Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by john dem (A) on November 04, 2001 at 19:45:17

In Reply to: So you KNOW what the frogs mean? posted by Corndog71 on November 04, 2001 at 18:56:17:

I have to disagree, oh Mutt of Maize,

Magnolia stands as one of the most emotionally honest films to come out of Hollywood. Each shot was well crafted- a joy to watch a director use the lens rather than just shoot what the storyboard says- as most directors just do. I did not find it dreary in the least (and the acting was terrific- who'd have thought Cruise was so good)- it moved along at good pace and Anderson was not scared to play with the medium- the characters singing, the allegorical quiz show, the frogs from the sky. The frogs are just a device- a funny variation on the deux ex machina used in ancient plays. That night was a defining moment in the lives of the characters- and the frogs were there to prove it. Life is like that sometimes- frogs just happen.