Comments on: 1001 Movie Club: Magnolia

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:45:14 +0000

I notice that your review leaves out any comment on John C. Reilly’s performance, whether good or bad. I felt that Reilly had a role akin to Shakespeare’s fool – even if he was as dense as a doorknob. His life being one of the one’s that was so pathetic it was actually humourous, kept the film from descending into too much of a “Happiness” kind of vibe.

I also felt that William H. Macy’s character played a very important role in the film as far as foreshadowing where the boy genius’ life might lead without proper intervention. Macy’s performance was also one of his best, making me ask why the heck he hadn’t been able to land a proper leading role (I don’t count Fargo, ’cause he didn’t get quite enough screen time).

Great job at picking out some of the symbolism. My roommate observed all kind of Freemason stuff in there that I didn’t even notice the first few times around.

PS. Did you find you had to turn on the subtitles at the end of the film when Reilly’s cop was telling whatsherface that he wanted to be with her?
.-= Steve´s last blog ..Leno to bounce Conan? =-.

By: Blake

Blake — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:05:49 +0000

@ Darwin – Yeah, it would be hard to pick out some of the writing as not good enough for the film. It all seems to be good.

@ Mad Hatter – Exodus 8:2 – And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs.

By: Mad Hatter

Mad Hatter — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:10:36 +0000

Great post!

Geez, I’ve seen this film a dozen times but never noticed the Exodus sign. I guess I could look it up, but what does Exodus 8:2 tell us?
.-= Mad Hatter´s last blog ..Decade pt. x ( Top Five 00′s Movies – 2009 ) =-.

By: Darwin

Darwin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:05:05 +0000

As much as I love the movie, I do think it could have been shorter. I would cut William H. Macy’s character too, but he gets some of the best lines of the movie. “We may be through with the past… but the past is not through with us!”
.-= Darwin´s last blog ..Magnolia (1999) =-.