Magnolia Opening - Chance

[DonRMB]

2:57 Anyone knows how they did that shot? The camera goes from one building to the next one like it's flying or something..

[quidseeker]

@DonRMB They probably used a dolly crane.

[viniciusb]

@DonRMB Well noticed, it must have been a really large jib.

[viniciusb]

@DonRMB Nice catch, it must have been a really large jib. I wish there were real making of videos, that showed how they did every scene for a film.

[KristaPrincess]

what movie is this?

[HenriNioto]

I just love this movie. Anderson is the new Stanley Kubrick.

[kalaniman1movies]

wow.

[coltsuperocean10]

The best movie I have seen for 20 years! Totally brilliant!

[aperantogalazio1]

tragic....

[houseofleaves420]

I heard that Paul Thomas Anderson's new film would be called The Master starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Jeremy Renner but I also heard recently that he is also writing an adaptation of Thomas Pynchons novel "Inherent Vice" set to star Robert Downey Jr. So two potential films....cant wait!

[SteezeWizard99]

@houseofleaves420 The Master was not green-lit...too bad it would've been good

[jboxall]

navymuret your comment doesn't make any sense.

[lanegwyn]

It's a cool opening, but what does it have to do with the rest of the movie? Analysis, please?

[jmillzz2]

@lanegwyn It's an examination of coincidences so great that they feel like they were fated to happen. Plus each instance is dealing with death. That's about all you need to know if you've never seen it. Watch the film and enjoy

[kompresor321]

@lanegwyn just watch it, moron

[MikeMJPMUNCH]

"She always threatens me with a gun" LOL

[brazdamnit]

this scene, and all the whole movie, its about the lie that is the bible. This movie make us believe that miracles can happen. But no. It can't happenend. And show how easy is to make someone believe in something.

Amazing.

[SteezeWizard99]

@brazdamnit Wrong.

[brazdamnit]

@SteezeWizard99 tell me what you think then.

[SteezeWizard99]

@brazdamnit I've talked to PTA at a screenwriting convention and he has said it flat out in iterviews, that he had no intetion of any aspect of the movie relating back to the bible; including the raining frogs.

[brazdamnit]

@SteezeWizard99 impossible, there is a guy holding a poster in a scene of the movie. and in this posters have the part of the Bible that talk about frogs.

[SteezeWizard99]

@brazdamnit He found out that it rained frogs in Exodus only after going to another writer's house and having him begin to talk about it; which was after he had written the script and filmed most of the characters' segments. He may have had it filmed and edited in, but he had no intention of it having any significance.

[brazdamnit]

@SteezeWizard99 impossible, there is a guy holding a poster in a scene of the movie. and in this posters have the part of the Bible that talk about frogs.

[navymuret]

@brazdamnit And the usher who takes the Exodus sign away from the audience member IS P.T. ANDERSON!!!! There are so many 8:2 references in the movie that it is no coincidence (there are at least 4 in the opening scene alone--the ivy on the ledge, the number on the plane, the cards the guy wants dealt, the time of the convention. Plus officer Currien's voice mailbox #, the mugshot of Macy, and a host of others throughout the film. Anderson knew what he was doing--he just likes to mess with us!

[brazdamnit]

@navymuret I still think this movie, its somehow atheist type of movie.

Religious audience gonna see this movie and say - What a fuck lie! Rain can't fall from the sky.

- Well this kind of people are being hipocrite and stupid, because they think that the bible its the true thing, its fucking real.

So its a movie that somehow want make the audience challenge ourselves believes.

But i still think its somehow a atheist movie, that want fool people like the Bible did, with amazing fake lies.

[FrankBooth99]

"....this please, cannot be that.."

[MirelaK75]

Love this movie!!! And this start....just amazing!

[theandrewramirez]

Albert Holman, R.I.P...... a man goes out to celebrate his 34 birthday. Gets a little to tipsy and decides not to drive home after a night of fun. While walking on the HWY home he is srtuck by a car. Knowing not to drink and drive, he himself is killed hit by a red car. Nicoll Koval was the women driving that car. And would you know there lives have crossed before at a TGIF. such a crazy world!

[hubbahwah]

\m/

[destroyerdreams]

Para los que se ríen del azar.

[viniciusb]

Ricky Jay has amazing presence.

[soXamor]

Ahhh-mazing

[jessetalako6]

strange ending yet liked it

[guitarzankr]

Whether or not this scene gives away plot points is a pointless question. It's the beginning of the freaking movie. This is what everyone who see's the movie knows by the beginning of the movie!!! Seriously... everyday I lose a little more faith in humanity. Do you think they would put a spoiler in the beginning of the movie? And even if they do put a spoiler in the beginning of the movie, it's not really a spoiler but serves as a unique story telling tool.

[zackhanscom]

haha patton oswald

[motorizedlamb]

3rd man to be hung: #82

Plane #82

Man wants a 2, gets an 8. 82

Awards dinner at 8:20 PM

Vines on the wall spell 82

Argument in room 682

Pretty Clever.

Also, I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts as to why the interesting background music is used throughout the intro. Sounds like chanting during the suicide explanation w/ chalk, and that weird speedy guitar bit during the zoom on to the jumper's feet before he falls.

[blisstits]

@motorizedlamb there's also an 82 shaped rope next to sydney on the roof when he jumps off :)

[spencerhx]

miamiherald.typepad.com/reelin­g/2008/01/the-number-82-i.html­

[funnygames1]

What inaccurate tosh. The Greenberry Hill anecdote was from the 17th century, and, so the story goes, the murder preceded the naming of the place (not the other way round) so NO, this is not an example of the wiliness of chance.

[LiquidSolidRaiden]

I uploaded the entire film.

[arehumansgood]

PAUSE IT AT 3:14.  WHAT DO YOU SEE? 82? HMMMMMM......... IMPORTANT

[americaneyes1]

8:2 everywhere!

[brickbusterful]

8:2

[0poIE]

Hang on has this spoilt the whole film now?

[misterbizzones]

@0poIE actually this opening reveals almost nothing. it's that dense of a film.

[jakespick]

@misterbizzones definitely wrong.

[misterbizzones]

@jakespick yeah yeah yeah blah blah blah it establishes themes yadda yadda, but it doesn't 'spoil' the film in terms of revealing the plot.

[ButchClancyDubstep]

@misterbizzones your an idiot and youre too dense to understand the film, this has everything to do with the movie, the entire film is about chance and coincidence. Watch it again and maybe you'll understand better. This is the single greatest written/directed film in cinema history. P.T.Anderson is absolutely amazing, can't wait for "the master", finally Phillip Seymour Hoffman gets a lead role in a PTA film.

[misterbizzones]

@ButchClancyDubstep Jesus Christ. Some guy asked if this scene spoils the whole film and I said 'no' because it doesn't reveal any PLOT POINTS. I've seen Magnolia like 20 times. Learn to read you cunt.

[cbondi9]

"There are no coincidences. Everything is prepared by nature". I said that. "Indulgence and vanity". They said that, but I wasn't hearing. One of the best American films ever made, a major influence on my life. Another, earlier one was "The Third Man" and then there was "The Harp of Burma". Film has guided my life, which will soon be over. Wonder full films, wonderful life. I thank you all.

[ijustdiditforthelulz]

I've never felt connected to so many people in a film before.

[TamirRawlings]

I feel like I should know who the narrator is but his name escapes me. Does anybody like the show scrubs? Check out Daniel Hill. JANITOR!

[jackleemate]

not the biggest fan of the film itself, although it is good.

but this opening (by far the highlight for me) is just sublime.

[brickbusterful]

8-2,

you're not truly a Magnolia fan if you don't now what "82" really means

[adamocrabtree]

The narrator's voice sounds like the father of the cheerleader on the show Heroes

[adamocrabtree]

who is the narrator

[RingoWinfrey]

Ricky Jay

[jeffbuesing]

@RingoWinfrey Yup - that's Ricky Jay (he's also in the movie)

[GianTheMan91]

also this was agreat movie john c.reily is amazing in it

[GianTheMan91]

why do frogs fall from the sky at the end. does that actually happen if so how the fuck does it happen someone tell me cause i just dont believe it

[Chris154]

experts think that the frogs are sucked into tornadoes, hurricanes etc and they fall once they die down.

[99redballooner]

wasnt the narrator in the episode of the x files "the ammazing maleini"

[jackleemate]

he was indeed.

[ChaoticCorey]

this looks like an awesome movie. I saw something about this on OMGFacts and had to watch the opening. wow, i want to see this really bad now!

[shanberg1]

pretty sure the guy at 0:53 is the janitor from scrubs

[pinkfloydianou2]

This movie made me feel weird. Since I watched this movie I just hate pupular movies and their stupid scripts! Because this movie has a lot of awesome and uncommon things that you'd never see at any typical movie. Now I know what was that weird feeling: IT WAS MY MIND AWAKENING

[sambad4]

nah, film is lame, opening is amazing then deteriorates with some odd good scenes like the tom cruise stuff, but then even that is pegged down by the bad scene afterwards with the interview.

Some alternative films get so wrapped up in their own pretentious ideas, that they just create a meaningless piece of poo, where afterwards I wouldve wished i'd just watched steven seagal in under seige.

[feeelicks]

@sambad4 was this meant to be ironic?

[jross1919]

Odds are 82% of you love this movie!

[Sensadire]

Ya'know, i wish they just show the beginning of movies instead of cheesy trailers, for trailers...i think i'd go to alot more movies

[futuredp]

Daniel Hill = Janitor on Scrubs and First Baseman in Rookie of the Year (Neil Flynn).

[deeperstoat]

It's narrated by Ricky Jay, magician and regular in David Mamet films

[shieldforumJim]

that. He was also an actor in this movie :P

[elnino2424]

who narrated this? sounds very familiar

[KentertainmentShorts]

His name is Ricky Jay. If you watched "The Brother's Bloom" he also narrated the opening of that film too.

[ErniePi]

fave ever film ever ever

[alright9]

Shot amazingly!

[JessPk212]

What is chance?

[Palpatin77]

Craig Hansen blew his fucking brains out!

[Vameon]

Brilliant movie.

[JackMoranRain]

Jokes, i just watched the episode of homicide life on the street where they recreate the suicide/murder story with the guy jumping off the roof. i had seen Magnolia first though so it spoiled it for me cause i knew how it ended lol

[aliasnut4life]

classic

[tuyiname]

this film is just amazing!

[daninnj]

Haha... am I the only one who noticed the car runs the red light during the scene where they're showing how Sydney Barringer fell?

[sb822]

THAT is an eight.

Glad you liked my work.

2:23

[sjknklm]

creepy, very, very creepy.

[nutherefurlong]

Funny thing on the Greenberry Hill story is the date of their execution preceded the naming of the place :)

[xxxtina1010]

this movie. this scene. ROCKS

[dwc432006]

I love this segment, but was disappointed with the rest of it, like fireworks before a picnic, imo.

[VomWyattEarpderBrude]

Many people say that.

But i totally disagree.

The movie is different in its style from the opening, but not less awesome.

Imho, the intro is the key to understand the whole movie, and therefor it fits perfectly into the rest of it.

[No1Maggot]

yes they did the plane that put out the fire picked up some water and in doing so it picked up the scuba diver! listen next time lol

[cinefilo14]

Excuse, but didn't they explain why the scubadiver was on top of that tree? At least that's what I recall... Something about his oxygen tank boosting him like a rocket or something.

Probably I just dreamt it, hahahahaha

[laerem]

"The point" of the movie is that there is no "point". It's not a self-help movie, and it understands that it would have to take a rain of frogs to make people find any enlightenment or closure in real life. No lesser event.

The art here is in the inbetween, not misguiding begging or the end, and it's structured like that for a purpose. And it's also a fuck you to everyone who wants the false closure of a third act. There's no plastic bag floating in the wind here, kids.

[Monty1994]

And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:

Exodus 8:2

[Alteredbeast47]

has to be one of the best starts to a movie

[snaccount2]

@Alteredbeast47

-one -of -s +ever

[laxdanny1]

82 is all over the movie. look for it. Also has to do with the incredible end. (don't wanna spoil it)

[LiveEra2]

You ever stubbed your little toe?

What the fuck reason can you give me for that

[bLacKxxxLoDgE]

Sydney Barringer=Ronald Opus

[collinscomics]

Best movie opening... EVER.

[sorealitty]

one of the best of movies too..

[Schismorz]

fuckin true lol

[ga512]

@collinscomics That's SO true!

[RockBottomRiser21]

I'll never tire of that narrator's voice.

[dannydinosaur73]

That is Ricky Jay, character actor and magician extraordinare. He's in the movie as one of the producers on the "What Do Kids Know?" show, but he has also been in many of David Mamet's films and more recently, The Prestige.

[kristie1713]

Ricky Jay also acted in an episode of The X-Files.

[kingsod]

Great film - but what did it all mean?

[A2thedouble]

strange things happen

[sorealitty]

for a reason

[nowrongway19]

after i watched this all i wanted was phillip seymour hoffman in my mouth.

[insertclevername14]

wow this movie looks fantastic

[Americanluvunit]

One of the best collection of stories ever.

[fmKUBRICK]

I love this movie

paul rulez!

[Wysefunction]

hehe 82 everywhere

The hanged man

the plane ( 82 on the side )

blackjack ( I need a 2 draws an 8 )

and ofcourse the 82% chance of rain

[Elliotspeck]

Also on the ledge in the Sydney Barringer scene, at 3:09.

[248465]

Fun fact:The actor who plays Stanley Berry plays the janitor on Scrubs

[toypajns182]

I think it's Daniel Hill...

[MrCruZ1992]

is it the same guy who play henry on TWBB ?

[wikum3]

This film is unlike any other, and the intro tells you that right away.

[rethwix]

Actually the film is very similar to Robert Altman's Short Cuts (1993). Robert Altman is one of Paul Thomas Anderson's favourite directors and this could be a homage to Short Cuts.

[TwiztedDezign]

I love this movie. One of the best ever.

[makienxhemmiktar]

and yet not many people know about it! i love the opening...it sets us up for the ending...

[SCiDT85]

Seriously one of the best intros if not the best intro to a movie ever.

[gerrybutt]

Along With Planet Terror & Blade

[SCiDT85]

I'll be sure to check that out!

[bmtimv]

probably one of the bester intros ive seen

[movieposterboy]

If you look at the 3rd legend wer the boy jumps you can see a 2 and an 8 right next to him it looks like some bits of wire. Its to his left

[1337ballin]

Love this movie. PTA's best, imo.

[Tepi76]

8 and 2 everywhere - LMAO

[donkeystar555]

Wow ! Your right... I didn't notice.

1:58 - number of the hydroplane

2:19 - the man asks for a 2, but he gets a 8

2:46 - the hour : 8.20 PM

3:09 - next to the boy

freaky...

[flavioredytb]

it is a reference to a bible passage

Exodus 8:2 - If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.

[GerritoZz]

0:30 The prisonior's number ;)

[MeisterLeuchte]

yeah. when i first saw the scene with sidney i laughed my ass off. ;)

[mayicris2004]

one of the more interesting and more memorable opening scene of any movie i've seen so far :)