:18:14 PM | Wow. couldn't pick a better
thread.. by Jonah Echo | May 14th, 2008 12:18:51 PM | Ghost of Nixon, you just made
my day. by AdrianVeidt | May 14th, 2008 12:19:53 PM | or, how bout that fake A.I.
review.. by Jonah Echo | May 14th, 2008 12:20:36 PM | Everyone email Mysterio. by AdrianVeidt | May 14th, 2008 12:21:32 PM | Chilli815 by The Old New | May 14th, 2008 12:22:49 PM | Star Wars by Chilli815 | May 14th, 2008 12:22:54 PM | Jonah Echo by The Old New | May 14th, 2008 12:23:49 PM | The Old New by Chilli815 | May 14th, 2008 12:23:50 PM |
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