I think he's got serious directorial chops, but his writing usually just isn't compelling.  I think about 70% of MAGNOLIA is fantastic which is enough, and THERE WILL BE BLOOD is superb.  THE MASTER suffers not only because the characters are unlikable (The Master even admits to Quell that only he likes the guy, and…

BABE (the pig, not the John Goodman movie)
THE BEAR
HAIL, THE CONQUERING HERO
DEFENDING YOUR LIFE
SUGAR

BABE (the pig, not the John Goodman movie)
THE BEAR
HAIL, THE CONQUERING HERO
DEFENDING YOUR LIFE
SUGAR

Obviously, there will be a lot of omissions, but here I go:

Obviously, there will be a lot of omissions, but here I go:

Fiver's LET IT ALL FALL DOWN is really good, and kinda shoegazey.  

Fiver's LET IT ALL FALL DOWN is really good, and kinda shoegazey.  

Man, if time travel could get involved, Dick Van Dyke might've been fantastic as Joker.*

Man, if time travel could get involved, Dick Van Dyke might've been fantastic as Joker.*

I have very fond memories of Robert Hazard's "Blowin' in the Wind."  Hazard is the guy who also wrote "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

I have very fond memories of Robert Hazard's "Blowin' in the Wind."  Hazard is the guy who also wrote "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

I'm not crazy about labels, but here goes:

I'm not crazy about labels, but here goes:

For what it's worth, his character is generally a punching bag, and not in a "Tom-in-MILLER'S CROSSING way" good.  So it might help to see him in a role where he backs down a lot (and does a very fine job).

For what it's worth, his character is generally a punching bag, and not in a "Tom-in-MILLER'S CROSSING way" good.  So it might help to see him in a role where he backs down a lot (and does a very fine job).

…by the by, why doesn't BIRDY come up in discussions of classic or cult movies?  That film is amazing.

…by the by, why doesn't BIRDY come up in discussions of classic or cult movies?  That film is amazing.

Mauls.

Mauls.

I read somewhere that Sinatra instructed the musicians to play as quietly as they could while still producing sound from their instruments.