MAGNOLIA Explained | Frogs, Songs, And What It All Means
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into the philosophical depths of Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Magnolia,' exploring themes of fate, free will, and the power of the past. It challenges the film's critics, arguing that its unconventional ending of raining frogs is a masterful representation of life's unpredictability and the characters' acceptance of their lack of control. The script also examines the film's self-awareness, the role of minor characters, and the potential autobiographical elements from Anderson's own life, offering an in-depth interpretation that invites viewers to reconsider the movie's message.
Takeaways
- 🎬 The film 'Magnolia' is a profound exploration of interconnected stories, themes of fate, free will, and the impact of the past on the present.
- 🎥 Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Magnolia' is praised for its creative storytelling, acting, and music, despite some critics labeling it as pretentious and boring.
- 🌧️ A central theme of 'Magnolia' is the power of the past, particularly the lasting effects of child abuse and familial damage on individuals' lives.
- 🐸 The unconventional ending involving frogs raining from the sky symbolizes the uncontrollable and absurd aspects of life, challenging the characters' and the audience's perception of reality.
- 🔄 The film suggests a deeper philosophy involving fate, free will, and the unpredictability of life, questioning whether events are mere chance or part of a larger cosmic plan.
- 👤 Each character in 'Magnolia' is dealing with their own traumas and past mistakes, which shape their present circumstances and actions.
- 💬 The script discusses the use of cosmic irony as a storytelling tool, where a higher power or force intervenes in characters' lives to create ironic and unlikely situations.
- 🎭 'Magnolia' is self-aware, with characters that seem to serve the narrative's purpose, blurring the line between fiction and reality within the film.
- 📖 The script mentions the influence of biblical references and numerology, such as the number 82 and the plague of frogs, adding layers of meaning to the film.
- 🤔 The film invites the audience to ponder the nature of life's events, whether they are random or predetermined, and the role of acceptance in dealing with life's uncertainties.
- 👼 The characters of Dixon and Phil may represent agents of the story or even angelic figures, guiding the narrative and influencing the outcomes of other characters.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the film 'Magnolia' according to the script?
-The main theme of 'Magnolia' is the power of the past, particularly focusing on the damage caused by one's family or environment, and the scars that affect individuals in their present lives.
How does the film 'Magnolia' explore the concept of fate and free will?
-The film explores fate and free will through the characters' experiences and their struggle to reconcile with their pasts. It presents the idea that people's lives are influenced by factors beyond their control, such as the biblical disaster of frogs raining down from the sky, which forces the characters into the end of their stories.
What is the significance of the opening stories in 'Magnolia' about unlikely events?
-The opening stories serve to introduce the concept of cosmic irony and the idea that seemingly random, highly unlikely events can have a profound impact on people's lives, suggesting that there may be forces beyond human control at play.
How does the character Frank represent a different philosophy from the film's main message?
-Frank represents the philosophy of control, where he preaches about forgetting the past, ignoring one's origins, and taking charge of one's destiny. This is in contrast to the film's main message of accepting and embracing the past and its effects on the present.
What is the role of the character Phil in the film 'Magnolia'?
-Phil, the nurse, is a character who helps Earl fulfill his dying wish to see his son one last time. He is portrayed as a caretaker and a helper, making significant decisions that drive the plot forward and possibly symbolizing an angelic or divine intervention in the characters' lives.
What is the significance of the frogs raining down from the sky in 'Magnolia'?
-The frogs raining down from the sky symbolize the unpredictable and uncontrollable aspects of life. This surreal event affects all the main characters, forcing them to confront their pasts and accept their lack of control over life's events.
How does the script describe the character of Stanley in 'Magnolia'?
-Stanley is portrayed as a child genius who competes on the game show 'What Do Kids Know'. However, he is also miserable due to the abuse and exploitation by his parents, which leads to a pivotal moment where he resists his fate on live television.
What is the role of the song 'Wise Up' in the film 'Magnolia'?
-The song 'Wise Up' is sung by multiple characters simultaneously, serving as a broadcast of the film's philosophy directly to the audience. The lyrics reflect the themes of the film, such as acceptance, regret, and the inevitability of life's events.
How does the script interpret the ending of 'Magnolia'?
-The script interprets the ending as a reflection of the characters' acceptance of their lack of control over life. The fantastical event of frogs falling from the sky is seen as a genius way to show this acceptance, rather than a pretentious cop-out as some critics suggested.
What is the significance of the number 82 in 'Magnolia'?
-The number 82 is significant because it references Exodus 8:2 from the Bible, which talks about a plague of frogs in Egypt. This biblical reference ties into the film's theme of fate and the uncontrollable events that shape people's lives.
Outlines
🎬 Magnolia's Artistic Depth and Critique
The paragraph discusses the film 'Magnolia' as a profound and creative masterpiece, despite some critics labeling it as pretentious. It delves into the film's exploration of the power of the past, child abuse, and the damage caused by family or environment. The narrator argues that the film's ending, featuring a biblical disaster of raining frogs, is not random but makes perfect sense in the context of the movie's themes of fate, free will, and the impact of the past on the present and future.
🌌 Cosmic Irony and the Unpredictability of Life
This section of the script explores the concept of cosmic irony, drawing parallels between 'Magnolia' and the works of the Coen brothers, particularly 'Fargo' and 'No Country for Old Men'. It discusses how cosmic irony is used as a storytelling tool to depict situations influenced by a higher power, such as fate or God, and how 'Magnolia' uses unlikely events to examine the lack of control humans have over their lives and the role of destiny.
🧩 The Interconnectedness of Characters' Stories
The paragraph examines the main characters of 'Magnolia', highlighting their loneliness, victimhood, and the influence of their pasts on their present circumstances. It discusses specific characters like Donnie, Frank, and Stanley, exploring how their pasts have shaped them and how they attempt to reconcile with their histories. The paragraph also touches on themes of cause and effect, and the characters' struggle with accepting their lack of control over life's events.
🎲 The Impact of Past Actions and the Quest for Reconciliation
This part of the script focuses on the character Jimmy Gator and his attempts to reconcile with his daughter Claudia before his death. It also discusses other characters like Officer Jim and Linda, exploring their personal struggles and the consequences of their actions. The paragraph emphasizes the theme of regret and the characters' attempts to find redemption or acceptance in the face of their past mistakes.
🌧 The Unraveling of Lives and the Frogs Phenomenon
The paragraph delves into the dramatic climax of 'Magnolia' where frogs rain down from the sky, affecting each main character's life. It discusses how this supernatural event serves as a catalyst for the characters to confront their pasts and their lack of control over life. The narrator argues that the frogs are symbolic of the unpredictability and absurdity of life, and how the film uses this event to bring all the characters' stories to a close.
🎼 The Power of Music and the Characters' Self-Awareness
This section discusses the use of music in 'Magnolia', particularly the song 'Wise Up', and how it serves as a narrative device to express the film's philosophy. It explores the characters' self-awareness and their acknowledgment of being part of a story, suggesting that they are aware of their roles as pawns in a larger narrative. The paragraph also touches on the film's self-referential nature and its use of fourth wall breaks.
🔮 The Role of Dixon and the Film's Spiritual Undertones
The paragraph examines the character Dixon, suggesting that he may be a supernatural or divine entity within the film's universe. It discusses Dixon's knowledge of the future and his role as an agent of the story, as well as the film's use of religious and spiritual symbolism, such as the number 82 and the references to angels and the devil.
🏥 Phil's Role as a Catalyst and the Film's Autobiographical Elements
This section explores the character Phil, the nurse, and his role as a caretaker and plot device within 'Magnolia'. It discusses Phil's lack of personal backstory and his function as a character who progresses the story through his actions. The paragraph also touches on the film's autobiographical elements, suggesting that it may reflect the personal experiences of the director, Paul Thomas Anderson.
🌈 The Philosophical Core and Life's Inevitability
The final paragraph summarizes the film's core philosophical questions about the nature of life, fate, and consciousness. It discusses the idea that life's events are both random and predetermined, and that accepting this can lead to a more carefree and appreciative existence. The narrator encourages the audience to embrace life's unpredictability and to find peace in the acceptance of what has happened.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Magnolia
💡Cosmic Irony
💡Fate and Chance
💡Child Abuse
💡Regret
💡Control
💡Self-Awareness
💡Unpredictability of Life
💡Anthropological
💡Narrative
💡Closure
Highlights
Profound storytelling in 'Magnolia' with deep, moving narratives and excellent music and acting.
Debate on whether 'Magnolia' is pretentious; the film's ending is defended as a masterpiece.
Interpretation of 'Magnolia' as a commentary on the power of the past and its impact on the present.
Themes of child abuse and family damage are central to the characters' development.
The film explores fate, free will, and the philosophical aspects of life's unpredictability.
Use of true stories to introduce the concept of cosmic irony and the idea of higher power intervention.
Discussion on the philosophical debate between fate and chance in the film.
The film's self-awareness and its characters acting as vessels for the author's message.
Analysis of the character Frank as a symbol of control and his philosophical opposition to the film's message.
The character Stanley's struggle with his destiny as a child prodigy and the pressures of fame.
Jimmy Gator's character arc and the consequences of his past actions, including his relationship with his daughter Claudia.
Claudia's journey of self-discovery and acceptance of her past abuse.
Linda's guilt and transformation as she grapples with her feelings for her dying husband.
Earl's regrets and his quest for reconciliation with his estranged son Frank.
The supernatural event of frogs raining from the sky symbolizing the characters' acceptance of life's unpredictability.
The film's use of self-aware narrative techniques to convey its philosophical themes.
The character Phil's role as a facilitator of the plot and his significance as a potential angelic figure.
The autobiographical elements of 'Magnolia' and its personal significance to the director.
The overarching message of accepting life's uncontrollable nature and the role of cause and effect.
Transcripts
foreign
it's just profound it's profound it's
deep and it's it's moving and it's just
so creatively told the music and the
acting so good and and I'm not saying
this to sell the movie I really think
this is one of those movies I really do
magnolia one of my all-time favorite
films and certainly my favorite from
Paul Thomas Anderson now maybe it's not
your favorite but we can all admit that
it's at least really good
well almost all of us some people insist
on calling Magnolia pretentious and
boring they're wrong if they gave these
labels to Anderson's last couple films
maybe they'd have a point but they
didn't say this about his recent films
they said it about Magnolia in
particular they didn't like the ending
the film is a mess I really thought that
all of these stories would have come
together in some sort of unexpected
synergistic way there would have been
some sort of a picture these stories
don't come together it makes no sense
this I just can't abide because Magnolia
is a masterpiece for nearly three hours
we watch all these related stories all
of these characters thinking that it's
all leading to some resolution where
they all come together you know and and
ending with a nice poetic punch that
explains what it all means in some
easily digestible way what we get
instead is a Biblical disaster frogs ran
randomly raining down from the sky
forcing the characters into the end of
their stories in a way that seems
completely out of left field
but it's not random it makes perfect
sense at least to me
so here we go this one's gonna be long
I'm gonna get in depth so uh relax kick
your feet up and enjoy my interpretation
of Magnolia
so what's Magnolia's message of course
the most obvious theme of the film is
the power of the past it's about child
abuse and more broadly the damage that
can be caused by one's family or
environment [ __ ] on as a child and
that's scars that hurts the book says we
may be through with the past we have to
passing through with us many of the
characters suffer from some sort of
trauma or predicament that steered them
into being who they are in the present
many of the characters arcs involve them
facing their past and reaching some sort
of reconciliation much has been written
on this theme and I agree with much of
what I've read but I think I have a bit
more to add in my opinion Magnolia isn't
just about families and the way the past
is always affecting us because it's
Universal Man
it is evolutional it is anthropological
it is
biological I think there's a deeper
philosophy here one that involves not
just the past but the but the present
and the future it's about fate free will
cause and effect in general you are here
for me too
own future not so unknown future into
the crazy experimental ending that all
the stupid critics called pretentious is
crucial to this as is the very beginning
of the film there is an account of the
hanging of three men they died for the
murder of Sir Edmund William Godfrey
husband father pharmacist and all-around
gentleman resident of greenberry Hill
London he was murdered by three vagrants
whose motive was simple robbery they
were identified as
Joseph Greene Stanley Berry and Daniel
Hill Green Berry Hill and I would like
to thank this was only a matter of
chance Magnolia begins with three quick
true stories of incredibly unlikely
events events so unlikely they seem
impossible when telling the first two
stories the narrator says because I am
trying to think this was all only a
matter of chance he acknowledges how
unlikely these scenarios are but refuses
to admit that they could be something
more something Beyond a simple fluke
he's in denial that this is all out of
our control and that someone or
something is pulling the strings but by
the time he finishes the third and final
story he comes to a troubling
realization and it is in a humble
opinion of this narrator that this is
not just something that happened this
cannot be one of those things this was
not just a matter of chance these
strange things happen all the time he
admits that something else it's going on
here it's also interesting that even
though our narrator tells us these star
stories are true
well they're not either way many people
who've seen Magnolia think these stories
are true it's it's sort of like how
Fargo claimed to be a true story to
trick the audience to to Prime them into
being easily immersed in the Absurd A A
Stranger Than Fiction sort of approach
this entire section of Magnolia is very
cohen-esque honestly the whole movie is
at least thematically philosophically
because like many Cohen films Magnolia
is about Cosmic irony to explain this
concept I'm going to use a clip from a
video I made on the use of cosmic irony
in Cohen films I think I did a good job
back then and probably wouldn't be able
to explain it this well again and also
it'll be interesting to see the
similarities between Cohen films and
Magnolia which I'll be discussing
shortly but first Cosmic irony like many
other versions of irony is a tool used
in fiction in storytelling it occurs
when something like a higher power which
could be something like God or the
concept of fate or or a sort of
personification of the rules of the
universe itself intervenes to create an
ironic situation an unlikely situation a
situation that gives itself a nice
little poetic punch as it unfolds
Cosmic irony is known as irony of Fate
it's a force outside of a character's
control interfering in their story now
this interference can either be actual
or inferred meaning The Oddities of the
story could actually be supernaturally
influenced or there could be no
influence as long as the cause of The
Oddities remains ambiguous enough for an
argument to be made a good example of
this ambiguity could be the
philosophical debate between fate and
chance in No Country for Old Men the
film is about whether or not the
universe decides the fates of its
characters it explores whether these
characters or really anybody real or
imagined has any agency at all the story
is perfectly Cohen it shows the
absurdity of life and it questions the
unchangeable paths that suffering people
are stuck on with no Escape or
alteration and the ending is
anticlimactic the bad guy ends up
winning and the good guys end up losing
and in terms of the film's theme of Fate
versus chance it's near impossible to
nail down exactly how it should be
interpreted I mean it couldn't be more
Cohen than that
it's just goddamn Beyond everything
what's it mean
what's it leading to and if you want to
explore this topic in more detail I made
an entire video essay about it but this
debate between fate and chance is
explored in many of the other Cohen
stories maybe not as blatantly or from
the same angle but it's definitely there
in all of their movies you see at first
their stories these these absurdist
stories seem to only occur through
random chaotic chants without true
purpose and nor sometimes even
conclusion but this Randomness that
interferes with the characters it
becomes So Random it Sparks situations
so unlikely these rare occurrences begin
to look less like chance and more like
fate orchestrated by something if
incredibly ironic or even seemingly
impossible things happen to a character
in a story which often do thus leading
to a story becoming interesting it's as
if a higher power in control of the
story whether it be God or Fate has
acted upon the story to influence the
character other times this concept is
just blaring out of the screen
characters break the fourth wall stories
admit to be stories and sometimes even
Supernatural characters in control or or
at least in observance of the film story
completely aware that it is merely a
story expose themselves to the normal
characters
the cowboy in The Big Lebowski and the
man who controls the clock in the HUD
sucker proxy are basically like God and
then Charlie from Barton Fink is I don't
know he's like the devil or or something
but let's get back to Magnolia to start
the title sequence look at all the
imagery here time growth Maps this film
is about a lot love regret forgiveness
human nature cause and effect it's about
everything the weather report for the
day is shown as text on screen of course
this relates to the concept of
predeterminism of things being already
decided not so unknown future and yet if
we know anything about the weather it
also tells us that we humans we we try
our best to guess at what will happen
yet we often get it wrong the weather
like everything is out of our control
sometimes it does some crazy and
unlikely things such as pouring rain or
all day in Los Angeles a city built in a
desert and according to this film
sometimes it even rains frogs Magnolia
is about extremely unlikely events
actually occurring but more importantly
it's about how we have no control over
any of it
the main story of Magnolia begins with a
montage that introduces all the main
characters to the song One is the
Loneliest Number fitting seeing as how
all of them are at some level very
lonely but what they are most are
victims victims of their pasts victims
of their present victims of cause and
effect of the unfair game all of us play
a part in probably the best example of
this concept here is the character of
Dani Dani used to be a child genius
becoming Famous by dominating on the
game show what do kids know 30 years ago
but he was struck by lightning causing
brain damage stripping him of his gifted
intelligence the lord giveth and the
lord taketh away have you ever been hit
by lightning it doesn't happen to
everyone
it's an electrical charge it finds its
way across the universe and it lands in
your body
and your head and now I'm just stupid
you are so cute when you're on that game
show that you can't answer any questions
now though huh on top of this his
parents stole all of his game show
winnings for themselves essentially
abandoning him and the book says we may
be true with the past but the past is
not true with us this is so [ __ ]
Solomon I don't deserve this don't get
strong Donnie now Donnie is a loser
barely scraping by he has a crush on
Brad a bartender with braces Donny's
plan to get Brad to notice him is to go
into even more debt and get braces
himself even though he doesn't need them
at all his teeth are fine to pay for his
braces and most likely to pay off some
of his debts Donnie decides to Rob his
boss Solomon during the robbery at the
end of the film he smashes his teeth out
I'm sure you all see the cosmic irony
[Music]
Frank is a controversial pickup artist
kind of like an Andrew Tate character
but with actual good looks that is not
to say that we don't all need females
just as friends because we're going to
learn later in chapter 23 that having a
couple of chick friends lying around
coming real Handy and setting jealousy
traps we'll get to that later Frank
represents the opposing philosophy to
the film
control it's about finding out what you
can be in this world
finding it controlling it and saying I
will take what is mine that in trying to
figure out who you are
um do you have more important things
well no it's all important into Frank
see the main message of Magnolia is to
accept the past and acknowledge that
there's nothing you can do to change
what's happened it's about embracing
regret because regret can be a powerful
tool moving forward
Frank's main message is the opposite or
at least that's how he starts out his
self-help speeches are all about
forgetting the past ignoring where you
come from and who you are it's about
creating another past and taking control
of the future and making your own
destiny yeah Mommy wouldn't let me play
soccer and daddy
he hit me so that's
that's who I am that's that's why I do
what I do
[ __ ] I am the one who's in charge
[Applause]
I am the one who says yes
no now most of his clients are pathetic
men who truly have no chance of getting
the women they want so Frank sells them
a philosophy that they want to hear that
he wants to hear that people aren't
defined by the things out of their
control that if men want something or
want to be something all they have to do
is act Frank wants to influence
everything around him and yet refuses to
be influenced in return him walking out
on stage to thuspoke zarathustra speaks
volumes here
and I'm like he kind of sees himself as
a God in a way it seems like he thinks
he can even control time that's right
you're going to Mark the calendar you're
going to mark that calendar it is going
to make all the difference in your world
and on the 1st of May and come June Oh
Come Again stick with this calendar
you're going to work with it you're
going to set goals facing the past is an
important way of not making progress
this is something I tell my men over and
over and over Frank has been
successfully running away from his past
and preaching the gospel of reinvention
for years but tonight Frank is
interviewed by a tough journalist
Frank's past his real past reaches out
and forces him to acknowledge it
well I was one
of meteorological services or if they
have in-house instruments like Donnie
all those years ago Stanley is now a boy
Genius competing on the same game show
what do kids know Stan Lee seems to know
everything but he's also miserable his
parents use and abuse him much like
Donny's you have to be subtly abusive so
they don't know what's happening I need
to go to the bathroom
Stanley you can't go to the bathroom now
you have exactly one minute right when
Stanley's about to set a record win
streak he pees his pants on live TV I
don't know he pissed his pants
pants Jesus Stanley what the [ __ ] you do
that for like his IQ and his parents it
was out of his control the showrunners
wouldn't let him take a bathroom break
ensuring that eventually it was going to
happen well I made to feel like like a
freak
if I answer questions
from smart
or I have to go to the bathroom whether
it's bladders or clouds in the sky water
goes in water goes out cause and effect
what is that
I'm asking I'm asking you that
I'm not sure in the moment of the film
during the game show where Stan Lee
talks back to Jimmy and refuses to
answer the questions
it seems that Stanley is resisting his
fate he is a child prodigy it seems that
it is his Destiny to play this game but
in this moment Stanley refuses it seems
Stanley is taking control of his own
life but near the end of the film it
seems Stanley goes back on this Stanley
breaks back into the library and goes
right back to studying right back to the
books write back to what he's been doing
this entire time Stanley tries to take
control but in the end he succumbs to
his Destiny although at the very end of
the film Stanley does stand up to his
abusive father but only for a moment and
you need to be nicer to me
a little bit his father gives no
response to his pleas and instead tells
Stanley to go back to bed which he does
kids Jimmy Gator is the host of this
game show at the same moment that Stan
Lee pees his pants Jimmy collapses on
stage he has terminal cancer he's had a
long and successful career as a TV
personality the world loves him but his
own daughter Claudia hates him all Jimmy
wants to do is reconcile with his
daughter before he dies but she refuses
to speak to him his past actions have
consequences it's metastasized in my
bones [ __ ] you
but it's uh I'm not lying to you this is
the truth I'm telling you I I call you
I'm going to lose
get out it seems like the story is cruel
to Jimmy until we realize that he
molested his daughter he molested
Claudia I think she thinks
that I may have molested her
would you ever touch her
when we consider he's been hosting a
show for 30 years in Hollywood that
features children a sickening Theory can
easily be reached the show being named
what the kids know might not be a
coincidence please
you deserve to die alone for what you've
done I don't know what I've done
say it whatever it is and I'll listen to
you you don't know stupid I am it's okay
I got troubles okay
Jimmy's daughter Claudia is clearly
damaged she's a drug addict and is used
by men constantly this is typical
behavior for someone who's been through
what Claudia has she sees herself as
unlovable that is until Officer Jim
comes into her life strangely enough
Officer Jim has the same first name as
her father
I might get 20 bad calls a day
one time I can help someone
and I'm a happy cop Jim is a typical man
looking for love he's good and decent
and he's a good Christian who prays hey
God I'm telling you right now
I will not screwed up gave me an
opportunity he's a police officer who
despite having Authority is constantly
told what to do and made to be a fool
no I'm here he discovers a murder and
then a child Dixon wraps a song that
says exactly what happened but Jim
doesn't listen he just scolds Dixon for
swearing you better just shut the [ __ ]
up I've had enough of the mouth and the
language
okay whatever that meant did you listen
to me
who did it
listening to me
cool stay in school
later it pours rain on him and someone
shoots at him causing him to drop his
gun Dixon appears takes the gun and then
vanishes with it meaning Jim is in
trouble but he finds comfort in meeting
and falling for Claudia
you everything and maybe we can get
through all the piss and [ __ ] and lies
that kill other people huh
just some [ __ ] you really use strong
language on their date he begins to
scold Claudia for swearing just like he
did Dixon but then apologizes and
realizes he needs to start listening to
people more I'm sorry no it's nothing
I'm sorry he admits to Claudia that he
hasn't been on a date in three years
ever since his divorce which clearly
left him a bit damaged I lost my gun
today what I lost my gun today when I
left you and I'm the laughing stock of a
lot of people and I feel like a fool
you want to kiss me Jim yes I do
now that I
don't have money again
what don't just say no wait Claudia what
is it please
he's dying he's [ __ ] dying as we're
sitting here because there's not a
[ __ ] Jesus how can you tell me to
calm down
I don't know what I'm doing
I do things and I [ __ ] up Linda is the
trophy wife to Earl a successful
producer who is now dying of cancer she
is racked by guilt for she only married
him for his money and cheated on him
constantly but now in his final days of
life she has grown to actually love her
husband out of guilt she wants to change
the will so she doesn't get any of the
money I don't
know when we met and I I did so many bad
things to him that he doesn't know are
things that I want to confess to him but
but now I do I love him she has pure
liquid morphine to give Earl to put him
out of his misery but she can't bring
herself to kill him she leaves and takes
a handful of pills in her car attempting
suicide but before she dies she's
discovered by Dixon who calls an
ambulance Linda tries to take control of
her own life even if that means ending
it she makes the decision to end it but
her decision her sense of control is
shown to be Just an Illusion as mistakes
like this
you make some
and okay
not okay sometimes you make other ones
one of Earl's past projects that added
to his wealth was the show what do kids
know he's a few stages ahead of the
show's host Jimmy and by that I mean his
cancer has taken him right up to death's
door goddamn regret
the goddam regrad on his deathbed of
course his major regrets in life now
plague him he constantly cheated on his
first wife and the love of his life and
mother of his children and worse than
this when she became terminally ill he
abandoned her and left his only son to
take care of her while she withered away
his son hasn't spoken to him in 10 years
Earl's dying wish is to see his son One
Last Time his nurse Phil helps him on
this Quest Phil tracks down Earl's son
who turns out to be none other than
Frank
you will not control me no you will not
take my soul no you will not win this
game the most useless thing in the world
is that which is behind me chapter three
even though Frank has been claiming the
past is irrelevant he is defined by the
pain his father put him through it's
what he uses to manipulate not only the
countless women but his gullible fans
but due to both the interviewer and
Phil's pressuring Frank finally faces
his past
[Music]
Frank's Ark kind of carries with it the
message of the movie it resolves the
debate between accepting your past and
running from it let anyone
say to you you shouldn't regret anything
you regret what you [ __ ] want use
that regret for anything any way you
want you can use it okay Magnolia tells
us to acknowledge and accept the
uncaring sequences of cause and effect
there's no running from it and it's not
going to stop so give up
[Music]
Frank finally does and decides to visit
his father but unfortunately when he
arrives Phil has already given Earl the
liquid morphine so Frank can't get the
closure he was hoping for but the
thudding of something falling from the
sky miraculously causes Earl to wake up
and see his son one last time before
passing thus granting both of the men
the moment they needed the thutting
noise is the frogs falling from the sky
and of course they fall across the
entire city affecting every main
character of the film for instance right
as Jimmy is about to kill himself to
spare himself the pain of the cancer as
well as the guilt of what he's done the
frogs crash through his ceiling causing
him to not take the easy way out to live
at least for now with what he's done and
who he is you can't run from regret you
must face it Claudia is able to accept
or at least admit what her father has
done to her when the Frog storm hits she
finally confides in her mother allowing
her to comfort her while robbing his
boss Solomon the frogs fall on Donnie
knocking him to the ground and knocking
his teeth out but he's rescued by
Officer Jim who then convinces Dani to
return the money Jim's lost gun also
falls from the sky meaning this storm of
frogs not only allowed Jim to do his one
good thing it also saved him from being
fired and probably gave him the courage
to go back to Claudia in the end these
frogs falling from the sky are what wrap
up all the stories many critics didn't
like this they see this ending as a
pretentious cop-out rather than tying up
all the stories in a realistic way the
movie pulls the rug out and does
something Fantastical great episodes and
these great movies in these great
performances
it's all great but I don't know what to
do with it where do I go for the last
30 minutes yeah no matter how do I have
a climax here that brings it all
together what do you what are you
no you know the funny thing is what
you're hinting towards is actually one
of the first things that came into my
brain
um how it comes together at the end yeah
yeah so it's not it's not an
afterthought in other words it's not an
afterthought the implication is that
writer PT Anderson just didn't have a
good way to end the story so he cheated
but this was always how he wanted to end
the story because this event these frogs
falling from the sky it really is the
main way all of these stories are
related not necessarily the frogs
themselves but what the frogs represent
the lack of control of agency the
unpredictability and absurdity of life
these characters are haunted by their
pasts imprisoned in their present having
no control over who they are or what's
happening to them having something
Supernatural like this occur to all of
them at once is in my opinion the best
way to show their acceptance of their
lack of control whether the ending makes
sense or not it is the ending it isn't
up to the characters it's up to the
author I think the point here or at
least something the film wants us to
ponder is that there really isn't a
difference between an ending that's
sensible and predictable and one that
seems bizarre or unearned the end is the
end fate is fate people get cancer kids
get molested Geniuses get struck by
lightning all of these things are out of
our control they change us they become
yet another puppet string that forces us
to dance across the stage this ending
isn't pretentious it's genius
now before completely Switching gears in
the video here I want to point out a
couple little touches that this movie
makes that I uh that I really appreciate
I love the minor character of Frank's
assistant here we see him talking to a
bunch of Frank's fans
stop practice honing your skills on a
feminist I know he's talking about
trying to seduce or at least manipulate
a feminist he acts as if he's done this
as if he's so cool in Macho that he can
even seduce all the boss [ __ ] out
there what I love is that he then gets a
phone call from his boss who happens to
be a woman
and she completely shits on him and he
just takes it
off of the elevator Janet good
and how she says good boy to him is if
he's a dog this relates to one of my
favorite little secret hidden Easter egg
things in this movie it relates to dogs
biological
it is animal there are many little Clues
throughout the movie that show Frank to
be a dog he is drawn as a dog on his
poster he makes panting noises here like
a dog before his interview
okay
calm down take it easy and be a good boy
and even when he begins to break down at
his father's side he uh he he kind of
sounds like a dog
what I find interesting here is that at
the end of the movie Once Frank has had
his Arc and decides to finally face his
past he wants nothing to do with the
dogs Phil
I will drop kick the [ __ ] dogs if
they come near me he hates the dogs even
though the movie has been telling us
that he is one and at the very end of
the movie Once Frank has reached the
complete end of his Arc one of the dogs
is dead it's almost as if it died to
symbolize that side of Frank or maybe
all this dog stuff is just a coincidence
but I felt like pointing it out so
alright let's change gears and get into
the really complex stuff in Magnolia
do you have love in your heart
I have love all over
I even have love for you friend I think
another reason this film gets called
pretentious is due to some of its
dialogue due to so many different
characters
uncharacteristically saying profound
things it's a dangerous thing to confuse
children with angels but something the
critics fail to understand here is that
this too serves a purpose to understand
why we first have to realize that
there's a sort of self-awareness to this
film as if it's admitting that its
characters are characters thus breaking
the illusion of a naturally progressing
story and instead using Cosmic irony as
a sort of Puppeteer because I'm not a
toy I'm a doll
we're gonna start rolling now what I
thought we were rolling and I know that
I might sound ridiculous like this is
the the scene of the movie where the guy
is trying to get a hold of the long lost
son you know but this is that scene this
is that scene this is so boring so
goddamn you know that guy and wish
all that old man on a bed
oh good this is a long way to go with no
punch
a little moral regret that you make
and then something you take and the blah
blah
something something
give me a cigarette
you know but this is that scene this is
that scene and I think they have those
scenes in movies because they're true
you know because they really happen many
of the characters being introduced on a
television set is a clue to this fourth
wall breaking self-awareness when Jim is
introduced he's talking to himself as if
being interviewed on an episode of cops
he has rehearsed his lines even though
he has no one to say them to and of
course the movie ends with Claudia
looking directly at the camera and
smiling a quick recap for those who
don't know
foreign
and then there's the part near the end
of the film right as every main
character is about to take action where
all of them on their own decide to sing
the song wise up
[Music]
let's look at some of the lyrics to this
song it's not what you thought when you
first began it you got what you want now
you can hardly stand it though by now
you know you're sure there's a cure and
you have finally found it you think one
drink will shrink you till you're
underground and living down but it's not
going to stop it's not going to stop so
just give up as perfectly symbolic as
these lyrics are of course this scene
doesn't really make sense logically why
would all of these people all decide to
sing the same song at the same time
well because the movie told them to and
the movie is trying to admit to us that
it has this command see this is the
scene of the movie where you help me out
so when the characters speak they aren't
just speaking to others in the scene
they seem to be broadcasting the
philosophy of the film directly to the
audience
[Music]
people think if I make a judgment call
that that's a judgment on them but that
is not what I do
and that's not what should be done
I have to take everything
and play as it lays how do we do this
then
figure it out
we do as we do I guess there are things
that that that uh that God the the
Puppet Master of the Universe the the
screenwriter wants the audience to
consider and these characters are his
antennas that's another thing that those
memory timelines yet you know what next
what happens then what next you need to
realize that um
once you give it to him there really is
no going back
oh what the [ __ ] can I say that I don't
know what to say
I think short it's long
it's long God damn it you are here for
me too Enlighten You Into the Now not so
unknown future so come along with me the
narrator of the opening film is Ricky J
the same man who plays the showrunner
with the Freemasons ring also his quote
here we met upon the level and we're
parting on the Square is a common saying
among Freemasons the group who some
still think run the world we met upon
the level and we're farting on the split
the showrunner saying this must have
some sort of implication what's
interesting is how Jimmy responds to
this saying he says I'm not [ __ ] sick
Bert even though he is sick at this
point in the movie Jimmy hasn't told
anyone that he's sick the audience
doesn't even know somehow the showrunner
knew that Jimmy was sick the showrunner
seems to know a lot of things he makes
the entertainment for both the audiences
in the film watching the game show and
also the audience is watching the real
film itself it's a dangerous thing to
confuse children with angels
thank you
and the book says we may be true with
the past but the past is not true with
us and
no it is not dangerous to confuse
children with angels some of the
children in the film certainly know more
than the adults Stanley seems to know
everything even acting unsurprised by
the frogs even saying the same line as
the narrator at the beginning of the
film something that happened
this cannot be one of those things maybe
this is why the show is called what do
kids know because another kid in the
film Dixon clearly is Supernatural or or
something special he seems to know
everything he knew exactly where Lydia
would be and saves her life and then
there's his rap song Let's Take a look
at the lyrics to that as well presents
with a double ass meaning gifts I bestow
with my riff and my flow but you don't
hear me though
saying his words will mean something
deeper if only Jim would listen to him
think fast think fast catch me yo
because I throw what I know with a
resonance for your trouble ass fiend and
weaning yourself off the back of the
Shelf the fiend is Claudia she's weaning
Jim off the back of the shelf by either
being the thing that takes him out of
being single sad and lonely or by giving
him the confidence to be a better cop
jackass crackers body stackers dick
tooting I'm not gonna say that
masturbating to your triggers living to
get older with a chip on your shoulder
except you think you got a grip because
your hip got a holster these insults
could apply to many different characters
or or maybe they're just nonsense or a
combination of both my guess at least is
that Phil is the body stacker because he
takes care of the dead and dying the uh
the uh the dick tutors could could be
could be Linda she literally says that
she sucks [ __ ] masturbating to triggers
could be all about Jim and the police
reliant on their guns or this is all
just filler to sound more you know rap
like ain't no Confessor so Buster you
better just shut the [ __ ] up try to
listen and learn check that ego this
could be about Frank or Jimmy or Earl
all have power and Egos and like to talk
Frank never really confesses anything so
that could be what Dixon means by no
Confessor whereas Jimmy and Earl do
confess but maybe Dixon is saying the
severity of their crimes makes the
confession a waste of breath come off it
I'm the prophet the professor I'ma teach
about the worm who eventually turned to
catch wreck with the neck of a long time
oppressor when he says I'm the prophet
he means he himself Dixon is the prophet
but the professor line makes me think he
is also Stanley both Dixon and Stanley
seem to be enlightened in full
understanding of what's happening in the
story when he says that he'll teach you
about the worm he's talking about the
crime in the film
the crime that Jim should be trying to
solve but ignores the worm is the man
who committed the murders at Dixon's
mother's house it was cut from the movie
but supposedly the worm is revealed to
be Dixon's father there's a common theme
between Stanley and Frank and Claudia
all standing up to their abusive fathers
my guess is that in Dixon's cut
storyline if it were in the movie he
would have used the gun he stole from
Officer Jim to kill the worm being yet
another character to stand up to his
father his long-term oppressor and he's
running from the devil but the dead is
always gaining and if he's worth being
hurt he's worth bringing pain in when
the sunshine don't work the good Lord
bring the rain in running from the Devil
with debt gaining is about Dani Dani is
in debt and also seems to have a little
devil on his shoulder telling him to
lash out of the world for screwing him
over putting him up to uh ridiculous
evil ideas like robbing his boss worth
being hurt worth bringing pain in can be
about either of the old men who are
deservedly suffering by Sunshine not
working he could mean that the people
aren't being enlightened like they
should be they're not understanding the
fact that they have no control so to
make them understand he will have to
bring the rain in he will have to bring
about a storm the frogs Yeah so Dixon
knows a lot on top of knowing the future
and the lives of every major character
in the movie remember he's also the one
who took the gun from Jim and yet
somehow it gets returned by falling from
the sky a simple explanation for this is
that in Magnolia's Universe Dixon is
like an angel he's attached to or or is
God somehow but what I at least think
this means on a deeper level is that
Dixon is an agent of the story itself
and so is his mother like Dixon she
refuses to listen to officer Jim's
commands but she tells him exactly where
to look for the bodies
don't
stop there's nobody in my mother
action by action she Spurs him along in
the plot getting back to uh religious
themes the number 82 is hidden all over
the film this is because in the Bible
Exodus 8 2 reads if you refuse to let
them go I will plague your whole country
with frogs is it making sense
is making a lot of sense I gave you a
[ __ ] chance and a chance over and
over you let me down Donny's wealthy
boss with a safe full of money is named
Solomon the name of the king of Israel
who is said to have had a mine of gold
and the devious old man Donnie talks to
in the bar seems to know something more
yeah you got struck by lightning that
one but you're all right now
so what's the one what
to be a bit too classy for the place and
speaks in only riddles and poetry who
was it that said a man of genius has
seldom been ruined by himself
mind your own
when the Supertramp song Goodbye
Stranger is playing in the bar this man
is shown right as the lyric the devil is
my savior is hurt he seems devilish
shall we drink to that which matches up
with Dixon's line in his rap song
things go round and round don't they
do they do like I said before it's as if
some of the characters exist to do the
screenwriter's bidding which I guess is
what all characters do when you think
about it but with this film it's more
apparent and and it's for a purpose the
film is giving us signals in every shot
every line every character see this is
the scene of the movie where you help me
out I could go through it and find
countless examples I could find so much
evidence for this theme but this video
is already long enough but there there
is one more thing that I want to talk
about one more character and that's Phil
the nurse even though Phil is considered
a main character he's different than all
the other main characters he doesn't
really have a backstory or really any
drama at all in his own life like the
others do it's like he doesn't have his
own life or own identity Phil is only
there to be a caretaker a helper in this
interview Philip Seymour Hoffman has
asked what he found attract active about
the character of Phil what what he liked
about the character partially joking but
also not this was his answer because his
outfit is so cool uh
because his hair is not cut just right
it's a little too long did you know what
it's sad
um
uh he flosses
um put attracting Phil farmer was that
he's really really really nice guy and
that he has
a moral structure that is beyond the
Call of Duty that is beyond what most
people while it's not explicit I see the
character of Phil possibly being similar
to Dixon as in he does whatever is
necessary to progress the story Linda
couldn't bear to be the one to give Earl
the morphine she didn't want to
euthanize him she couldn't play God but
it's Phil's job to play God so he ends
up giving her all the morphine killing
him and remember he also kills the dog
that Phil also makes all the connections
to unite Frank and Earl Phil makes
massive decisions that further the plot
far more often than any of the other
main characters maybe Phil is kind of
like an angel character as well with his
blonde hair and cherub face he
definitely looks Angelic or maybe I just
think this because of how much I love
Philip Seymour Hoffman and and also wow
like Phil is played by a guy named Phil
I mean the part was written specifically
for Philip Seymour Hoffman so there's no
way this is a coincidence maybe this
plays into the whole theme of
self-awareness as well who knows also
maybe this fits into the theme of
blurring the line or maybe it doesn't
but Paul Thomas Anderson's father died
of lung cancer in 1997. his name was
Ernie and he was a TV personality
involved in show business in general
there was so much happening in my life
at the time and I was just going through
so much
personal things you know that that Ernie
Earl lung cancer and then in an
interview Hoffman accidentally makes
this slip up I think you know what Phil
is showing up at work at Earl Anderson's
house you know um Earl partridge's house
you got to cut the Anderson out we're
all parts of his house and uh family's
just endless juicy ammunition for great
stories you know they're never going to
let you down for for good drama or or
good comedy so yeah maybe this film is
more autobiographical than we think
[Music]
okay so to summarize every main
character except Phil has past traumas
and past mistakes that puppet the pain
of the present
that uh that sentence had too many P's
maybe maybe you'll think it was poetic
and think highly of me or or maybe
you'll judge me and say it's bad writing
I'd like you to like it but uh how you
feel about my writing isn't up to me and
and honestly it isn't up to you either
you don't choose what foods you like you
don't choose what people you love you
don't choose anything things happen to
you and they change you it's all just
cause and effect the one and only tool
of an uncaring Universe the rules of the
universe you know you know nature
personified our author of cause and
effect he doesn't like to make himself
known he isn't flashy he doesn't turn
water into wine and he doesn't make it
rain frogs he doesn't draw attention to
himself at least not most of the time
but this is good because it gives us the
feeling of being behind the wheel and
the illusion works for most of us
because most of us haven't been struck
by lightning most of us haven't won the
lottery most of us are never given a
reason to think that the Universe has a
strong opinion of us one way or the
other it's rare to feel like the cosmic
Spotlight is on us but in reality it's
always on us it's just easy to forget
this in the moments when it isn't
raining frogs but it's always raining
frogs everything is raining frogs
raining frogs decided your genes your
environment your worst fears and your
happiest memories it's all out of
control all of it every single thing is
just one of those things but this still
leads back to the same question the
question at the heart of so many
beautiful pieces of art like this movie
probably because it's the question at
the heart of Consciousness itself is it
all the stream of random freak
occurrences or is it planned out I think
they're one and the same but it really
doesn't matter if it's gonna rain it's
gonna rain maybe it'll be water maybe
it'll be frogs either way you have no
say in the matter if you can accept this
then you will be happier and more
Carefree than you ever thought possible
you'll be more thankful for gifts and
less bothered by Misfortune it is what
it is what happened happened and it
happened in the one and only way it ever
could have it's done there's no changing
it
and it's not going to stop
hey thanks for watching hopefully uh
hopefully some of this made uh some
sense anyway like And subscribe and uh
share the video you know I post a video
I get like 50 views it's it's getting
difficult to uh you know to to want to
keep trying you know but I will because
uh the the few views and the few you
know nice comments that I do get they uh
it makes it worth it so thank you bye
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
Martyrs ending finally SOLVED!!! | Deep analysis and multiple theories. 💀
Teen Beach Movie has a MASSIVE plot problem...(Conspiracy Theory)
"Loving in Solitude" - An essay on Lost In Translation
The Surprising Spiritual Lessons of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"
Rocky (1976) - Movie Review
Arrival Explained
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)