Rating: 
Summary: Great beginning... OK end... FAR TOO LONG!
Review: Overall I have to agree with another reviewer above (Richard).
I saw the 1st half hour of this film at a friend's house, and bought the DVD on that premise:I think the introduction and the first 5-10 minutes of Magnolia are fantastic. But then the characters are introduced... Earl (Jason Robards) is tragic and likeable enough- but doesn't have enough screentime to be even vaguely important to the plot. Earl's wife (Julianne Moore) is gorgeous as ever, but her character again doesn't seem to affect the plot much. Earl's male nurse (Philip Seymour Hoffman) gives one of the better performances of the film, and he is probably the most likeable and engaging character of them all. Tom Cruise's chraracter, Frank T J Mackey is so shallow and unlikeable up until right at the end (I won't give the plot away - don't worry!) that I began to skip the parts with him in. The Cop (John C Reilly) is convincing enough as the clumsy cop he plays and another likeable character, but again, as pointed out by Richard - his fascination with the character played by Melora Walters is a little unrealistic. Stanley (Jeremy Blackman) puts in a fine performance as the young prodigy forced into the limelight, and is another likeable character. Quiz-kid Donnie Smith (William H Macy) is strangely likeable even through his irritating self-loathing and well-played by reliable Macy, but seems a little remote from the rest of the (supposedly) inter-linked plot except for some slight coincidences. Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall) is quite a balanced character - providing one the films twists near the end, and is well played. Jimmy's estranged cokehead daughter is played convincingly by Melora Walters, but her relationship with John C Reilly's cop (mentioned earlier) is very unlikely. Overall - all the actors actual performances AS their characters are very good, as are the direction, score and screenplay. However, the actual plot and characters are the deciding factor in my giving this film 3/5 stars. The film does of course, have many good points, including, as mentioned, it's introduction and it's score.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: Magnolia quickly jumped onto my list of all time favorite films. PT Anderson pulled of an amazing bit of magic with this dark, intense, maddening but oh-so-human collection of souls. It's length didn't bother me, it's risky plot turns didn't bother me, it profoundly sad scenes did not bother me. Instead, I felt so full of hope after I saw this film; so convinced in the randomness of life and what you do or don't with it - I was simply blown away. The performances - all of them - are amazing: Hoffman, J. Moore, Walters, John C., and William H. Macy who is simply astounding. Really - today there are not many actors better than the troup in this film and each has a chance to strut his/her stuff. I know some people find it tough going or are intimidated by the long running time, but patience here provides an amazing reward. Just beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: 'Magnolia' blossomed in a year of movie-changers (1999)...
Review: In 1999, "Magnolia" was right up there behind "American Beauty," beating out "Run Lola Run" among other greats of that year....why did it make my top ten list? Plain and simple. After spending some time in L.A. and reading the amount of [stuff] that is out there, it's overwelmingly brilliant to see this movie and not be wowed by it. Several viewings it will take...unfortunately, those looking in on the film for purely entertainment escapism will be disappointed and never pop in this 3 hour movie again...but those that refuse to do this travesty will experience great joy, great pain and great redemption through one of the most Jesus-like films of our days. Forgiveness...Repentence....two things in life that once you fully grasp, you'll never be the same again!
Rating:
Summary: For viewers who are baffled by the ending
Review: Warning: Spoiler below concerning the ending :-) I will admit upfront that this film is not for everyone. By definition, art of great quality is not for everyone, as many people watch films purely to be "entertained." Well, Magnolia will definitely entertain you, but it will also make you think and feel deeply. It is fiercely intelligent and unashamedly passionate. Therefore, most people seem to either love or hate the film, depending on the expectations that they bring to it. Magnolia is decidedly not an "easy" piece of work-- but it IS by far my favourite film of the 1990's. If you want predictable, formulaic filmmaking, head for the multiplex to catch the latest Hollywood blockbuster. If you want more, watch Magnolia. Now, about the ending. The director, Paul Thomas Anderson, seems to have assumed that viewers of the film would have some knowledge of the most influentional and (once) well-known book in the world-- the Bible. Well, Paul, I love ya, man, but you assumed too optimistically-- most people, at least here in the good 'ol US of A, barely read books AT ALL anymore, much less a work of such profundity as the Bible. Oh well, we were a fairly well-educated country at ONE time anyway... Back to the ending. The frogs are a reference to the Book of Exodus, Chapter 8, Verse 2. If one looks very carefully at one point in the crowd at the game show, a man even holds up a sign with the Biblical citation on it. Think back to what the rapping kid said to the policeman-- "When the sunshine don't work, the good Lord bring the rain in." Congratulations, Paul Thomas Anderson, for not dumbing down your film. You force the audience to reach UP to understand your work instead of reaching down to them. Such an act takes courage in these increasingly mindless times. By the way, I didn't know the Exodus reference either, until someone pointed it out to me. Thank you, again, Paul, for enriching my sadly impoverished American mind. Are you SURE you're from this country? Just kidding-- I really DO love American culture at its best. This film is one great example. Please see it. (And read your Bible-- it has more to say than you may think...)
Rating: 
Summary: pseudo-intellectual pseudo-epic
Review: This is the kind of movie that sours the more you think about it. It's full of ostentation, extreme life situations, passionate (over)acting, symbolic import, and noise. When you boil it down to find the message, you are left with very little. The triteness of the "moral" is captured in the confrontation that a harried young boy makes to his demanding father -- "You have to be nicer to me." Some revelation. A lot of the story lines in the movie are stretched out, seem padded. In particular, the interview between the reporter and the Tom Cruise character, the part in which a kid is kept from going to the restroom, and the story with William H. Macy -- each drags out interminably and makes a single element of drama overstay its welcome. The beginning and ending segments of the film reach for some profundity concerning the connectedness between seemingly random events. It doesn't wash. It's clear that Anderson has "issues" he wants to address -- but it's not clear to whom they should be addressed. I'd wager he made the film as a way to yell at his own dad. Perhaps it was good therapy for him to do so (Janov's "The Primal Scream" comes to mind because of all the shouting and crying scenes). The film isn't any better for it, though.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing, creative, unique art
Review: A fantastic film full of creativity and wonder. The performances delievered by Magnolia's cast far and away surpass any collective effort in recent memory. Although I gave this film five stars, it's mainly due to a personal preference. I can understand how someone may not "get" this movie, but for fans of art, Magnolia's a can't-miss.
Rating:
Summary: no art
Review: To those who think this movie is about a bunch of pretentious run-arounds (a-hem), you are entirely wrong. Art films are not meant to depress nor uplift, a good film is to leave the viewer with their own opinion - and not follow the critics criticism. It is unfortunate that we have few opportunities to see a film which covers a gamut of personalities - and no, that is not hollywood, I think everyone who sees Magnolia can identify with one character. And as you watch the movie, the characters evolve to other people. There is no Caulfield except the sprightly cop - but at the end of the film, you have to be an ogre not to feel the sorrow and hope that Magnolia cleverly conveys. I feel sorry for those who are so rapt with their own "art" that they cannot see what lies afoot, namely...hubris and frailty of the human heart.
Rating:
Summary: If you know what auteur and AFI means ...
Review: ... chances are you'll like Magnolia. Magnolia is a quirky indie that will tend not to appeal to mainstream tastes, which is a compliment I'm sorry to say. In other words, if you tend to really hate movies that play in small theaters, don't watch it and stay home to catch Buffy the Vampire Slayer or something. Magnolia is a masterful movie with masterful cinematography, art direction, acting, editing and --albeit imperfect-- multi-plot screenplay. The movie is quirky but thoroughly engaging to anyone interested in drama - that is the human condition and emotion, and human conflict (internal and external). There's an abundance of interesting plot turns and character textures to keep your eyes, ears and mind fully riveted to the screen. Like a fine wine, its complexity can be overlooked, so keep your senses on full alert! The most stunning aspect of the movie are the risks the actors take. You won't see a reserved Tom Cruz guarding his hollywood persona here. You'll see Tom Cruz the actor nobody knows about. Yup, Cruz gives a stunning performance, and that's coming from, how should I put it, a non-fan. The rest of the star studded cast deliver in full taking tremendous risks and displaying a complexity of emotion that you just don't see in most movies. If you like indies, like alternative screenplays, or want to see some honest, spontaneous moments of acting, I recommend Magnolia.
Rating: 
Summary: Gorgeous, but . . .
Review: Yes, it's a greatly crafted film, but I'm just f___g sick and f___g tired of hearing the "f" word every other f___g sentence, especially for three hours.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretentious, but still very good
Review: I definitely agree with the reviewers who say that P.T. Anderson's Magnolia is extraordinarily self-indulgent. That fact, however, does little to diminish the quality of the film. It's a long, overly ambitious film that will test most viewers' patience and others' tolerance for bloated grandiosity. The film sharply divides movie fans as it very well should. Paul Thomas Anderson would do well to attain a bit of subtlety, but he is undeniably a very good filmmaker. My biggest complaint against Magnolia is the tendency of the stars to overact - and overact they do. Nearly everyone in the film at some point gets to cry and shout "I hate you! I (f-word) hate you!" to someone else. When they're not overacting, though, the performances are very good. Tom Cruise, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly and Melora Walters particularly stick out with their roles. The film is well-crafted, beautifully shot, with interesting stories and characters, a solid narrative structure and features an unforgettable ending. It's not perfect, no. It's overly melodramatic, overly ambitious and slightly overlong. Even with these flaws, though, Magnolia is a dazzling display of filmmaking, and for those who appreciate ambitious cinema, it's (mostly) a joy to watch. If you have a high tolerance for excess, then check it out.
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