Rating: 
Summary: interesting- not great
Review: I read somewhere that someone thought this movie was great in the beginning and end- and was an interesting muddle in between. That echoed my sentiments exactly. I didn't care much for the soundtrack though. I could never get totally engrossed in the movie while I was watching it and after it was done, it didn't leave much of an impression on me. Tom Cruise did a good job in his role as an oversexed maniac.
Rating: 
Summary: Magnolia
Review: This movie sucked worse than an old Hoover vacuum cleaner. My God, what did the director think he was doing? Now, I know there are a lot of pseudo-intellects out there who see something deep and apocolyptic in this film. To them I say get off the drugs and try reality. This stream of unconsciousnes crap is the worst of a very poor year in the movie industry. The notion that Cruise was nominated for this is ludicrous. The great climax has power only in its ability to turn ones's stomach. That the director took three hours to tell this tale shows how sadistic a person he must be. Half the people in the theater left when I saw it originally. Trying it a seond time with two carbon enhancement, didn't help either.
Rating: 
Summary: A brittle flower, a powerful movie
Review: "Magnolia" is one of the best films ever made, period. I haven't enjoyed a movie so thoroughly the first time through, thought about it for months afterward, watched it again, and was even more astounded by it, ever. Given that it's three-hour running time may turn off the audience members with cases of ADD, but for those of us who stick around, it's a filmmaking experience like no other, driven by the kinetic energy of a director whose sheer joy for the art gives every moment on the screen poignant meaning and visual grace. "Magnolia" was written, produced, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who uses the music of the under-appreciated Aimee Mann as a temp-track that underlines the entire movie, beginning with the opening to her song "Deathly," and working backwards. Mann's music is always at the soul of the movie, starting with her jazzed up remake of "One," getting under our skin during a brilliant montage of all the main characters singing "Wise Up," and finally knocking us flat on our collective rears with her inspired "Save Me." (She was robbed by Phil Collins at the Oscars) Yet, amongst all of the music from one of the world's most gifted musical artists, there are some of the finest screen performances of 1999. These performances, along with some fabulously bizarre cinematography from Robert Elswit, are what truly push the movie from its oddly engaging opening monologue to its final heartwarming smile. To describe all of the characters in "Magnolia" would take forever, and considering all of that has been kindly outlined by the folks here at Amazon, I won't repeat it. I'll just say that "Magnolia" contains some of the most originally written characters in the history of cinema. Tom Cruise is electrifying as Frank TJ Mackey, Julianne Moore is terrific as usual, Melora Walters (written with a hint of Aimee Mann insanity) is as jumpy as a grasshopper hopped up on meta-amphetamines, but she pulls it all off nicely, and Philip Seymour Hoffman always wins us over with his heartfelt performance as the nurse to the sickly Earl Partridge, played with devastating authenticity by the late great Jason Robards. And those are just my personal favorite characters. ... I'll say it again, this is one of the very best films I've ever seen, and working in a video store, I've seen a lot of movies. It's endlessly inventive, engaging, wonderful, heartwarming and breaking at the same time, with an endless supply of life being fed into it by one of the best directors since Scorsese. ...
Rating:
Summary: Watch Magnolia or watch paint dry.......you decide
Review: I knew basically nothing about this movie when it began and was fairly excited for a noteworthy cast to deliver a respectable performance. I think it's safe to say I took my first nap appx. 30 minutes into the movied when I realized it was going absolutely nowhere. For the next 2+ hours (that seemed like 2+ days) I drifted in/out of conciousness. Waking up here and there to some occasional frogs, and other sad stories all converging in one big mess called magnolia. Avoid this movie like a bad stomach bug.
Rating:
Summary: blah
Review: Although the Hollywood critics may laud this movie, it is way too disjointed to be enjoyed without watching it several times. I'm guessing. I don't have the strength to watch it again. The previews made it look like such a good movie...even the previews tho, have a more consistently flowing plot than the movie itself. With so many characters [all of whom use inappropriately excessive profanity] that are used to try to make a "deep" plot, they all end up pitiful and shallow. The cop is the only one who has anything remotely resembling depth...all the depth the other characters have is contrived. I give the cast 4 stars for acting well to poorly written rôles. 5 stars for the extra DVD of special features, 2 stars for the story and only 1 star for the disjointed plot.
Rating:
Summary: My Personal Pick For 'Worst Movie Of 1999'
Review: After watching all the other highly rated movies of 1999 and not being disappointed even once, I turned my sights over to Magnolia. The critical acclaim, academy award nominations, intriguing previews, all-star cast, and the buzz of its 'climactic ending' made me hooked on seeing this movie and I grabbed it once it came on DVD. The first five minutes of the movie started out pretty interestingly, which peaked my interest even more. Unfortunately, this 3+ hour disaster of a film easily tops my list of 'Worst Movie of 1999' and 'Most Disappointing Movie Ever'. The movie becomes boring within the first thirty minutes and not even the cast's impressive performances are able to keep this sinking ship afloat. It circles around several groups of people during a single day. During this day, you're bounced from group to group, cutting out on the scene every time it threatens to become interesting. Much of the dialog is completely pointless and by the end of the movie you start realizing how many of the scenes were totally unnecessary. The only thing that kept me watching was an interest in what this 'climatic ending' was going to be. The climatic ending, when it finally appeared after over three hours of film, was simply absurd. The ending itself left each one of the stories open and without any closure. At least half the movie was dedicated to filling you in on what happened in these people's lives before this day and the rest builds toward piecing itself together. It then completely leaves you hanging on what happens after this day. Aside from one of the stories, you're left completely hanging on what happens to the rest of the stories. Personally, I don't consider movies such as Coyote Ugly and Little Nicky to be the worst movies of the year. You can pretty much tell by the previews, reviews, and poor casting that the movie will be bad before you even start watching it. In my opinion, true 'Worst of the Year' films intrigue you with promises of twisting plots and draw you in with a truck load of super stars, only to leave you frustrated and wishing you had spent your time doing anything but watching it. This is without question, my 'Worst Movie of 1999'.
Rating:
Summary: This Movie is Sheer Genius!
Review: The first time I saw this movie, frankly, it shocked me. However, it was so hypnotic that I could not stop watching it. Many viewings later, this movie has become one of my favorites. The story is great; the actors are great. It shows how a group of messed up, strung out people are connected with one another. Paul Thomas Anderson is a great director and writer; this movie showcases his talent. Tom Cruise is wonderful as the sex guru; I didn't know whether to laugh or cry in some parts. Julianne Moore is one of the best actresses out there today. I usually don't like to listen to Phillip Seymour Hoffman (his gravelly voice irks me!), but he is also wonderful in this film in an understated role as Phil, a male nurse. Melora Walters, John C. Reilly, and Jason Robards also have wonderful roles. There are so many excellent actors and actresses in this film, it is hard to name a favorite performance. The soundtrack is excellent also; the music of Aimee Mann cuts to your very soul.
Rating:
Summary: i DID NOT like this movie.
Review: this movie got on my nerves. i love julianna moore. she was good in this part, but it didn't make the movie any better. the ending was anticliamtic. the movie was too long and just made me bored. i could not get into this movie at all. don't waste 3 hours of your time. stay away from this movie at all cost. unless you just want to waste time.
Rating:
Summary: WOULD YOU AGREE TO NEVER SEE ME AGAIN?
Review: An ensemble cast in a wholly surprising and overwhelming film by the director of Boogie Nights. The entire cast is in top form, all conveying their extremely human flaws and still coming across in a way that evokes sympathy from the audience. Tom Cruise is a misogynistic infomercial self-help guru who sells the concept of "Seduce and Destroy". The late Jason Robards is his dying father, a former television executive. Julianne Moore is Robards's wife, who is manic and frantic as Robards nears death. The always spectacular Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Robards's in-home nurse who goes on a crusade to get in touch with Cruise's character when Robards requests a reunion with his long-estranged son. John C. Reilly is a police officer who takes his job quite seriously but somehow still manages to bungle things up. He is lonely and places a personal ad. However, instead, he meets a cocaine addicted woman, Claudia, when he responds to a noise disturbance call. They go out together, and he never suspects her addiction. Claudia's father is a game show host, Jimmy Gator, who has problems of his own. William H. Macy is a rather unstable man who used to be a child genius appearing on the game show Gator hosts. Macy is obsessed with getting braces. You get the idea. There are many stories going on at once, and they connect to one another brilliantly. All of these stories are augmented by the incomparable Aimee Mann soundtrack.
Rating:
Summary: Shall I say sucks big time!!!!!!!
Review: It was pure agony watching most of this film.I dont even know why i even finished it,other than a glimmer of hope that there would be a good scene.The only thing I liked was the scenes about that streetcop's relationship.I think that the whole movie should have been about him.Tom Cruise's character was a real odd one and I think he's to good of an actor to waste his talent on a yawn fest like this one.Don't waste one red cent on this movie,you will thank me later.
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