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That Moment: Magnolia Diary (2000) Online

That Moment: Magnolia Diary (2000) Online
Original Title :
That Moment: Magnolia Diary
Genre :
Creative Work / Documentary / Drama
Year :
2000
Directror :
Mark Rance
Cast :
Paul Thomas Anderson,Fiona Apple,William Arnold
Type :
Creative Work
Time :
1h 13min
Rating :
7.5/10
That Moment: Magnolia Diary (2000) Online

A very in-depth documentary that follows the very over-worked director Paul Thomas Anderson through a gruelling 80+ days of shooting for the film Magnolia (1999). Very funny behind the scenes material and interviews, press junket video and various screenings and meetings are presented to us, just to let us know how hard it really is to make a 188-minute film.
Credited cast:
Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson - Himself
Fiona Apple Fiona Apple - Herself
William Arnold William Arnold - Himself (as Bill Arnold)
Bobby Brewer Bobby Brewer - Himself
Mark Bridges Mark Bridges - Himself
Jon Brion Jon Brion - Himself
Lou Carlucci Lou Carlucci - Himself
Melinda Dillon Melinda Dillon - Herself
Adam Druxman Adam Druxman - Himself
Robert Elswit Robert Elswit - Himself (as Robert Elswitt)
Neil Flynn Neil Flynn - Himself
Philip Baker Hall Philip Baker Hall - Himself
Philip Seymour Hoffman Philip Seymour Hoffman - Himself
Ricky Jay Ricky Jay - Himself
Emmanuel Johnson Emmanuel Johnson - Himself

Those who represent Tom Cruise did not want him to be included in the documentary.

This feature-length documentary is featured on the 2 disc DVD of Magnolia (1999) released in 2000.

Mark Rance filmed approximately 128 hours of on-set footage for this documentary.


User reviews

Skyway

Skyway

Paul Thomas Anderson makes a pretty engaging lead in this documentary about the making of "Magnolia," but the director, Mark Rance wastes a lot of running time. For example, we are treated to hearing an orchestra record the score, but why are there no scenes of Anderson and Jon Brion discussing the score? There are also scenes showing pre-production meetings, but apart from discussions about difficulties in scheduling the actors, the rest could be cut in favor of more Anderson/Robert Elswit footage. I would like to see a doc about Paul Thomas Anderson in the tradition of "Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky." I can't help but feel there is a better doc in the footage not used.
Daron

Daron

Starting off with Paul Thomas Anderson talking about some of his influences and screen writing process - that he wanted to write originally something 'small' and then spent eight months writing it (with a rush of a couple of weeks of most of the writing in Macy's cabin) - we then see in That Moment how this man makes a movie. It may not be with every actor (apparently Tom Cruise's people didn't want him to appear in this loose a context), but you get to see many of those little things that happen on a set, how energetic Anderson is with his actors but how they're all eager to reach up to what he's asking for, and it helps to make the film more valuable. Just how he talks to the kids who will be on the game show set, how he's written some things and not others, is precious. And how he especially looks for collaboration from all of his players is incredible.

Oh sure, you may find it tedious to see all of the frogs dropped over and over in the gas station. But you see how little things get done (how can Julianne Moore know all the words to the song - mic in her ear that no one sees, that's how), and what his actors are like on set; Philip Seymour Hoffman has a funny, warm story to tell, and Jason Robards has LOTS of stories to tell, and does tell one of them. That he was just treated for cancer and then doing this role is amazing and touching, and you see the affection he has for PT Anderson and for playing this role (if not Earl Partridge, who is dying and bitter). You get the sense that this filmmaker loves filmmaking so much, and the creativity and steps taken to making this massive, intimate epic is revelatory - I only wish it was longer.