The stories in "Magnolia" can be viewed independently, and their intersection is not serious. It can be said that the purpose of the director to connect each story is to make the story more attractive. From the perspective of human biology, a three-hour movie is hard to accept. However, it is the connection between the stories, the coincidences and accidents that come out of independence, that make the film more perfect. Broken family, broken father-son relationship, father-daughter relationship, and the final reconciliation, these seemingly simple and humorous plots are not only reflecting the relationship between so few family members, and the friction between people , Trust, is not only talking about mutual love between people. So many scenes and so many character identities in "Magnolia" are actually showing the appearance of American society and American culture.
Another outstanding feature of "Magnolia" is the director's carefulness in dealing with the characteristics of the characters. Almost every character in the film has its own unique personality. Their characteristics accompany their own identity and family relationships, and the emotional complexity and tolerance are just right. Each character has its own troubles, and their pain is the main manifestation of the film. Of course, the final result of the film is to treat this pain as a part of one's own life and accept it bravely. This is the ending that Americans are best at. And few Americans are good at making such pain and ending into a three-hour movie. Only Paul Thomas Anderson can.
"Magnolia" can be said to be a rare masterpiece in American film history. The story is intricate but not fragmented. The excellent editing also makes the film very organized. The use of the lens is also very unique, and the interaction is very strong. It can be said that Paul Thomas Anderson did his best in this film, and finally showed a picture of American society and family like a "Ching Ming River Picture".
