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While being a relative newcomer to the movie biz, Paul Thomas Anderson has already made a huge ripple in the pond that is Hollywood. Incredible scripts with fascinating stories and flowing dialog are a welcome trademark. He has been given complete artistic control over his works and so far it seems to be working. Let's hope that his genius continues to be nurtured.
Just another sad weenie.
Sydney (1996) Also known as Hard Eight. Anderson's first feature film is about a man who has lost all of his money and is taken under the wing of a criminal who helps him become a professional gambler. Funding for this project was a constant headache for Anderson in that it took over two years to seal a deal. The finances were finalized after he locked Sam Jackson into the project; Jackson being a hot item at the time after his success in Pulp Fiction. (Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)
Boogie Nights (1997) Nominated for the Academy Award for screenplay written directly for the screen, supporting actor, and supporting actress. A very dark, disturbing look into the world of pornography and people who are involved in it. The film is based around a fictional lead, but is obviously a loose rendition of the life of John Holmes. The acting is great and the writing is wonderful. The film is actually a remake of a short mock documentary Anderson made early in his career called The Dirk Diggler Story. Anderson made this short when he was only seventeen. (Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)
Magnolia (1999) Nominated for the Academy Award for song, screenplay written directly for the screen, and supporting actor. Exodus 8:2 "And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs". This biblical verse was not the inspiration of this film, but fits the theme perfectly. The film was actually inspired from the literature of Charles Fort, a writer of strange natural phenomenon in the early nineteen hundreds. Fort wrote of frogs literally raining from the sky and destroying those and that underneath. Anderson found this intriguing and formed it into one of the greatest films ever made. The film follows the tragic and overly dramatic lives of a group of people, and how in one incredible night they were all changed forever. The title has no literal interpretation in the film's story, the only tie-in being the multiple paintings of flowers hidden on the background of set walls. Also hidden in the film is the bible verse itself, not a couple times on signs and billboards like most of us picked up, but well over a hundred times in one form or another; ie meetings that start at 8:20, 8 $20 dollar bills, 82% chance of rain, etc. (Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)
Punch Drunk Love (2002)) P.T. Anderson refers to this film as an “art house Adam Sandler film” which is a modest synopsis that doesn’t quite give the film justice. It’s actually an incredible piece of work that has the ability to warm your heart, put a smile on your face, and boggle your mind all at once. There is an enormous amount of empathy built up for the protagonist and you experience his pain and joy almost as much as you would a friend. It’s the story of a sad and confused man who is in search for direction and companionship in his ambiguous life. Through a seemingly random circumstance, he meets a beautiful woman and is immediately infatuated with her, though his shy and repressed nature prevents him from perusing her any further. After a dangerous confrontation with a phone sex company, he decides to follow her to Hawaii where their relationship flourishes. But the conflict is not resolved and is there to meet him when he and his new love come back home. In true Anderson fashion, the film is a buffet of symbolism and semi-subliminal messages. I found myself dwelling on even the most trivial of props and sounds searching for more meaning than probably intended. It’s also worth mentioning that the film clocks in at just under an hour and a half, which is respected and appreciated. There seems to be a trend in film these days that dictates that a film must be two and a half hours long to be creditable. In summary; what you have here is Anderson at his very best making a truly remarkable film. (Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)
That’s a hell of an impressive
e-mail you’ve got there.
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