Paul Thomas Anderson

[mrbellamy 6,270]

I'm with Cremers that Punch-Drunk Love seems to resonate with me most as I go along, emotionally and aesthetically, which isn't how I used to feel. I've rewatched Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and There Will Be Blood in the last few years and I think all are still pretty great but Boogie Nights held up for me as the most enjoyable from those. I haven't rewatched Hard Eight/Sydney since seeing it but would like to do so at some point, don't remember it very well except for how some of the camerawork and staging in the casino scenes are heavy on Scorsese and anticipated Boogie Nights and Magnolia, stylistically. 

 

I think his last three are excellent, thoughtful films but not anything I would pop in casually, personally, and I feel like he's losing something in that way because he really can be such a showman. I think about some of his best setpieces like the deal gone wrong in Boogie Nights, the frogs in Magnolia, the derrick fire in There Will Be Blood and what a great action/suspense/spectacle director he could be if he wanted. He has those chops and he's become more contained but still one of a kind. I know whatever he does will be pretty much unlike anything else, especially now that he's shedding/obscuring his influences.

 

I'm glad I read Inherent Vice before seeing the movie because I think I would have been lost. It's the only Pynchon I've read but I remember as an adaptation feeling like it was a good example of a movie evoking the sensibility, vibe, ethos of its novel. Binging PTA interviews at the time also helped me kinda get the gist of what the movie was doing. But on a certain level I feel like if it's not really communicating that on its own, devoid of context, then maybe it doesn't work as it should. That said there are beautiful standalone sequences, this one chief among them.

 

 

I remember his interview on Marc Maron's WTF podcast at the time distilled it pretty well. The whole thing is a great listen, by the way, going through his life and career in a really casual and fun conversation, but I always think of a couple of those exchanges when considering the "point" of Inherent Vice. 

 

 

Quote

Marc Maron: Well, what's this movie about?

 

PTA: It's about Pynchon.

 

Maron: That's interesting. It is about him.

 

PTA: Yeah. I mean, that's the first thing that pops into my mind. And then followed really quick, right behind that, it's about the ex old lady that you may have, or I may have, or we all may have who does it for you. Who still kind of has you wrapped around her finger. That thing, you know, that you can never shake.

 

Maron: It certainly lands there at the end after quite a journey but in that process, though, what I started to realize...cause I took to that movie quickly and I liked it. I liked the language of it. I liked the era of it. I liked that you're dealing with a guy that knows that terrain, that invented that type of writing, that has the sort of gravitas as a voice to play with those levels of politics and culture and deal with stuff like the politics of heroin, the politics of late 60s subversion, the politics of the provocateur, the guy who has to sell himself out to kick a habit. I liked all that language. I like the way heroin was talked about. I like the sort of weird transition from that time when the hippies took over the culture and the resistance of the old guard to get on line, all coming through that one character Josh Brolin plays. And he's clearly a comedic character that is crazy! And doesn't even understand why he's crazy. You know, and the thing I liked about this movie is it weaves in and out of hallucinatory feeling. What is real, what isn't real, and does it matter, ultimately. Did you feel that?

 

PTA: Yeah, I did. I felt that way when I read the book, for sure. And then tried to do that in the movie...I mean, I'm not a stoner, I don't really get stoned but that kind of thinking that you can do in that state where you do feel like your mind opens up and you're actually seeing things a little bit clearer but that right around the corner, you are in a full-blown, paranoid flip-out.

 

Maron: Right, well that was that time. That was Nixon. You felt that from the book?

 

PTA: Yeah and I feel it from people that were there. It's funny, there's a little bit of this when you were talking to Chrissie Hynde who you mentioned. Any shift is always good, from smoking dope to suddenly look around and there's heroin on the streets and it's like "Man, this is not gonna end good. This is not gonna end well." Again, a loss of a certain type of innocence that just seems to be good fertile ground for a story and that seemed to be his preoccupation. When everything just starts to get dark, when it was going along so well. The thing about the book that I like so much and I hope we got a little bit in there is just how painful that still is, obviously, to him as a writer. You'd be 70-something years old and look back, you can write about anything but he's still looking back like "It slipped away."

 

Maron: "They took something from us. Something got taken."

 

PTA: Yeah, and it doesn't feel good still.

 

Quote

Maron: I think you really nailed it. And I don't think it was an easy thing because you're dealing with these layers of consciousness, you're dealing with going in and out of reality, not reality. Arguably the entire film, outside of the bookends, could be just not real and it doesn't matter. But you're playing with that whole Pynchon world of who's on whose side, who's in charge, what's the power structure, who's got the secret keys, who knows what about who, and you go through all these doors and when you finally see the one dude that is supposed to be the thing we're looking for...you don't even give a shit!

 

PTA: [laughs] That's right. You gotta get out stumping for this film, you talk about it better than I do. And that's Pynchon, man! I definitely feel good here because I didn't come up with that stuff, I just ushered it into the movie theaters. 

 

[A24 4,323]

9 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

I haven't rewatched Hard Eight/Sydney since seeing it but would like to do so at some point, don't remember it very well except for how some of the camerawork and staging in the casino scenes are heavy on Scorsese and anticipated Boogie Nights and Magnolia, stylistically. 

 

Hard Eight and Boogie Nights are definitely Scorsese-like, however, it is said that Magnolia is a homage to Altman.

 

But you're right, PTA's influences are becoming less and less obvious.

[Thor 7,451]

1 minute ago, AC1 said:

 it is said that Magnolia is a homage to Altman.

 

Yes, fairly obviously so.

[mrbellamy 6,270]

Yeah but there’s still a lot of Marty in there, and plenty of Altman influence in Boogie Nights as well. I always think of them as sister films, plus with all those actors in common.

[A24 4,323]

I don't easily connect to Altman except for ...

 

 

This movie was a hypnotizing trip for me.

[Thor 7,451]

Altman is great. IMAGES remains my favourite film, by far, even if it's a variation of Polanski's REPULSION.

[crocodile 7,973]

My list.

1. There Will Be Blood
2. Phantom Thread
3. Magnolia
4. Boogie Nights
5. The Master
6. Inherent Vice

I haven't seen Punch Drunk Love and Hard Eight. Either of the first two could be the best really. 3 and 4 are almost equal as well.

 

Karol

[KK 3,307]

Alright, I'll play.

 

1. There Will Be Blood

2. Magnolia/The Master

3. Punch-Drunk Love

4. Phantom Thread

5. Boogie Nights

6. Inherent Vice

 

I haven't seen Hard Eight.

[Romão 2,274]

1 - There Will Be Blood

2 - Phantom Thread

3 - Boogie Nights

4 - Punch Drunk Love

5 - Magnolia

6 - The Master

 

Those are all I have seen from him. I did like all of them, albeit in varying degrees

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

I haven't seen Boogie Nights and Magnolia. The only one that didn't quite work for me is The Master. I'd be hard pressed to tell you what the story of that movie is?

 

The rest are superb.

 

1. Inherent Vice

2. Punch Drunk Love

3. There Will Be Blood

4. Phantom Thread

5. The Master

 

An absolutely extraordinary filmmaker.

[KK 3,307]

18 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said:

I haven't seen Boogie Nights and Magnolia. The only one that didn't quite work for me is The Master. I'd be hard pressed to tell you what the story of that movie is?

 

It's an expansive, multi-layered film but the premise is pretty simple. Dog meets Master. Master tries to tame Dog. Master ultimately fails. Dog cannot be tamed.

 

It's basically about the relationship between a man who's not interested in answers and a man who's convinced he has them all.

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

1 hour ago, KK said:

 

It's an expansive, multi-layered film but the premise is pretty simple. Dog meets Master. Master tries to tame Dog. Master ultimately fails. Dog cannot be tamed.

 

It's basically about the relationship between a man who's not interested in answers and a man who's convinced he has them all.

 

That's what right? It is a character piece. Doesn't really tell a story. Kinda just observes these characters.

[KK 3,307]

I mean, that is the story, isn't it?

 

But yes, it is more of a character piece than one driven by a more robust Hollywood sense of narrative. But that's also what gives the film that rich novel-like quality I'm drawn to. It's one of those movies where you discover new pages with each viewing.

 

On 9/5/2020 at 2:02 AM, mrbellamy said:

I think his last three are excellent, thoughtful films but not anything I would pop in casually, personally, and I feel like he's losing something in that way because he really can be such a showman. I think about some of his best setpieces like the deal gone wrong in Boogie Nights, the frogs in Magnolia, the derrick fire in There Will Be Blood and what a great action/suspense/spectacle director he could be if he wanted. He has those chops and he's become more contained but still one of a kind. I know whatever he does will be pretty much unlike anything else, especially now that he's shedding/obscuring his influences.

 

I think I like that PTA has embraced that direction with his career. Boogie Nights, Magnolia, the early Scorsese riffs aren't going anywhere...and it would have been a fun but ultimately stagnant career if those were the only kind of films PTA ended up making. I don't think he's losing anything so much as he's enriching his own language and tapping into something that reflects his present (changing) self.

 

Also cheers for the interview excerpts mate! I'd definitely like to revisit Inherent Vice and see how it plays now.

 

On 9/5/2020 at 11:09 AM, AC1 said:

But you're right, PTA's influences are becoming less and less obvious.

 

Isn't that a good thing?

[bruce marshall 1,314]

On 9/3/2020 at 12:55 AM, Thor said:

....I thought THE MASTER was absolutely brilliant. Just to show how much up and down he's been over his last three movies.

 

 

Didn't you say you didn't care for it in an older post?

You were right the first time!😁

[Thor 7,451]

4 hours ago, bruce marshall said:

Didn't you say you didn't care for it in an older post?

You were right the first time!😁

 

Did I? If so, I must have done a 180. Or perhaps you're thinking of INHERENT VICE. I've been very vocal in my dislike of that.

 

[Edit: Consulting my top list of 2013 (because it was a 2013 film in Norway, not 2012), I notice that THE MASTER is among the honourable mentions, i.e. just barely outside the top 20. Which is high, considering I watch hundreds of new movies every year -- but today, I would probably rank it as high as within the top 10]

[A24 4,323]

6 hours ago, KK said:

Isn't that a good thing?

 

Only it it leads to better movies. 

[Smeltington 1,436]

1. The Master

2. There Will Be Blood

3. Everything else

4. Inherent Vice

 

The Master is unbelievable, I doubt he'll ever top that one, and the lead actors absolutely crush it. This movie really speaks to me.

 

Haven't seen Hard Eight yet. Probably should watch Thread and Vice again. Agree that it's best he moved on from his early approach where his influences were worn a bit too much on his sleeve. And it's nice to see the love for Punch Drunk Love here, it might be the "best of the rest" for me. Funny how Sandler came back all these years later and made Uncut Gems, and that was a knockout as well.

[bruce marshall 1,314]

Iirc I honored Joaquin Phoenix with the coveted " Worst Actor" award that year.

On 3/30/2017 at 2:36 PM, Thor said:

PTA Anderson is very hit and miss for me. I hated INHERENT VICE, and didn't think THE MASTER was good as everyone said it was...

 

 

 

[mrbellamy 6,270]

For The Master?? 

[bruce marshall 1,314]

19 minutes ago, mrbellamy said:

For The Master?? 

Worst film AND worst actor nominees ( iirc TO THE WONDER or LEZ MIZ ' won')

Actually , iirc THE MASTER was a double. 'winner'

On 9/7/2020 at 7:18 AM, Smeltington said:

 

 

The Master is unbelievable, I doubt he'll ever top that one, and the lead actors absolutely crush it....

😵

Funny how Sandler came back all these years later and made Uncut Gems, and that was a knockout as well.

 

Please , stay six feet away from me!

[Smeltington 1,436]

15 minutes ago, bruce marshall said:

Please , stay six feet away from me!

 

Not a problem!

[mrbellamy 6,270]

One year later, his new movie now has an official title

 

 

The real name of an old California record store. Trailer had a surprise debut in LA, Bradley Cooper is confirmed to be playing Jon Peters as previously speculated. Sean Penn, Maya Rudolph, and Tom Waits are supposedly in this.

[Smeltington 1,436]

I'm not sure if it's possible for a movie called Licorice Pizza to be good, but I love PTA so I hope he beats the odds.

[mrbellamy 6,270]

I can't decide if it's better or worse than "Soggy Bottom"

[Naïve Old Fart 9,488]

On 9/5/2020 at 4:24 PM, AC1 said:

I don't easily connect to Altman except for ...

This movie was a hypnotizing trip for me.

Wha'?! 

No love for M*A*S*H*, NASHVILLE, THE PLAYER, SHORT CUTS, THE LONG GOODBYE? Sheesh kebabs!

[A24 4,323]

Those are movies driven by verbal wit. I tend to lean more towards his introspective films. 

[Naïve Old Fart 9,488]

You mean films such as DR. T. AND THE WOMEN, and PRET À PORTER 

[mrbellamy 6,270]

No big surprise but Jonny G tweeted (since deleted) that he had minimal involvement this time around

 

[A24 4,323]

Greenwood doesn't seem like the comedy type anyway.

[Glóin the Dark 1,218]

No official reviews for Licorice Pizza out yet (as far as I know) but reactions on social media are pouring out now and the film appears to be going down well with those who've seen it.

 

It seems to be described as a mixture of Once upon a Time...in Hollywood, Boogie Nights / Punch-drunk Love, Nashville, American Graffiti / Dazed and Confused, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Rushmore / Moonrise Kingdom and The Wages of Fear.

[Thor 7,451]

As long as people don't reference INHERENT VICE. I hated that movie.

[Edmilson 7,367]

I'm not a fan of Inherent Vice either. I tried watching it and I felt it was extremely tedious and boring. I think PTA's intention was to make a movie only people who were stoned could appreciate.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Yet another movie about teens in the 70s.  No thanks.  I'm still waiting on the Dazed and Confused for my generation.  I want to see on-screen overlays of AIM chats dammit!

[Glóin the Dark 1,218]

I love it [Inherent Vice], though not quite as much as The Master or Phantom Thread.

[KK 3,307]

Very much excited about this one, as it seems to boast the warmth of 90s PTA.

 

Here's a great interview piece with Anderson on the new film:

https://variety.com/2021/film/features/paul-thomas-anderson-licorice-pizza-alana-haim-cooper-hoffman-1235107853/

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I love Magnolia but "warmth" is not the word that comes to mind for describing that or any other PTA movie.

[KK 3,307]

Well, "warmth" is how I'm describing the more extroverted emotional quality of his characters and narratives pre-There Will Be Blood. Where everyone wears their hearts on their sleeves.

 

Not that that stylistic change is a bad thing at all (since it gave us some of his best films), but it'll be a refreshing change of pace for him.

[A24 4,323]

1 hour ago, Thor said:

As long as people don't reference INHERENT VICE. I hated that movie.

 

We finally agree on something, Thor. I tried to watch that movie 3 times but I just can't. 

 

But lets quickly disagree again ... My second least favorite PTA movie is The Master.

 

Well? 

 

 

2 hours ago, Glóin the Dark said:

No official reviews for Licorice Pizza out yet (as far as I know) but reactions on social media are pouring out now and the film appears to be going down well with those who've seen it.

 

It seems to be described as a mixture of Once upon a Time...in Hollywood, Boogie Nights / Punch-drunk Love,  American Graffiti  ... and The Wages of Fear.

 

Sounds like my kind of movie ...

 

But I don't see how it can be both Once Upon A Time and The Wages Of Fear. 

[Glóin the Dark 1,218]

Pay no attention to the grumpy man above. The last film he liked was Le Château de ma mère in 1990.

 

6 minutes ago, AC1 said:

But I don't see how it can't be both Once Upon A Time and The Wages Of Fear. 

 

I've seen some references to The Wages of Fear (and Friedkin's remake) but haven't looked for any spoilery details. I put it on the list mainly as a joke...

[A24 4,323]

That's not true, but I find it amazing that you know that I indeed love that movie, and La Gloire De Mon Père, of course.

 

I even love their soundtracks! 

[Glóin the Dark 1,218]

32 minutes ago, AC1 said:

...I find it amazing that you know that I indeed love that movie...

 

Probably because I've barely seen any references to those films for the past couple of decades, with the exception of your posts about them.

 

32 minutes ago, AC1 said:

I even love their soundtracks! 

 

I've no memory of the soundtracks at all. In fact, I don't think I've seen either of the films since the first half of the 1990s. I wonder how well they hold up after thirty years...

[Thor 7,451]

56 minutes ago, AC1 said:

We finally agree on something, Thor. I tried to watch that movie 3 times but I just can't. 

 

But lets quickly disagree again ... My second least favorite PTA movie is The Master.

 

Well, it made it to my "honourable mention" list of 2013 (which was when it premiered in Norway). Which means I liked it, but not as much as my colleagues. So somewhere between agree/disagree, I suppose.

[A24 4,323]

28 minutes ago, Glóin the Dark said:

I've no memory of the soundtracks at all. In fact, I don't think I've seen either of the films since the first half of the 1990s. I wonder how well they hold up after thirty years...

 

Timeless, of course. 

[KK 3,307]

1 hour ago, AC1 said:

But lets quickly disagree again ... My second least favorite PTA movie is The Master.

 

Not sure if it's necessarily my favourite, but it's possibly his best film, imo.

[A24 4,323]

54 minutes ago, KK said:

 

Not sure if it's necessarily my favourite, but it's possibly his best film, imo.

 

For me that would be Punch-Drunk Love, but I still have to watch There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread for a second time. I mention this because I know one viewing isn't enough to form a good opinion on PTA's movies. I liked Magnolia a lot more the second time around. The Master doesn't appeal to me (mostly because of the second half) but I can watch it. I dunno, maybe I'm just tired of the angriness in his movies. 

[Thor 7,451]

I have it a bit with Anderson as I do Fincher -- absolutely love their movies up to a certain point, then after that it's less impressive (or hit and miss, at best). For Fincher, it's up to and including PANIC ROOM, for Anderson it's up to and including THERE WILL BE BLOOD.

[mrbellamy 6,270]

22 hours ago, AC1 said:

But I don't see how it can be both Once Upon A Time and The Wages Of Fear. 

 

From what I've read that just seems to be referring to one truck-related sequence in particular. 

 

The line I keep seeing about this is people saying it's the kind of movie that reminds them why they love movies. 

[Glóin the Dark 1,218]

Full reviews of Licorice Pizza are being published now (e.g. Bradshaw, Collin, Chang, Ehrlich, Duralde) and they're as positive as the social media buzz has been.

[A24 4,323]

They say it's warm.

[Glóin the Dark 1,218]

Hopefully it will have other merits to compensate for that!