Magnolia: The Shooting Script

Exciting to see PTA's own words preface the script.

When a movie like MAGNOLIA is so long and complex, yet strangely allusive and symbolic, having a screenplay to read is all to the good. When I read this one, I realized that one part of the movie's greatness is its use of dialog. Great for any film lover.

Exactly what I wanted.Thank you very much.

what an amazing script and film. love it.

Good product.

Luckily for me, Paul Thomas Anderson dropped by my favorite bookstore to sign copies of this publication a few days ago. I got a chance to shake the man's hand and tell him what an incredible influence he was on me wanting to write and direct my own films. "Magnolia : The Illustrated Screenplay" has to be the BEST published screenplay EVER. Not only do you get the actual shooting script (as opposed to those cheesy transcriptions of finished movies) but you also get a lengthy, fascinating interview with Anderson as well as a bunch of full color photographs taken behind the scenes of the shoot. But, of course, the best part of the book is the actual writing itself. This screenplay reads more like a complex and quite brilliant novel. As you read, you will undoubtedly be struck with genuine awe at just how Anderson managed to jump back and forth so many times between so many different, multi-layered storylines while still preserving a coherent narrative under the umbrella of a singular underlying theme: redemption. Although he'd be the first to deny it, the man's quite simply a genius.

Paul Thomas Anderson shows us, yet again, how he can bring together many different characters, involved us in their different circling stories, and not let us lose touch with any one of them.The shooting script is brilliantly written -- Anderson has developed a wonderful way of describing things and writing dialogue, which can, at times, sound shockingly realistic.It's a delight for fans of the film, like myself, to read scenes that were deleted from the film, most notably, Stanley Spector meeting the mysterious character "Worm". After reading this part, you understand how it fits into this film.This is a really well-crafted work of a story, which complements Paul Thomas Anderson's creative talent, and showcases everyday problems like regret, love, fear, and loneliness and shows how touching they can really be.The pictures at the end of the book are very colorful and gorgeous to look at it, because the capture the feeling of the movie so well.But, I'm a little dissappointed with the interview with Anderson, which comes after the screenplay. It's interesting to hear him talk about the inspiration for the story and characters. But, it doesn't feel very satisfying, because it feels severely edited, leaving you wanting to know more.But, that's okay. The screenplay explains it all, giving you a wonderful, heartfelt story about real people struggling with the problems and unusual circumstances in their lives.If you enjoyed the movie, this book will only make you love it more.

Ok, I apologize that this is refraining from the topic at hand, but never have I been this outraged at the academy awards. For credibility, I am an aspiring filmmaker/screenwriter and I study a lot of films and screenplay. I really enjoyed American Beauty, and then I read the screenplay. I was disappointed and saw this film (American Beauty) was saved from being simply awful from a great director, cinematographer, and cast/crew. It was a very flawed script that had moments of terrible dialogue and little character development. Don't believe me? Think about how there is not a single likable moment for Annette Benning. Even Freddy Kruegger had a few moments of likability.And then there was Magnolia...I saw this film and I was literally blown away. I read the screenplay 5 times in the week I got it. The film had great dialogue, wonderful development, and great characters. It was simply beautiful. When I saw it, I hailed it as the best film of the year, the 90's, and quite possibly ever. In the unlikable side, You have Frank TJ Mackey, perfectly portrayed by Tom Cruise. Frank is a sex guru who teaches courses on how to pick up women. Not your hero, right? Slimeball? You bet. But he's a person. How about the dying father who left his wife who was dying to have sex with other women... He realizes that what he has done was terrible, and he didn't ask for forgiveness, he just realizes that tey were mistakes and he has to live with them. Ok, so the point is, as with all of Anderson's characters, that as much as you don't like someone's behavior or lifestyle or whatever, they are just people too. And that is the mark of a truly gifted and beautiful writer. Thank you Paul Thomas Anderson, for making the best cinematic memory for me.