Magnolia
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.
Critics Sentiment
Deadpan prologue about the nature of coincidence and urban myths
Linda Partridge attempts suicide by drug overdose in parking lot
The film drops from its brilliant opening to a melodramatic middle section before surging back with the Wise Up sequence and frog finale.
Magnolia opens with universal critical acclaim for its brilliant premise and character introductions, then experiences a significant dip during its lengthy middle section where some reviewers found it pretentious and overlong. The film recovers strongly with its audacious musical sequence and biblical climax, ending on a note of restrained hope that critics largely embraced.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 113
Tom Cruise
Frank T.J. Mackey
Philip Baker Hall
Jimmy Gator
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Phil Parma
Julianne Moore
Linda Partridge
William H. Macy
Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
John C. Reilly
Officer Jim Kurring
Melora Walters
Claudia Wilson Gator
Jeremy Blackman
Stanley Spector
Jason Robards
Earl Partridge
Melinda Dillon
Rose Gator
Michael Bowen
Rick Spector
April Grace
Gwenovier
Ricky Jay
Burt Ramsey / Narrator
Emmanuel Johnson
Dixon
Pat Healy
Sir Edmund William Godfrey / Young Pharmacy Kid
Genevieve Zweig
Mrs. Godfrey
Mark Flanagan
Joseph Green
Neil Flynn
Stanley Berry
Rod McLachlan
Daniel Hill
Allan Graf
Firefighter
Crew
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