Blu-ray Movie Reviews

"Magnolia" is a mosaic of American life woven through a series of comic poignant vignettes. Through a collusion of coincidence, chance, human action, shared media, past history and divine intervention, nine people will weave and warp through each other's lives on a day that builds to an unforgettable climax. Some will seek forgiveness, others escape. Some will mend frayed bonds, others will be exposed.

P.T. Anderson’s filmography is one of the best out there for newer directors and many consider this his early masterpiece. Honestly, I think all his films have been superb. Before “Crash” delivered a dramatic crossroads piece Magnolia’s intersecting storylines weaved together a fabulous array of deep character work that is flawlessly performed by some of the best talent in Hollywood. The film is a sprawling epic of character that is just as effective with multiple viewings.

New Line delivers a great looking Blu-ray presentation without any of the unnecessary cleanup work that we’ve seen plague a lot of their other catalog titles. The image has a very film-like look and retains the fine film grain and small object detail of a great print. I did notice some very minor ringing on occasion, but nothing objectionable. Color and contrast are solid and image depth is satisfying. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and like all of Anderson’s films, has a dazzling collection of songs sprinkled throughout. The score is effective and the soundstage offers a convincing sense of ambiance and dynamics.

Extras look largely the same as the previous DVD release and include a video diary of the production, the mock seminar with Cruise’s infamous T.J. Mackey character, a music video and some trailers.

You can’t go wrong with any of P.T. Anderson’s films and I hope we’ll see Hard Eight and Punch Drunk Love make a Blu-ray debut soon. How can I not recommend this gem!