Magnolia

Magnolia is a 1999 American epic ensemble drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, produced by Anderson and JoAnne Sellar. It stars Jeremy Blackman, Tom Cruise, Melinda Dillon, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ricky Jay, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards (in his final film) and Melora Walters, and is a mosaic of interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.

Plot
On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Excellent plot as the characters' stories mesh well with each other and is centrally focused making it very fluid as well as being highly original and especially ambitious.
 * 2) The characters and their problems are both interesting and relatable.
 * 3) Outstanding performances from the entire cast, especially Tom Cruise, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Jason Robards.
 * 4) Amazing direction from Paul Thomas Anderson.
 * 5) A solid and fitting way to end Jason Robards' film career as he himself died from lung cancer as well the following year.
 * 6) The Wise Up sequence is breathtaking and emotional.
 * 7) Great use of symbolism that fits well with it's allegories.
 * 8) Superb climax that is very unpredictable, even with foreshadowing.
 * 9) Exceptional songs by Aimee Mann such as One, Momentum, and especially Save Me.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The film can be quite intense and overly melodramatic.
 * 2) It lasts too long even though it helps take time to better develop the characters and story.