- RELEASED: 1999
- RUNTIME: 189 mins
- WRITTEN BY: Paul Thomas Anderson
- DIRECTED BY: Paul Thomas Anderson
- STARRING: Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Robards
This review may contain spoilers.
A challenging, ambitious, complex and moving portrait of the human condition, unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s brilliantly directed and perfectly subtle to the point where it really makes you think after watching it. It also has some of the best editing, pacing and camerawork I’ve ever seen (some really amazing tracking shots). Also, quite possibly Tom Cruise’s best performance and many other phenomenal performances, most notably from Julianne Moore and Jeremy Blackman. Fantastic score also and I loved the presence of Supertramp. I really wish I hadn’t known about the frog scene before watching it though cause it would’ve been so shocking. I’m gonna have to read a lot of analyses. Between this, Fight Club, American Beauty, The Matrix and Eyes Wide Shut (just to name a few), 1999 was one damn good year for movies.
” I will drop-kick those fuckin’ dogs if they come near me.”