Magnolia - Julianne Moore in the Pharmacy Scene

Magnolia is like a beautiful mosaic of some very broken people. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the story revolves around countless characters. There is no real protagonist in the story. It's really just about seeing glimpses into these people's lives. It's kind of similar to many Robert Altman films, in that aspect.

Some people call Magnolia pretentious, but I didn't see it that way. In fact, I'm amazed how Anderson can keep the viewer caring about so many different people. Every character is going through some kind of pain and suffering (mental, physical, personal). There are some characters you can feel empathy for and/or connect with them. But Anderson never forces the viewer to feel empathy for each character. He shows them in an unpolished form, and lets the viewer decide for him/her self how to feel about them.

If there is a standout performance, its got to be by Julianne Moore, who plays the wife of a much older man (Jason Robards) who is dying painfully of cancer.

The scene above shows her trying to get her prescription drugs for her depression, anxiety, and other problems she faces. You could see it in her face that every time she goes to the pharmacy she has to feel this embarrassment.

Overall, Magnolia is an unflinching film that will leave you wanting to talk about it for several months to come. Its well over 3 hours, so I do recommend you don't watch it casually, but really devote some time to watch it in its entirety.

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