Magnolia (film)
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Magnolia is a 1999 motion picture, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which tells the story of a peculiar interaction among several individuals during one apparently normal day in the San Fernando Valley, California. Interweaving nine separate yet connected storylines, Magnolia was self-consciously produced with heavy independent film influences, in a style quite far from what's currently common in mainstream Hollywood films —although it was well financed by New Line Cinema. The length of the film also defied convention at 188 minutes (NTSC)/ 180 minutes (PAL).
It featured an ensemble cast of Julianne Moore, Jason Robards, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Luis Guzmán, Philip Baker Hall, April Grace, Ricky Jay, Orlando Jones, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Jeremy Blackman, Michael Murphy, John C. Reilly, Melinda Dillon, Melora Walters, Michael Bowen, Thomas Jane and Felicity Huffman. Cruise was nominated for best supporting actor in the Academy Awards and won the award in the same category at the Golden Globes of 2000. Robards was memorable as an elderly invalid, dying at home in bed.
Overview
Magnolia starts with an intro describing three events which set the mood for the movie by urging the audience to think about supposed coincidences which occur "all the time." The events, which are well-known urban legends, are:
- Sir Edmund William Godfrey, a resident of Greenberry Hill, London, U.K, is murdered by three vagrants by the names Joseph Green, Stanley Berry, and Daniel Hill. Based on the murder of Edmund Berry Godfrey.
- A scuba diver, Delmer Darion, dies of a heart attack when he is accidentally picked up by a fire fighting airplane scooping water to put out a forest fire. The pilot of the plane, Craig Hansen, had met Darion a few days prior at the casino where he worked as a blackjack dealer, and had started a fight with him. The guilt and the measure of coincidence caused the pilot to commit suicide.
- A 17 year old boy, Sydney Barringer, whose attempted suicide by jumping off the roof of his apartment building became a "successful homicide" when he was accidentally shot by his mother as he fell past his own apartment window. His parents regularly argued and threatened each other with a shotgun, which was not normally kept loaded. Sydney had loaded the gun a few days prior so that his parents would make good on their threats to kill each other, and in doing so, unwittingly became an accomplice in his own killing. The irony is that a newly installed netting on the building would have saved his life if not for the shotgun wound.
- Frank T.J. Mackey (Tom Cruise), author of "Seduce and Destroy," a self-help system for men to get women to sleep with them.
- Linda Partridge (Julianne Moore), a woman dealing with her husband's terminal illness and feelings of guilt for her infidelity.
- "Quiz Kid" Donnie Smith (William H. Macy), who won a large sum of money on the television game show What Do Kids Know? in the 1960s, but whose life has gone downhill since then.
- Stanley Spector (Jeremy Blackman), a current contestant on What Do Kids Know?
- Phil Parma (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a nurse working for the terminally ill Earl Partridge.
- Claudia Wilson Gator (Melora Walters), who is independently wealthy, plagued by psychological problems, and addicted to cocaine; daughter of Jimmy Gator.
- Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall), host of What Do Kids Know?.
- Earl Partridge (Jason Robards), a wealthy television producer with terminal lung cancer.
- Officer Jim Kurring (John C. Reilly), a divorced and lonely police officer.
- Dixon (Emmanuel L. Johnson), an African American kid who raps and is the son of "The Worm."
| Jim Kurring
| Earl
| Jimmy
| Claudia
| Phil
| Stanley
| Donnie
| Linda |
| Jim is the kind of guy who could ostensibly benefit from Frank's material
| Earl is Frank's estranged father and has a history of mistreating women
| Jimmy is the host of What Do Kids Know? produced by Frank's father
| Both are estranged from their fathers
| Phil must find Frank to reunite him with his father
| Both are motherless throughout the movie
| Both have been wronged by their parents
| Linda hates Frank because his chauvinism reminds her of a part of Earl she would rather deny, and because he, as Earl's son, is someone close to him and therefore a potential object of his affections. |
| Dixon tries to tell Jim where his gun is and Jim lectures him without understanding; Dixon finds Linda after she OD's
| Earl is Linda's husband, both have been unfaithful (Linda to Earl and Earl to his first wife)
| Both make admissions of infidelity
| Both abuse drugs and suffer from psychological problems
| Linda employs Phil to take care of Earl
|
| Both suffer emotional outbursts | |
| Both are lonely and desperately seeking love; Jim convinces Donnie to return the stolen money
| Gained fame from the quiz show produced by Earl
| Donnie was a contestant on Jimmy's show in the 70s
| Both have a persecution complex
|
| Both are "quiz kids" who feel unappreciated by their parents | ||
| Both feel like outcasts, Stanley from his teammates and Jim from his co-workers
| Gains fame from the quiz show produced by Earl
| Stanley is a contestant on Jimmy's show, where both suffer breakdowns (Jimmy physically, Stanley emotionally)
| Both abused by their fathers, Stanley emotionally, Claudia sexually
| ||||
|
| Phil is Earl's nurse
|
| |||||
| Jim goes to Claudia's apartment to check out a disturbance, and eventually asks her out on a date
|
| Jimmy is Claudia's estranged father | |||||
|
| Earl is the executive producer of Jimmy's show, both are dying of cancer and both cheated on their wives | ||||||
| Both had a troubled first marriage |
- A crime that investigators think was committed by the Worm (played by Orlando Jones in scenes that were deleted).
- The broadcasting of a live episode of What Do Kids Know?, a general-knowledge quiz show that pits children against adults.
- A noise complaint that leads to an awkward conversation, and eventually a date between Jim and Claudia.
- Donnie's attempt to woo a braces-wearing bartender, Brad. His love for him results in an attempt to steal money to pay for braces that he does not need from the employer who fired him.
- An interview in which a reporter attempts to penetrate the emotional wall that Frank hides behind.
- The last hours of Earl, which complicate Linda's life with a number of vital decisions and in which a desperate Phil attempts to fulfill Earl's wish to see Frank, the son who despises him.
However, there is a more meaningful explanation. Earlier, a boy named Dixon tells Jim that "when the sunshine don't work, the good Lord bring the rain in." A Bible verse frequently referenced and alluded to in the film, Exodus 8:2 (NIV), states that "If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs," (although in Exodus the frogs are described as simply crawling out of the "waters of Egypt"). Many of the film's other strange occurrences, such as quotes that seem odd or out of place, can be similarly explained (see the link to Cigarettes and Red Vines' Magnolia page below for more information).
The movie ends with the narrator urging the audience to think again about the coincidences mentioned in the intro, implying that the unlikely connections between the characters in the movie are similar.
Themes
Magnolia is a thematically rich film. Many essays and other writings have been composed on it. Some themes that are often associated with the film include:
- Regret
- The cost of failed relationships as a result of fathers that have failed their children. Jimmy-Claudia, Earl-Frank, Stanley-his dad, Donnie-his parents. (While crouched over a toilet Donnie mumbles another explicit Exodus reference saying, ‘The sins of the fathers laid upon the children. Exodus 20:5’)
- Not all events and their results can be controlled, but an individual can control his own actions.
- Mistakes of the past cannot simply be erased (We might be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us).
Script vs Final Cut
A published version of the shooting script (Newmarket Press, 2001, ISBN 1557044066) indicates that there was substantial additional material to be incorporated into the film which did not make the final cut. In particular, the character of Dixon, the boy Jim Kurring met while investigating the shots in the first act, returns in a scene in the diner near where Donnie and Jim return the money, with his father, in an extended dialogue exchange which indicates that Dixon's father is abusive.Music and Soundtracks
Paul Thomas Anderson has stated that the screenplay was written largely around the songs of Aimee Mann.
Two songs were written expressly for the film: "You Do," which was based on a character later cut from the film, and "Save Me," which closes the film; the latter was nominated in the 2000 Academy Awards and Golden Globes and in the 2001 Grammys. Most of the remaining seven Mann songs were demos and works in progress; "Wise Up," which is at the center of a sequence in which all of the characters sing the song, was originally written for the 1996 film Jerry Maguire. At the time Mann's record label had refused to release her songs on an album. Paul Thomas Anderson had heard the demos while writing the screenplay. The song of the film that plays in the opening is a cover version of "One" by Harry Nilsson.
The song "Deathly" by Aimee Mann is also on her album Bachelor No. 2. It features the lyric "Now that I've met you/Would you object to/Never seeing each other again". This is used as line of dialogue in Magnolia, and the song was a major inspiration for the film.
Anderson produced a music video for "Save Me" that featured Mann in the background of what appeared to be scenes from the film, singing to characters. There was no digital manipulation involved; the video was shot at the end of filming days with Mann and actors who were asked to stay in place. The video, which contains exactly seven cuts, won the Best Editing award at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and was nominated for Best Music Video from a Film.
The soundtrack album, released in December 1999 on Reprise Records, features the Mann songs, as well as a section of Jon Brion's score and tracks by Supertramp and Gabrielle that were used in the film. Reprise released a full score album in March 2000.
Various spoken lines of the film were used as samples in the Dream Theater song "Honor Thy Father".
Documentary
The Magnolia DVD includes a behind-the-scenes documentary, That Moment. This documentary is one of the most extensive ever produced about a single motion picture; it is about an hour and ten minutes long and uses a fly-on-the-wall approach to cover nearly every aspect of production, from production management and scheduling to music direction to special effects. As Magnolia is arguably Paul Thomas Anderson's most ambitious work, the behind-the-scenes documentary is also an in-depth look into his motivation and directing style. Pre-production included a screening of the film Network (film). Several scenes showed Anderson at odds with the child actors and labor laws that restrict their work time. The character of Dixon has further scenes filmed but it appears to be not working from Anderson's reactions. These scenes were cut completely and have never been shown on DVD.Trivia
Writer/director Kevin Smith has repeatedly criticised the movie for being boring and prententious. In his movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back the two main characters beat up a young boy named "Magnolia Fan" for posting negative comments about the main characters on an Internet forum.Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Blackman | Stanley Spector |
| Michael Bowen | Rick Spector |
| Tom Cruise | Frank T.J. Mackey |
| Melinda Dillon | Rose Gator |
| April Grace | Gwenovier |
| Luis Guzmán | Luis |
| Philip Baker Hall | Jimmy Gator |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman | Phil Parma |
| Felicity Huffman | Cynthia |
| Thomas Jane | Young Jimmy Gator |
| Ricky Jay | Burt Ramsey/Narrator |
| Orlando Jones | Worm |
| William H. Macy | Quiz Kid Donnie Smith |
| Alfred Molina | Solomon Solomon |
| Julianne Moore | Linda Partridge |
| Michael Murphy | Alan Klingman, Esq. |
| John C. Reilly | Jim Kurring |
| Jason Robards | Earl Partridge |
| Melora Walters | Claudia Wilson Gator |
Awards
2000 Academy Awards- Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Music, Song: Aimee Mann, for the song "Save Me"
- Nominated, Best Picture
- Nominated, Actor in a Supporting Role: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Actress in a Supporting Role: Julianne Moore
- Nominated, Director: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Original Screenplay: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Original Song: "Save Me" (Aimee Mann)
- Nominated, Original Song Score: Jon Brion
- Nominated, Achievement - Visual Effects
- Won, Golden Bear: P.T. Anderson
- Won, Favorite Supporting Actor, Drama: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Favorite Supporting Actress, Drama: Julianne Moore
- Nominated, Best American Film
- Nominated, Best Picture
- Won, Best Makeup
- Nominated, Best Original Screenplay: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Supporting Actor: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Best Song: "Save Me" (Aimee Mann)
- Won, Best Supporting Actor: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Best Director: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Picture
- Nominated, Best Screenplay: P.T. Anderson
- Won, Best Movie
- Won, Best Supporting Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Nominated, Best Director: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Foreign Film
- Nominated, Best Director: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Film
- Won, Adapted Song ("One" - Aimee Mann)
- Nominated, Actor in a Supporting Role (Tom Cruise)
- Nominated, Actor in a Cameo Role (Felicity Huffman)
- Nominated, Juvenile Performance (Jeremy Blackman)
- Nominated, Original Screenplay (Paul Thomas Anderson)
- Nominated, Production Design - Contemporary (William Arnold & Mark Bridges)
- Nominated, Song Score (Jon Brion)
- Nominated, Original Song ("Save Me" - Aimee Mann)
- Nominated, Song Performance in Studio ("One" - Aimee Mann)
- Nominated, Achievement - Casting
- Won, Best Ensemble Cast
- Won, Best Film
- Won, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Best Original Song - Motion Picture: Aimee Mann, for the song "Save Me"
- Nominated, Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- Nomintaed, Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- Nominated, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Aimee Mann, for the song "Save Me"
- Won, Best Foreign Film
- Nominated, Best Director - Foregin Film: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best DVD
- Nominated, Best Picture
- Nominated, Best Song: "Save Me"
- Nominated, Screenwriter of the Year: P.T. Anderson
- Won, Best Acting by an Ensemble
- Won, Best Supporting Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Won, Best Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore
- Runner Up, Best Film - #3
- Nominated, Best Ensemble Cast Performance
- Nominated, Best Original Screenplay: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Supporting Actress, Julianne Moore
- Won, Supporting Actor (Tom Cruise)
- Won, Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore)
- Won, Adapted Song ("One")
- Won, Ensemble
- Nominated, Best Picture
- Nominated, Younger Actor or Actress (Jeremy Blackman)
- Nominated, Casting (Cassandra Kulukundis)
- Nominated, Director (Paul Thomas Anderson)
- Nominated, Original Screenplay (Paul Thomas Anderson)
- Nominated, Original Song ("Save Me")
- Nominated, Cinematic Moment: Frogs
- Nominated, Best American Film
- Won, Film of the Year
- Won, Outstanding Motion Picture Ensemble
- Nominated, Best Director: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Motion Picture, Drama
- Nominated, Best Original Song: "Save Me"
- Nominated, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Tom Cruise
- Nominated, Best Screenplay, Original: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture
- Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Julianne Moore
- Nominted, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Tom Cruise
- Won, Best Director: P.T. Anderson
- Won, Best Picture
- Won, Best Screenplay: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: P.T. Anderson
- Nominated, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor: Jeremy Blackman
References
Magnolia: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script Series), Newmarket Press, 2000, ISBN 1557044066External links
- [Official website]
- [cigarettes and red vines: magnolia]
- [Magnolia] at the [Arts & Faith Top100 Spiritually Significant Films] list
- [Discussion of Magnolia's unique take on genre.] Alternate Takes
- [Fanlisting]
| The Films of Paul Thomas Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Hard Eight | Boogie Nights | Magnolia | Punch-Drunk Love | There Will Be Blood | |
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