Magnolia (2000)
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An epic mosaic of interrelated characters in the San Fernando Valley search for happiness, forgiveness, and meaning.
The story
In the San Fernando Valley, a diverse group of individuals find their lives intersecting in a sprawling narrative of human connection. A police officer investigates a disturbance at an apartment, while a dying television host faces the end of his life on a quiz show. Nearby, a man seeks to reclaim his past, and a woman struggles with her identity and a failing relationship. As these disparate lives collide, the characters navigate personal crises, seeking redemption and meaning amidst a series of seemingly random events and a strange, supernatural occurrence that disrupts their reality.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows several interconnected lives in the San Fernando Valley. Officer Jim Kurring investigates a disturbance at Claudia Wilson's apartment, where he meets her and forms a connection. Nearby, Jimmy Gator, a dying quiz show host, manages a show featuring a young prodigy, Stanley Spector. Earl Partridge, also dying of cancer, seeks his estranged son, Frank Mackey, a controversial motivational speaker played by Tom Cruise. Meanwhile, Donnie Smith attempts to steal money for a surgery, and Linda, Earl's wife, struggles with her feelings for him. The narrative culminates in a surreal sequence where frogs fall from the sky, a moment that serves as a catalyst for several characters to confront their circumstances. Jim eventually finds a way to connect with Claudia, while the other characters face their respective fates in a climactic, atmospheric finale.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 188
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Writers
- Paul Thomas Anderson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jeremy Blackman; Tom Cruise · Frank T.J. Mackey; Melinda Dillon; Philip Baker Hall · Jimmy Gator; Philip Seymour Hoffman; Ricky Jay; William H. Macy; Alfred Molina; Julianne Moore · Linda; John C. Reilly · Jim Kurring; Jason Robards · Earl Partridge; Melora Walters
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- regret; loneliness; failed relationships; father issues; cruelty to children
- Tone and mood
- operatic; overwhelming
- Premise and plot tags
- ensemble cast; interconnected stories; surrealism
- Source material / true-story basis
- Aimee Mann's music
- Reception
- The film received acclaim from critics and was praised for its ensemble cast and ambitious scope, though some critics noted its length and complex structure.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 82% · scale: percentage · review count: 219
- Production trivia
- The script was inspired by Aimee Mann's music.; The 'rain of frogs' was inspired by the works of Charles Fort.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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