MAGNOLIA Explained | Frogs, Songs, And What It All Means

Summary

The 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

00:00

🎬 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.

05:00

🌌 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.

10:11

🧩 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.

15:11

🎲 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.

20:12

🌧 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.

25:12

🎼 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.

30:14

🔮 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.

35:16

🏥 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.

40:17

🌈 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.

Keywords

💡Magnolia

Magnolia is a film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson that serves as the central subject of the video. The film weaves together multiple narratives and explores themes of fate, free will, and the impact of the past on the present. The video discusses how Magnolia is a masterpiece that has been misunderstood by some critics as pretentious, but is actually a profound exploration of human nature and the unpredictability of life.

💡Cosmic Irony

Cosmic irony is a concept used in storytelling where a higher power, such as fate or a personification of the universe's rules, intervenes to create an ironic situation. In the context of the video, cosmic irony is linked to the film's ending, where frogs rain down from the sky, symbolizing the characters' lack of control over their lives. The video uses this concept to analyze the film's philosophical underpinnings and the characters' acceptance of their circumstances.

💡Fate and Chance

Fate and chance are philosophical concepts debated throughout the video and the film. They represent the struggle between believing in a predetermined future versus random, uncontrolled events. The video discusses how the film Magnolia explores this debate, showing characters who are victims of their pasts and the consequences of their actions, suggesting that their lives are governed by forces beyond their control.

💡Child Abuse

Child abuse is a significant theme in the film Magnolia, as it is shown to have long-lasting effects on the characters' lives. The video explains how the power of the past, particularly through child abuse, shapes the characters' present circumstances and their ability to reconcile with their past. It is depicted as a form of trauma that influences the characters' identities and life choices.

💡Regret

Regret is a powerful tool for moving forward, as discussed in the video. It is portrayed in the film as something that characters must embrace and accept as part of their past. The video uses the film's narrative to illustrate how characters grapple with their regrets, which are often the result of past actions that have led to their current predicaments.

💡Control

The concept of control is explored in the video through the character of Frank, who preaches a philosophy of self-determination and rejecting the influence of one's past. The video contrasts this with the film's overarching message that life is beyond our control, suggesting that attempts to exert control are ultimately futile and that acceptance is more beneficial.

💡Self-Awareness

Self-awareness in the context of the video refers to the film's meta-cinematic approach, where characters seem to be aware of their roles in the narrative. The video points out moments in the film where characters break the fourth wall or act as if they are in a TV show, suggesting that the film is aware of its own artificiality and uses this to convey its themes.

💡Unpredictability of Life

The unpredictability of life is a core theme in the video's discussion of Magnolia. It is highlighted by the film's fantastical elements, such as the rain of frogs, which serve to illustrate that life often throws unexpected events at us. The video suggests that the film encourages the audience to accept this unpredictability and lack of control as a part of existence.

💡Anthropological

The term anthropological is used in the video to suggest that the film's themes are not just personal or familial but also relate to human nature and societal structures. The video implies that the damage caused by the past, as depicted in the film, has broader implications for understanding human behavior and the impact of environment and upbringing on individuals.

💡Narrative

The narrative of the film Magnolia is dissected in the video, which discusses how the film tells its story through interconnected character arcs and unexpected events. The video emphasizes the film's non-linear storytelling and how it uses narrative techniques to explore its themes, such as the use of coincidence and the intervention of cosmic irony.

💡Closure

Closure is a concept that the video relates to the characters' journeys in the film. It refers to the resolution or understanding that characters seek regarding their pasts and the events that have shaped them. The video discusses how the film's unconventional ending provides a form of closure for the characters, allowing them to confront their pasts and move forward.

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