Magnolia: Reconciling with the Past

[@geordangullock1237]

My interpretation: The characters can't control their abusive childhoods or the past, they can't control the unpredictable and chaotic events that happen in the world every day i.e. frogs raining from the sky, but they can control how they react to these things and take responsibility for moving on with their lives. Beautiful film, P.T. Anderson is a genius!

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

Well said!

[@TheGreatDicktater]

Got some real David Foster Wallace "This is Water" vibes from this.

[@geordangullock1237]

@@TheGreatDicktater I'll have to check that out! I read a book on Stoicism recently that influenced my interpretation.

[@raintree3383]

Ya my life has been literal torture He was sick in what he ......doesnt matter now.....

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

ingmar bergman LOVED this movie

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

"I really do have love to give, i just don't know where to put it"

[@joshlucas5830]

Claudia’s initial promiscuity is an attempt at regaining control of her body and sexual behavior. Frank’s chauvinism comes from the absence of a father figure as well as the need to control women as he could not control his mother’s dying Donnie stole from his boss because he couldn’t steal what his parents stole from him Claudia watch her dad’s show to get a peak at how he treats other children Linda resents Frank because she sees herself in him (exploiting the opposite sex) The man Claudia sleeps with learned from Frank Jimmy hosts a show that pins kids against adults, a running theme for each character. He also happens to share a name with the man his daughter would become attached to. He ALSO tries to regain control of his life by taking it, only to be thwarted by frogs and likely killed anyway in a house fire, similar to Sydney’s suicide attempt at the beginning of the move. Also Jim and Donnie convene at the end to learn that love is more important than what each of them ought to be good at.

[@repooc84]

This movie is a cinematic masterpiece from start to finish.

[@Eu-Abreu]

In a scene during night time, just after the song "wise up" and before the frog rain happens, in a blinking Bus stop billboard we can read just "exodus 8:2"... I looked it up and it goes as "If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of frogs across your entire land." And my interpretation was: let go of your ghosts that you've been holding on as your slaves and simultaneously as your masters or you'll face strange and horrible consequences. ""Everything that has your attention, becomes your master!"

[@cpnCarnage666]

THere was also a audience sign in the studio recording of "what do kids know" that was being taken out of the scene by a production staff. The sign had exodus 8"2 on it or some other bible verse.

[@alexbarnet6982]

@@cpnCarnage666 i think i also noticed a string of cable on the roof of the kid at the start who jumps off the roof shaped like 8 2

[@Tsukiko.97]

This movie felt like one giant climax, and the song choice for the music score was top notch. This review though really answered many of my questions about what and why. Great movie and great review 👍

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

Thanks! It's one of my favorite movies but it's not one I can watch a lot because of how intense it is all the way through

[@xboy5258]

Yeah i was over the edge

[@zachmiles9098]

Just saw it tonight for the first time and that's exactly what i was thinking. The entire film being a giant climax. Never seen anything like it

[@BrendaUlloaFlores]

I've just watch it. Great anlysis. there are no many about Magnolia here in KZbin

[@calvinbernard]

In my opinion and experience, nobody is truly in control with their lives. Most of us think we are, but truth is there are many external factors that make us who we are. Which family we were born to, how are we going to die, etc. The only thing is we get wiser and learn to embrace and accept our past. That is what makes this film so great....

[@Kdyllon]

DP: how many dolly shots do u want? Director: .....yes

[@ronbairdart4414]

The Frogs are foreshadowed in the film. There is a scene where the an empty street is shown and the lights on the sides of the bus stops turn on. When they do the sign on the side of the bus stop reads Exodus 8:2 which reads in the KJV "And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs". perhaps signifying that we are slaves to our past like the Isrealites were slaves to the Egyptians...and furthermore our desire for God to exist, to give us freedom from our pain.

[@iant720]

Ron Baird Art Good call!!! I was wondering about that shot, why it was there.

[@byjordanluke2687]

I also noticed that one of the signs held by the crew on the TV game show had Exodus 8:2 written on it

[@byjordanluke2687]

@@iant720 I also noticed that one of the signs held by the crew on the TV game show had Exodus 8:2 written on it

[@ovenougaratni1172]

@@byjordanluke2687 When in the movie is this?

[@ovenougaratni1172]

When is this in the movie?

[@colonelweird]

I've never been able to watch the last scene without bursting into tears, and you just did it to me again. Dammit. Magnolia's my favorite movie. This is a very nice discussion of it. Thanks.

[@raintree3383]

Still after my terrible life this movie gives me hope

[@yungdash4852]

I just watched this for the first time and I already think it's my favorite film of all time. what a ride

[@emorypardun856]

Same here

[@charitygrant4542]

Lo mismo

[@jellyrcw12]

I watched this movie as a child and I really do think it shaped me in some indescribable way

[@scottmumford8295]

Nicely done. Such a powerful film. One of my absolute favorites...

[@sonof2022]

Ok so I’ll put it like this we usually ONLY see depth like this is a series or a movie with multiple parts. So to put all this depth in ONE movie was just so impressive. I’d even like to see this made into a show.

[@plumlogan]

I completely understand the sentiment, but this movie is as close to perfect as it gets and needs to be left alone

[@glenn.6202]

@@plumlogan the best disagreement in the internet

[@HumansFreshlyBorn]

In my humble opinion, Magnolia is the greatest movie ever made

[@robertkylepierce]

This was great! You know I saw this the day it opened in theaters. I had also just got out of rehab for cocaine. I literally wanted to run out half way through. My brother kept glancing at me wondering if we had made a huge mistake. I loved the film but I didn't get the message. I kept going back to rehab. Now I have a child with cancer who himself has a father that is absent. I have come to terms with who I am and I am trying to not ruin my son.

[@planetaheadastrology5906]

@IDK That's crazy, I was Not in the theater but I just come back from oh who am I kidding I don't think I've ever come back... "You can always come back but you can't come back all the way." It's one of the Bob Dylan lyrics that I don't feel like they can choose just quoting and it gives me a little faith that he was writing like that in this century. I was in a really warped situation and I was totally hooked on speed and I had this crazy PTSD causing year and a half. I used to be musician and I was the music conference in New York on Friday I had a showcase September of 2001 and I saw my cousin and her husband and then moved back to Ohio Monday and the next day she was at work above where the first plane hit on September 11th that was the first thing and then I had to expand member when I was working on this album in the next couple months we just got really psycho and my marriage was jetsville total shit storm and then I found a dead cancer and my little brother was deployed to the middle East for the first time. He was ROTC to pay for school but now he's a major in the army. I would have flipped my shit if I had just gotten out of rehab and had to see any of the compulsive Claudia getting high scenes. I couldn't help but look at other people's channels when they're comments resonate with me and it's freakish how many songs by bands I've covered or songs I've covered you have on your playlist. I can't imagine dealing with my kid having cancer, I've had it twice But I'm the grown up and even though my daughter is grown up Now now it's just like I don't know, she has a certainty that I lack and what comes out is bravado or poor impulse control in my character has been ambitious and optimistic in hers So I just let her follow that star and can't even think about when she's in some kind of pain. She had her son and less than 2 hours of labor she reached down and pulled him out That's so badass {exclamation} My little brother just turned 42 and he's going through a divorce himself I'll hung up on some chick with dreadlocks and freckles It's the girls with dimples and freckles that are going to be the undoing boys who are already undone getting damaged even when they're men... Anderson's are very underrated director and I would Totally a brain sex with a couple of Fiona Apple's sloppy seconds.♀️♂️🧠☺️ And her

[@KK-pm7ud]

I feel like I must respond to your post. I have feelings but don't know how to express them. I just don't have the words but want you know your post impacted me.

[@robertkylepierce]

K K I get it. You don’t have to say a word ❤️

[@robertkylepierce]

@Planet Ahead Astrology omg I just saw this comment. It’s so perfect. Your life sounds as wild as mine. Hell you sound a lot like me especially how your bravado comes out as poor impulse control.....my lord yes! That was always my problem. My younger brother also just went through a divorce that almost destroyed him. But I was going through the trauma of a kid with cancer and there was just too much hurt (not from each other) between us to even speak. We drifted apart but are now slowly reconnecting. We were always so close. He’s better and my son is 19 and in remission. We’ve all been through extensive therapy 😂 Your daughter sounds like a fine woman. My son is a wonderful young man. I don’t like to brag but I did good. 😂 I think we were all in love with Fiona. I hope you see this comment and I hope you are well ❤️

[@ranirathi3379]

@IDK what you are doing, holding compassion and room for acceptance for yourself for a better tomorrow, it is so heartwarming. i am so proud of you. the trigger magnitude can be so extreme the closer things get to our wounds. our shame and not being able to understand if it is heal-able, or how long it will take, or if it is better to just waste away. i just want you to know, by becoming aware of how who you are impacts your son, you are already his hero, and you're your own hero too. because we can only save ourselves to save others. much love to you.

[@patrickaerts5965]

My favourite movie of all time and this is my favourite essay of this movie of all time. Great job!

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

Thank you!

[@paoloangelino24]

My interpretation is that there are things that are truly outside of the control of the characters (i.e. bad parents, tragic events). They have two choices either constantly blame themselves or move forward and make a positive change on their lives.

[@blainemonaco2092]

Here it is. Chose…..

[@willbond]

My favorite type of movie, that has you walking around mulling it over for a week afterwards. It occurred to me that Jimmy Gator's wife was complicit in keeping the silence around the molestation of their daughter. She only asked Jimmy the hard questions after her apple cart was upset. She should have asked the question "Why won't our daughter talk to you"? long before but couldn't because it would have risked disrupting her own comfort.

[@ixICocoIxi]

Great video! Amazing film, just rewatched it last night

[@connorwideman7629]

Loved this video man, I really respect your look into the film. Paul Thomas Anderson is a master of humility in his work, and this film is a wonderful portrait of what life can become, I loved the opening scene the sums up the point of the film. Masterwork

[@ViennaLPS]

Ironically watched this movie for the first time with my family - they are the reason as to why this movie speaks to me so much. This is my favorite movie and as someone who aspires to be a well known film editor one day, I look up to this movie a lot and really admire the editing.

[@thematsonia]

After seeing the movie only once 20 years ago, I just watched it a second time. I needed to know if it truly belongs in my personal top 100 list. This review helps confirm that this truly is a great film worthy of its acclaim. It isn't just a powerful and unique film stylistically, the Paul T. Anderson style is used brilliantly to underscore a powerful and unique theme (reconciling with one's past) unified by a cast of characters who never meet. Many of my favorite films are the ones that are written and directed by the same storyteller. The writer gets to see his/her vision fulfilled without compromise. Thanks for this quality summary.

[@okay333666]

Just saw this for the first time today. Thanks for your video essay. Great film!

[@p00pie]

This is such a lovely and succinct analysis. Great video and exactly what I was looking for. Watched for the first time today. I was struck with dread and on the edge of my seat the entire way through and bawled my eyes out during the frog scene. What a weird, wonderful and creative film. I think the Exodus 8:2 references are worth mentioning as PTA sort of crafted the movie around his interpretation of it.

[@finerthings4546]

Linda for example was the perpetrator but the one who couldn't forgive herself. That's why she did the thing in the car. Just to remind that sometimes coming to terms with what we've done is important too. Sometimes we judge ourselves the hardest.. In fact, we later learnt that her dying husband cheated on her as well.. this could have even out the things a bit, but she never knew. I think it's complementary to the other stories, when regret, anger stems from refusing to come to terms with ourselves and hits inward.

[@htown11465]

This is a really good video. Should have approximately 1000 times as many views :)

[@elegalalien1]

Brilliant video man, you've clearly absorbed a lot from this film and I'm sure PTA would be happy for that.

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

Thank you, that means a lot!

[@flyingonward1]

This is really well done. Thanks for putting this out there.

[@KK-pm7ud]

I remember stories of people walking out of the theater after 20 minutes demanding refunds. I really enjoyed the film when I first saw it. I just didn't know how to express it.

[@kyleberman4629]

This video was very well done! Great job!

[@OliverObz]

Oh man I absolutely love this movie! I'm always afraid of putting it on because I know the ride it's gonna take me on.

[@ranirathi3379]

i know the feeling. for a select few movies.

[@OliverObz]

@@ranirathi3379 What other movies give you that feeling?

[@ranirathi3379]

@@OliverObz few that i recall recently - Carol, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Supernova. they're all LGBT theme movies, just FYI.

[@OliverObz]

@@ranirathi3379 I don't think I've heard of any of these I might have to give them a watch thanks!

[@ranirathi3379]

@@OliverObz hope you enjoy it.

[@therealtimmaytheturtle]

honestly helped me understand it so much better

[@piticfilms]

Wonderful essay on the most awesome and unique film ever made. Magnolia change my perception of film forever, since I experienced it for the first time in one of the few theaters that played it at Los Angeles in December 1999. Great, great job, muchas felicidades #Frames of Empathy. (I encourage you into expanding the arc to a longer much more detailed essay. Magnolia lovers would trully enjoy it)

[@emorypardun856]

Really great video man. Love this movie.

[@TheRebelDottie]

PTA is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, no dispute.

[@djsalad7891]

Great job on this! Just finished it, helps me understand everything much better!

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

Glad to hear!

[@andrewhoneycutt7427]

Excellent journalistic review with a touch of humanity, keep it up.

[@scottg2946]

Very well done! It's a truly fantastic and unique movie, unlike anything else.

[@luisurena9955]

Finished this movie today. Felt it was a lot to fit in to one movie and Im sure I’ll watch it again eventually. Definitely resonated with the theme and one character in particular.

[@BREAKOUT444]

Fabulous, my boy!

[@Nethanel773]

Thank you for putting this up.

[@zvyn]

One thing about the movie I didn’t pick up on, or maybe I missed it. Was there any significance to the dead body Jim found in Marcie’s closet at the beginning of the movie, and who killed him? Excellent video and movie, by the way.

[@dunkirknolan7018]

They should have kept it in the movie but there was actually a storyline where the man dead in the closet was the boyfriend of marcie. The “worm” referenced by the little boy in the movie is marcies son. And the little boy is actually the worms son. You find out that marcie through her confession to the police, shot and killed the man after he hit the worm and the little boy. When asked why she did it, she said she wanted to protect her boys from abuse.

[@emorypardun856]

@@dunkirknolan7018 DAMN! Thanks for sharing this!

[@brandadse.1741]

Nice / I thought it was more of a skeletons in the closet reference lol

[@domclegg1225]

@@brandadse.1741 i think that works too!

[@BuStEdHyMaNrlh]

Another odd part was the dog eating the medication, it showed a dog laying down later but im not sure if it was dead, but still did not seem to have much meaning

[@johnathanmirk8113]

I really loved this.. great video!

[@foxracer826]

Beautiful analysis

[@canarywithoutacause]

Great job! Best movie ever made!

[@totonoen6453]

What a great work!!! Keep going man!

[@johnputt6029]

Well thought out closing remark re her smile

[@charitygrant4542]

Love this guy's reviews

[@conorhamersleyspage8173]

"I will not apologize for who I am. I will not apologize for what I need! I will not apologise for what I want!"

[@TheInfamousBertman]

Great essay, I love Magnolia

[@djbond6241]

Not in CONTROL OF OUR PAST, OUR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES, OUR CHILDHOOD ABUSE, ABUSE,ABUSERS....===

[@patrickn8355]

The removal of tge "exodus 8:2" sign on the kid's show set was great foreshadowing. Basically "frogs are coming" and the response "hey, we're exploiting children lady. Keep God outta here."

[@digitalrico]

Great breakdown

[@hood6089]

I watched and finished Magnolia today. I thought that TWBB was pretty good but not as enjoyable as it’s technical mastery. But Magnolia is something else. It became my favorite film of all time today. I found a film that topped all the other films I’ve seen. Amazing video essay.

[@tmamone83]

For years I avoided the film because, in my then-sixteen-year-old eyes, it looked hokey and depressing, especially when they all sing "Wise Up." Well, I watched it yesterday at 39 years old, and loved it!

[@kimbye1]

Such a powerful movie. But it's one of those movies that people love or hate, I feel sorry for the pople who don't get Magnolia, it has such a clear message.

[@theconsciousobserver6829]

So many Oscar worthy performances in one film

[@jennyjohnson9579]

This film in its entirety saved my life.

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

How so?

[@freudbrahms254]

wow 🎉 that's amazing

[@ahmedbassiouny8456]

A masterpiece

[@tyler9004]

Magnolia: Millyrocking with the New York video essay

[@143jcm]

Any thoughts on the freemasonry symbolism in the film? Book at the top of the table the kid is studying on, ring one of the ?producers? of the gameshow is wearing and in the background of the gameshow set.

[@gaston1484]

Thanks mate, great video.

[@arkarya8768]

It is absolutely right that all characters were trying to hide their grim and painful past because remembering it filled them with guilt. But if it is so, how come Mrs. Partridge and the nurse had no past ?? And is there a chance that Mrs. Partridge and Jimmy Gator were having an affair ?? Because they both said they have cheated on their spouses. And that somehow connects the story furthermore.

[@neo7566]

Defense attorneys love the idea of DETERMINISM

[@rocky80085]

great vid

[@klakkinkittykat]

it really did happen

[@jacksontony2066]

I laughed when Donnie slipped over frogs

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

If you had said Scorsese directed this, I would have believed you...those zooms.

[@D.G.K.B.]

I Love Magnolia

[@batuyalcinbayir]

Everybody analyzed frogs falsely. Notice the movie hides the number 82 numerous times which can be seen if you look closely. Then read Exodus 8:2. Makes much more sense after you do.

[@Asta-V5]

Rap song was deep in that movie

[@Thecoolguy463]

What about the boy? I feel like his story went nowhere. Back to his dad who still doesn’t truly care. Or am I missing a message somewhere?

[@BigBeatifulPony]

For me it was the boy who's changed. Looks like he finally had enough and saw how wrong all of this was. Maybe he'll refuse to be a toy anymore and so he'll end up better than Donnie

[@Thecoolguy463]

@@BigBeatifulPony that’s a very good point 👍🏽

[@dinoatcharterdotnet]

The frogs...what do they mean?!

[@andrewburgemeister6684]

Exodus 8:2

[@norbertherterich4750]

Several issues with this vid. E.g. 5:40 When the characters sing "Wise up", Donnie has not even stolen the money. I also dont see, how Jim pretends to be a tough cop. He only wants to be a good cop and a good man, who acts responsible and does the right thing. Also Frank doesnt hate his father for letting his mother die. She was fatally ill. He hates him for cheating on her and leaving them in the worst of times.

[@Ditka-89]

Funny how he didn’t tag your comment because you pointed out legitimate errors in his analysis 😂

[@nikhilkamboja2454]

Man ur amazing

[@djbond6241]

Cool FALLING OF DA FROGS 😂🎉😂🎉😂😂😂🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

[@_sparrowhawk]

I thought it was incredibly boring, so thanks for walking me through it.

[@UncleAnaesthesia]

Melora Walters practically stole this movie.

[@rafacatalan1592]

The dead dog at the end of the movie in Earl's home was kicked by Frank or intoxicated by the pills?

[@BigBeatifulPony]

I believe it's the pills

[@brennt80]

I find Paul t Anderson to b the most perplexing director that I know.. not because of just 1 movie but his portfolio.. usually it helps u understand an artist (and his style) but not pta. Confuses u more

[@themadhatter196]

He didn't know the correlation between raining frogs and the bible while he wrote it. The exodus verse was put in after

[@nmva6775]

song?

[@xboy5258]

Bojack vibes

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

That's funny because I just finished watching the show and I couldn't agree more

[@aldenmartin623]

Thanks

[@rickjamesdos2239]

IMO this is PTAs magnum opus

[@MichaelAStarr-yy4rh]

Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

[@BigSmoke-bu6ib]

I felt like the two dying fathers could've been written as one character if they dropped Julianne Moore's character. She's portrayed too similarly to Claudia in my opinion, but with one major difference; Claudia was actually a victim and not just someone who feels victimized by guilt. And I'm sorry but as much as I like William H. Macy, his character was pretty over the top. I get the contrast between him and the kid, and maybe it could've worked if his story had been written differently. I just wasn't buying the whole *I need braces, I need love* bit, thought it was kinda dumb. I didn't even realize he was attracted to the bartender the first time I watched the film, I thought he was just mentally ill. And the scene with "Wise Up" would've worked so much better if all the characters were simply listening to the radio at the same time and not singing. I mean seriously, why would a dying old man in hospice care know the lyrics to an Aimee Mann song? ...unless that was artistically meant to be another strange coincidence

[@rodrigolaleyenda4163]

I disagree for a few reasons. While Frank’s dad is a deadbeat, he is not a child molester. The deathbed reconciliation cannot happen if those two characters become 1. Also, you need Donny, if you are going to include the kid on the game show. That story line is the one window that portrays current abuse, and Donny is what that abuse can lead to. As for the singing scene, yea I agree. But i think the point was in fact to get a bit artistic in showing a coincidence that links these characters lives.

[@Lancaster22]

Come onnnn. You cannot put a Sam Harris clip in a video about magnolia

[@NeverSaySandwich1]

Oh hey

[@sjin8896]

removing the "wise up" sing-a-long would have made the movie better - and having felicity huffman getting in trouble for not letting the little genius using the toilet would have been nice.

[@Wingedmagician]

Ok i can believe the frogs but why does he think a guy will like him if he gets braces.

[@FramesOfEmpathy]

People don’t always think and act rationally

[@willbond]

He was brain damaged.

[@LeRoySlim]

quite well done mate

[@YolaResa]

what about the little boy?

[@pratapsinghkanishk]

He is seen looking over in the books about kids who did great things. Later he goes to his father and says that you need to treat me nicely. Which I think probably means that he won't go down to the same path that Donnie (the other smart kid who is grown up, with a traumatic childhood) goes.

[@YolaResa]

@@pratapsinghkanishk the black little boy 😒

[@pratapsinghkanishk]

@@YolaResa Ohh yeah. And what is with his rap, he is seen doing that twice in the movie?

[@YolaResa]

@@pratapsinghkanishk so you don't know either. Just say that.

[@nikhilkamboja2454]

Amazing?

[@puduhari1]

I watched this movie, after seeing it on 1000s movies to watch book. The movie felt boring to me. This analysis makes more sense to me than what the movie had to offer. I think i wasted 3 hours.

[@kjrollings]

Stfu u probably love Marvel Movies

[@ansafk6326]

You're Tamil right?

[@puduhari1]

@@ansafk6326 Yes...

[@ansafk6326]

@@puduhari1 thats the reason most of the indian movies are pretty fast paced when compared to hollywood dramas and also has more spoonfeeding hence they are more understandable.

[@robb5270]

Movie sucked. Why people like it? Try to act like it’s something it’s not! 3 hrs of my life wasted

[@NNNNNNN7237]

you need to turn up your levels