Episode 134: Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia”
A discussion with Jason Eaken (@Eaken) on Paul Thomas Anderson’s 199 film, “Magnolia.”
Click To Listen and Download. (01:18:33)
In 1999, after the success of “Boogie Nights,” Paul Thomas Anderson had free reign to choose his next project. He decided to make a grand movie about interweaving characters tied together by their emotions and their past. “Magnolia” was Anderson’s most ambitious film at the time and despite a disappointing box office, the film became one of the most influential films of the next decade.
Why didn’t audiences take to “Magnolia” like they did two years earlier with “Boogie Nights?” What was it about “Magnolia” that made it so influential among filmmakers, musicians, and commercial directors? And why is “Magnolia” still a perplexing film 13 years after its initial release?
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” is the subject of episode 134 of the AuteurCast…
Good to hear you talking about your favorite movie!
The first time I saw this movie I left the theater pretty upset. Not because I didn’t like the movie (I actually thought it was amazing), but because it was a such a bleak picture to me. Most of the people in the movie treated each other terribly.
One thing that is amazing about this movie is how it slowly builds tension. It manages to keep ramping up the tension level, slowly, consistently, for over 2 hours before it breaks and the release happens.
Another thing that is wonderful about this movie is how rich and deep and full all of the characters are. Anderson doesn’t just stick a character in the movie to get from point A to point B. He clearly spent a lot of time in each character’s head. None of them felt like a type or a cliche to me. They were each believable to an extent, and yet surprising. I didn’t know how they would respond to a situation – I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what they’d do in response to the ever-esacalating stakes of the movie.
The star of the movie for me, the lasting-impact character, was Melora. And that Aimee Mann soundtrack. When I played your podcast and it started off with one of her songs, I was instantly transported back to the feelings I had while watching that movie. So powerful….
Definitely one of my favorite films. I’m seeing The Master for a 2nd time tomorrow and am looking forward to noticing more of the many levels of meaning Anderson puts into his films.