Magnolia

I don't recommend this movie to most people as it's 3 hours long and quite a commitment. Furthermore, it's neither fast moving, nor funny. To be categorized as a comedy, is to laugh. However, this is my very favorite movie of all time. It's several different stories, brilliantly intertwined, for the most part sad statements about humanity and all it entails. The soundtrack by Amie Mann is brilliant and works together with the movie, almost as though it was a character or narrator of the story. The acting performances, every one of them, by brilliant performers, were, well, brilliant as they come. The general tone of the movie is melancholy with a hint of hope, and a lot of honesty. Tom Cruise, on a rare occasion is almost unrecognizable as his character lacks his trademark charm entirely. Though he may be a creep in real life, it is the charm that commands the big money roles he gets. William H. Macy is always among the best for my money, and John C. Riley will be hard pressed to ever find another character as memorable, or lovably pitiful as his bumbling cop in Magnolia. Again, I suspect my appreciation for the film may be manipulated strongly by my enjoyment of the character of the soundtrack throughout, but the stories, each and every one, and their relationship to one another are brilliant on their own. I suspect at the other end of the pendulum it will be described as slow, boring, weird and unpleasant in general. So there you go. As I said, I don't often recommend it because it's likely a love it or hate it kind of movie. It's all about the love for me with Magnolia.