Films like Magnolia are very difficult to pull off. They become very expansive for the moviegoer who is losing his/her keys by day and his/her mind by night. That seems to be acceptable behavior. Losing someone in a movie, though, is death. But when this three-hour film sucks you, the exhale is a ride.
Paul Thomas Anderson pulls it off directing Boogie Nights and here as well, with each, beholding the extended camera shot creating the sensation of attendance. A trip. Speaking of, Tom Cruise is whack and bad in a good way -- couch jumping would actually be an act of restraint for this character, a rock-star-enabled Tony Robbins. Philip Seymour Hoffman is always interesting for unknown reason; and Julianne Moore is old, angular, freckled, yet hot -- good for her. Great movie.
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