Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia is the reason the name ‘Denise’ will never be the same for me again. It’s all thanks to a memorable line delivered by Tom Cruise as the infamous misogynist, Frank T.J. Mackey.
The delivery of the ‘Denise, Denise, Denise the piece‘ line may be somewhat comical, but the comedy of it is in no way the only thing that stays with you once the film ends.
Cruise’s performance was so good that it resulted in a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe win. Add Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, plus so many other great talents to the cast list of this very well-written piece, and we have a winner in more ways than one.
Magnolia is the first film that really made me pay attention to all the times in the future when the highly skilled Julianne Moore is listed as a cast member. There are plenty of great scenes to enjoy. I particularly love the drugstore scene from which the above still was captured. So good!
Anderson’s movie is very well-executed and focuses on several relatable life themes, including one that reveals what can happen in adulthood when a young person’s support system fails them badly.
The theme that resonated most with me is regret. An important topic so expertly explored that Magnolia is a brilliant reminder for me to do all that I can to avoid regret.
I recommend making time for this affecting work of narrative artistry, so you’ll see precisely why it’s been described as epic.
Happy Film Loving,
G
