Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding, although a little incoherent
Review: Okay, so this movie is definitely NOT for everyone. But speaking strictly for myself, I thought it was extraordinarily moving and poignant. I thought the pacing and direction were great, I like the way all the characters start off in a kind of complacent, daily routine, but one by one, something happens that changes them, building up to the climax at the end. I particularly thought Tom Cruises role was riveting, and I'm not trying to be a loser Tom Cruises jock sniffer, I just really loved the way he was such a chauvnistice pig up until the interviewer asks him about his mom and dad, and from that moment on, it seems like his entire world falls apart, and the scene with Jason Robards was awesome. I was also captivated by the basic themes of the film, it seems to be redemption, forgiveness, and defiance. Of course, it had it's flaws. I thought in was one of those movies where everyone is connected to eachother in some way, sort of like Playing By Heart, or about any Sienfeld episode. But it's not quite that interconnected, although there is something that connects one to another to another, but not something connecting all of them to all of them. All in all though, I really was moved. I'd hate to recommend it to people that may not like it, but all I'm saying is that if you like really "deep" films, or stellar acting, or both, then you should definitely check this out.
Rating: 
Summary: Great but nothing new
Review: I wish I didn't read the good reviews of "Magnolia" because I probably would've liked it more. That isn't saying this is a bad film, it is well-crafted film with a good script and good acting but one of the best films of '99 and groundbreaking? No. "Magnolia" follows a day in the life of a group of strangers. Everyone from a genius kid on a quiz show to a TV. Male tycoon profiting on Male self-esteem who must confront his dying father. The first hour of the film is the best because it sets up all the conflict and introduces us to a handful of interesting characters. The acting is very good for a Hollywood film. Even Tom Cruise who I normally despise at least did a good effort and of course Rubert Jr. was amazing. However as the hours go by and the plot becomes more and more obvious, you start to space off. I think a lot of people forced themselves to call it brilliant because of how tragic everything was and sentimental but it was nothing special. The scene in which Tom Cruise and Jason Rubert Jr. meet wasn't as powerful as I thought it would be. If you want to see real family tragedy at it's best you should see clips of Jason Rubert Jr. performing Eugene O'Neill in the theater. By the middle of the film, everything became a cliche and we knew what would happen. I won't give away the ending but I thought it was very contrived and tried to be arty and symbolic without making a good film. "Magnolia" is by no means a bad film and I recommend watching it but I can't even begin to accept it is brilliant and groundbreaking. "Boogie Nights" still remains Paul Thomas Anderson's best work so far.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Magnolia is a hard film for many people to watch. The reason for this is that Magnolia is a film about what we watch movies to escape from... real life. That's what its about; forget the sprawling plot, Magnolia is about the trials and tribulations of modern life. It's about coping with regrets and fixing our mistakes. This makes for a very depressing film. It also makes for a very real film. Filled with many different characters, its easy to find someone to identify with. Whether it be Frank TJ Mackey, a womanizing motivational speaker who refuses to come to terms with his father, or Jim Curring, a cop who's trying to find love while doing the right thing, you're sure to find someone who you love. Stellar performances are turned in across the board, but that's no surprise looking at the cast. You stop seeing William H. Macy, you start seeing Quiz Kid Donnie Smith. The only weak link is Julianne Moore as Linda Partridge. She's way over the top, but its forgiveable if not dismissable. Magnolia is one very smart film. It is filled with themes of redemption, courage, freak accidents, and God. Director Paul Thomas Anderson does not dumb these down for us; he does not insult his audience. He knows we are smart, capable people and leaves it all up for our own interpretation. It may be a little overwhelming, but that's why this is a great DVD to purchase. You can watch it repeatedly and pick up on all the little things you may have missed that make a big difference. On the suplemental disk is an interesting documentary about the making of Magnolia that offers much insight into PT Anderson and the way he works. The only thing that's missing is a commentary track by Anderson; he thinks the film speaks for itself. He may be a little off base there, but Magnolia is nonetheless a very satisfying purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty in Serendipity . . . A Truly Remarkable Film.
Review: This is a work of staggering beauty. Anderson has painted a dizzying panorama of the human condition. The performances are all top-notch, including career-best work from Julianna Moore, Tom Cruise and the late, great Jason Robards. But amidst the flurry of brilliant acting lies an absolute gem of a screenplay, one of the best-written and most beautifully executed pieces of storytelling this viewer has ever had the good fortune to experience. The DVD version of this film is a real treat, loaded with great extras (on two discs.) A must for any serious DVD collector.
Rating:
Summary: Must be digested.
Review: It's funny. It took me three tries to get past the first 5 minutes of this movie...it was so chaotic, that it irritated me. Once I made myself sit through it...I began to see what it was there for. I had to watch the "making of" DVD,too. That helped. I'm still angry at P.T for not scripting dialogue...I think that's terribly lazy...He has big broad storyline ideas and his producer sees to it that he has the finest in cinematographers, etc. but, P.T. is not a writer, per se. He may be a visionary, but not a writer. I understand now why he made the movie..I guess the most complimentary thing I can say to you about it is that I suddenly realized while watching it that MY LIFE could have been one of those stories up on the screen and it hit me squarely between the eyes and right in the gut. Work on your dialogue, P.T. Onward... JW
Rating: 
Summary: GRAVE INJUSTICE!!
Review: The opening 10 minutes of this film were great, exploring the urban legend of the diver who was scooped up by a water carrying plane on its way to a bush fire, after the fire the diver is found in a smouldering tree! excellent i thought! here comes a great film!..... how wrong i was! from a really entertaining intro came a bunch of little stories that climax into 1 plot. None of the characters are very interesting and only 1 is remotley likable( the cop) by the end i was disinterested and bored by it all i fell asleep within 5 minutes.A truly long(3hours) and very dull movie that is only watchable once.Anyone buying this film on DVD before actually seeing it or only on the basis of these reviews needs their head testing. My favourites are:-Pulp Fiction,Sleepy Hollow,Private Ryan,Lost Boys and Snatch.
Rating:
Summary: Strong Roots, Supressed Flower
Review: I usually enjoy ferociously original films that are a bit too raw or honest for the masses. With "Magnolia", I don't think I got enough out of it. Altough through the course of the film, we meet interesting, honest people and get to enjoy Mann's haunting songs along the trip, I wasn't fulfilled. I wanted to know that these characters were either going to rise up and take responsibily or be left miserable and full of supressed angst. I truly watched the movie, and watched as the bud turned into a flower with its growth spawning a new petal after each rainstorm, but for me it never blossomed to its fulness. I certainly admired several performances in the film but as a whole piece it didn't satisfy me. I think this movie is personal but not at all esoteric, I understood what it was saying to all who watched the magnolia flower grow. I think in trying to be too concealed, P.T. Anderson leaves us with a nodding and depressed flower whose roots are nonetheless strong and intricate.
Rating:
Summary: A modern day classic
Review: Magnolic is going to go down in history as one of the top 10 movies of the 20th century. This movie is for everybody. For the people that look for technicality, the direction is beautiful, the acting is phenominal, the only realy tragedy of this movie is that it didn't get any more Oscar nomination then it did. And for all the people that want an interesting movie, you will get your money's worth. I would give this movie 10 stars if i could but the highest is 5. Darn.
Rating: 
Summary: Remember "Short Cuts"?
Review: I think I already saw this film in the early 90's. It was called "Short Cuts". Altman directed it. I guess no one remembers because you never hear anyone coming out and stating the obvious... "Magnolia" is a stone rip-off. How clever can it be? It's got the same style w/ the interesecting storylines, LA county setting, and "riveting" ending. They even swiped one of the lead actresses! Give me a break. See "Short Cuts" instead.
Rating:
Summary: Well-Acted, Well-Made, But-----
Review: This film is exceptionally well-acted, and beautifully made. I just found it rather tiresome. After the film had built to a climax for about the twelfth time, I got frustrated, and quite frankly sick of all the repetition. If I had seen Julianne Moore choke back the tears once more I was going to put my foot through the screen! Like Paul Thomas Anderson's earlier Boogie Nights, Magnolia follows a group of people around for an extended period. And that's about all it does. It goes from expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene to expertly intercut five-way scene and on and on. It adds some stuff about randomness and coincidence, so that Anderson can tell us that he is doing all of it on purpose, that he is deliberately not tying all the elements together. How convenient. It saves Anderson from having to do any of the real work of shaping the elements that he throws on screen, and as a result, his final flourish, involving a rain of frogs, seems more born of desperation than any kind of artistic impulse. Inevitably, the film loses something in the transition to video. In a theatre, on a big screen, the film had a very real impact that is considerably lessened by moving to televison. The film's considerable strengths were increased on a big screen. The film's even more considerable weaknesses are more profoundly evident on video.
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