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Paul Thomas Andersonis renownedfor his deeppsychologicaldramasthat appeal to both the mind and the heart . They mix small - scurf background and grounded pragmatism with the grandiose , the abstract , and the thought - provoking . One of his most iconic plastic film , Magnolia , surely falls in line with these attributes .
It ’s an worked up tale that examines humanity through a mostly misanthropic lens , tugging at the heartstrings with its themes of dearest , pardon , and the search for meaning . Despite its minimalistic nature , the film ooze out a unrestrained and magisterial feeling by shifting between various figure - most of whom are trouble in some way . As one might expect from a nuanced psychological tale , it ’s chock - full of fundamental and interesting citation .
“What Am I Doing? I’m Quietly Judging You.”
The apparent " womanizer " known as Frank T.J. Mackey drop much of his storey being interviewed about his inception and ideals behind his rather chauvinistic syllabus " Seduce and Destroy . " Deep into the conversation , the interviewer begin probing a routine deeper , asking for illumination about various details that Frank has kept quiet about .
“Life Ain’t Short, It’s Long!”
swear out as one of the many figures with an enlace story - Frank ’s father , a former studio apartment headway key out Earl , is on his last seam and disgorge his aroused gumption to the nanny , Phil . He breaks into quite an emotional sermon , wrought with regret and anguish , and laced with some aged sapience for Phil .
Amidst his speech , he speak this line , which , while brief , is a powerful character - delimitate moment and symbol ofMagnolia ’s overarching themes .
“I Will Not Apologize For Who I Am. I Will Not Apologize For What I Need …”
make back to the ego - proclaimed butch man that is Frank Mackey , this quote is one among many that he states to the disciple of his " Seduce and Destroy " syllabus . It ’s emblematic for his character in one sense , though it ’s also assure in its ace emphasised speech .
By this full point in the film , Frank is becoming more introspective as he ’s being forced to reexamine his history - which he ’s understandably repressed - and reevaluate what he ’s doing . The way he makes this proclamation feels as though he ’s merely judge to convincehimselfof his stead as a man who will " get what he want " out of a woman .
“I’m Sick. I Have Sickness All Around Me And You Ask Me About My Life?”
While there ’s no dearth of cracking performance inMagnolia , arguably thebestcomes from Julianne Moore ’s raw , visceral portrayal of Earl ’s wife , Linda . Throughout the film , she must cope with the guilt feelings of cheating on him and exploiting his wealth , while care with , as she puts it , " sickness all around me . “This is refer to both Earl ’s critical state , as well as her excited bedevilment during this import .
This outburst to a garrulous pharmacist wee-wee for one of the most memorable , intense scenes in the film . It becomes clear at this point that Linda is on the brink .
“A Man Of Genius Has Been Seldom Ruined But By Himself.”
This is a peculiar one in that it ’s basically a quoteofa quote - specifically by the English writer , Samuel Johnson . Regardless , it ’s one of the more unplumbed lines of dialogue spoken in the photographic film . It ’s appropriately said to Donnie Smith , a former quiz show protester whose splendour has been marred by heavy drink and anxiousness .
Donnie Smith - along with thecurrentchampion of the biz show , Stanley - represent a sort of wise and vestal core amidst this otherwise helter-skelter , grim pic . Donnie ’s story , which includes his parent remove his winnings and being struck by lightning , is a tragic one , punctuated by this line verbalize by a supporter at a streak he attends .
“I’m Gonna Teach You About The Worm …”
Anderson sprinkles in some subtle , but big scriptural themes and references inMagnolia . A prime example of this motive is utter by way of a freestyle rap from a boy named Dixon . The rap equivocally refers to " The Worm " as a sort of unforeseen , dreary mien in the film , sustain by the next short letter in his rap , when he say -“he ’s operate from the devil , but the debt is always gaining . "
The literal interlingual rendition and significance are loose to interpretation . Still , many have learn this as spokesperson of the more malignant nature of humanity shown inMagnolia , and its parallels with scriptural fable . It also has a very prophetic tone to it - keeping in line with the film ’s portrayal of a baby ’s inner wisdom .
“This Was Not Just A Matter Of Chance …”
Anderson intrigues his audience in good order from the start ofMagnolia , as viewers are shown a narrated collage of purportedly real event work with odd , eery coincidences . It mayseemsegmented and unrelated to the film at big , but upon close inspection , it actually parallels the array of intertwining characters , whom destiny is on the face of it brought together in a freestanding , but collective journeying towards peace and redemption .
This theme of " elysian intervention , " as it were , is reinforced by this statement from the unseen narrator .
“What Most People Don’t See - Is Just How Hard It Is To Do The Right Thing.”
In addition to some of the children featured , police officer Jim Kurring ( John C. Reilly ) is also representative of a more blithesome voice of reason inMagnolia . Rather than deal with a dark past or trauma , he just tries to do the good thing and urgently want to be look up to .
This line illustrate Jim in a nutshell , as he spend much of the motion picture interact with the other more troubled characters , occasionally trying to maneuver them on the right-hand path . The inverted comma is in quotation to Donnie ’s endeavor to plume his piazza of business organization - though it could really apply tomostof the figure in the celluloid .
“It’s A Dangerous Thing To Confuse Children With Angels.”
Magnolia ’s on-going theme of tiddler represent good and wisdom is repulse home with this line from the said bar patron .
The arch over nature of this content is apparent for just how out of position it is , and its lack of relevance to anything going on in the tantrum . It ’s one among many of Anderson ’s winks to the audience with regards to the underlying motifs of the movie .
“… Maybe We Can Get Through All The Pis And Sht And Lies That Kill Other People.”
One role unmentioned thus far may beMagnolia ’s most dynamic and vivid - the girl of a famous game show legion , Claudia . She spend much of her story clear essay to escape her troubled nous with garish euphony and drugs . She ’s ostensibly endured much trauma , which the film implies resulted from sexual vilification by her father .
It ’s a dark and melancholy narrative , but one with a jolly felicitous ending , as she ends up with Jim , who brighten her flavor . She speaks this impactful line of reasoning to Jim on a particular date , which is telling and relevant on a multitude of level .
NEXT:10 Movies That Influenced Paul Thomas Anderson
