Studio:New Line ,Prod.P.T. Anderson and Joanne Sellar.Dir.Paul Thomas Anderson, Stars Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Luis Guzman, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Philip Baker Hall , Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ricky Jay and  Tom Cruise .Release date:. Dec.17,1999..Theater:20scr.Movie played on:1scr. 40 to 50 patrons.

Boy, I seem to be slipping with these movie reviews, and then I want to write a bunch at once, and it is pretty late in the day at that, and something like three weeks after I saw this turkey. Well, that should prove I'm not a P.T. Anderson junkie who loves everything he commits to film, like some of the reviews I've read. This movie I classify as a buttsleeper, because at almost three and a half hours, your butt goes to sleep, and it's pretty hard to wake it up! You might stumble out of your seat while leaving the theater, if you haven't left after, say, two hours or so because of boredom.

This isn't a negative review, by the way. I'll give this work a 5 of 10, because I do really like P.T. Boogie Nights was and is one of my favorite movies. I never tire of seeing it, and I love it's structure. But I will say, Paul, that I think you really needed an editor for this one. The performances are very good, especially Tom Cruise as an infomercial king whose schtick is demeaning women, and Jason Robards looks like he's about to die, but this is one helluva long flick, and I for one, got tired of the film after about, say, two hours.

Without giving away too much plot (ha) I do want to say that I think Paul deliberately wants the audience to be uncomfortable. All the better for him to wallop us with the payoff scene, which I will not impart here. In the previews, he says it all makes sense, and even if it doesn't really, there is a payoff, and you have to wait through three hours of dysfunctional people yelling at each other in order to get to see it. Most normal people will have probably exited the theater by then.

I am wont to make this review my shortest, in light of the film's length. Here are the high points of the film, and why I am even taking the time to write about it.
One, it is a work of art. Some reviewer said it is  purely "filmic" stroytelling, or pure cinema, as it were. P.T. has crafted a very well made film, if it were more slight. As it is, it needs an editor, maybe with a meat cleaver, to take out some of the more pandering scenes. Too many of his actors are mad at each other, and they should have let the little boy go to the bathroom. But, anyway, the craft is on the screen. This guy will make another good film someday. He teases the audience, and takes them for a ride. There are interesting seques. It's just too damn long. Two, the acting is top notch, especially Tom Cruise, who makes you forget he was even in that Kubrick film. This is oscar worthy , and he did win a Golden Globe for the part. I understand Paul Thomas wrote it with Tom in mind. He has much fun in the part, and I agree with I think it was Owen Gleiberman in EW who said that the movie slows down when he isn't onscreen. Three, at its best, the film reminds one of Robert Altman, specifically Short Cuts, and sometimes John Sayles, in the way the camera sashays from one group or set of characters to another. Still, and I can't repeat myself enough here, this is one long movie, and I think that is it's downfall. It doesn't make you feel good leaving the theater, especially with a sore butt.

Cinematography is too full of itself. The camera seems like Brian De Palma's on speed. The intercutting isn't as bad as, say, a Michael Bay movie, but I sure am getting tired of scenes which last for milliseconds. On the other hand, there are some equally long scenes involving Jason Robards, whom I wanted to hurry up and die and get over with it.

Well, boy, I sure can tell it's getting late. I really don't hate this movie. Although I guess I was really disappointed. I felt like I spent my whole day watching this one movie, and didn't really enjoy it. The payoff scene is very funny, however, and almost makes the movie worth it. Also, Julianna Moore, an Anderson regular, gets about as whiny a role as I've seen. I wanted her to just shut up. John C. Reilly and Phillp Baker Hall are outstanding, as they were in Anderson's first movie, Hard Eight.

If it weren't so late, I'd see that movie again. It even had Gwyneth Paltrow in it.

Don't go see Magnolia in a theater, is my advice. This is definitely one to wait for the DVD. Maybe P.T. will explain himself on the commentary track.