Magnolia

Anderson has confirmed his reputation as the most talented director of the young generation and, as with Boogie Nights, has made a three-hour spectacle that flows by like water. The seemingly disparate patchwork of different human destinies would have crumbled under the hands of another director, but under Anderson's baton it feels extremely cohesive and the viewer doesn't feel lost in the plot. Plus, Anderson managed to make Cruise look a proper actor, which is remarkable. Cruise's portrayal of the successful hyper-macho is magnificent and rightfully awarded an Oscar nomination. The cathartic ending is unforgettable. Long live the frogs. (13/04/2003)

If I were to review Magnolia objectively, I wouldn't be able to give it any lower rating than the highest one. Fortunately, I can evaluate it purely based on my own opinion, and despite Anderson's flawless direction, I couldn't help but feel that three hours is too long and somewhat unnecessary. Of course, all the storylines are interconnected, and individual characters couldn't be removed, but the whole competition, the host, and the genius young man around it all felt terribly boring to me, and I was looking forward to when the story would switch to someone else, which unfortunately applies to former contestant Macy as well. On the other hand, Cruise, Hoffman, and Reilly are amazing, and whenever any of them had the opportunity to showcase their acting skills, I was consistently moved. (16/09/2006)

A long film, which relies on excellent acting performances, almost without exception. Nevertheless, I couldn't get into the film and don't see anything that would be so great about it. Maybe someday, on a second try, but I doubt it. Paul Thomas Anderson is not one of the directors I seek out. However, his talent cannot be denied. (02/04/2016)

Coincidences really do happen every day, and their beauty or evil lies not in how they happen, but how they affect future events. This is exactly what Magnolia achieves, an overwhelming victory of content over form, supported by absolutely brilliant direction and gorgeous performances. For example, what Tom Cruise does here definitely moves him for me from the box of unlikeable stars to the absolute acting elite. Anderson is a filmmaker who has all my sympathies and this magnificent film, despite its length, presents an overwhelming mosaic of human nature, love and hate that completely engulfed me from the first frames and held me tightly until the closing credits. The plot flows incredibly smoothly and you don't even feel like you’re sitting at home in front of the screen, but rather like you’re walking along with all the characters right in the centre of the action. And the moment frogs started falling from the sky, I realized that I was watching one of the most brilliant and thought-provoking films in the history of cinema, which, on the contrary, don't fall from the sky very often. I wish I could make a film like this some day. 100% (01/02/2013)

Eight seemingly unconnected main storylines and a couple more subordinate storylines that cut through them all? Three hours long? With Tom Cruise actually acting? Impossible to rein in from the director’s chair? Evidently you haven’t seen Magnolia yet. It has its flies in the ointment, but overall it is very powerful and supported here and there with a scene that gives the impression “as if frogs were falling from the skies". The atmosphere is as engrossing as it is unusual. I thought up a working title for it: Magnolioid. (20/01/2005)