I wouldn't say the film is "about" that or any one thing specifically, just that it fails hard at some of the things it attempts to explore.

Fuck yeah, Jurassic Park!

Fuck yeah, Jurassic Park!

@avclub-e6de69552960e2a2af8c824b52374b0e:disqus Magnolia isn't saying that everything happens for a reason. Quite the opposite, in fact. Although it's stronger for not truly embracing one point of view. But yeah, PTA is definitely not having the film be an argument for "everything happens for a reason."

@avclub-e6de69552960e2a2af8c824b52374b0e:disqus Magnolia isn't saying that everything happens for a reason. Quite the opposite, in fact. Although it's stronger for not truly embracing one point of view. But yeah, PTA is definitely not having the film be an argument for "everything happens for a reason."

I can definitely see this, as the plastic bag video is shown to us as a recording. There is already a layer of remove. To ignore the stylistic aspects of the film is probably what makes people consider it wholly pretentious.

I can definitely see this, as the plastic bag video is shown to us as a recording. There is already a layer of remove. To ignore the stylistic aspects of the film is probably what makes people consider it wholly pretentious.

No, I agree. It fails to be nuanced. But you can tell that Smith is straining to accomplish that.

No, I agree. It fails to be nuanced. But you can tell that Smith is straining to accomplish that.

Excellent comment. Unfortunately for this film, I feel like Smith mostly flubs this in his mise-en-scene.

Excellent comment. Unfortunately for this film, I feel like Smith mostly flubs this in his mise-en-scene.

Yeah, I can't really seeing it being a film to intensely dislike. Only if people see the need to overstate their dislike to match how it is generally seen as overrated. Definitely less than the sum of its phenomenal parts.

Yeah, I can't really seeing it being a film to intensely dislike. Only if people see the need to overstate their dislike to match how it is generally seen as overrated. Definitely less than the sum of its phenomenal parts.

Phil Dyess-Nugent is a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma! And he isn't acting alone.

Phil Dyess-Nugent is a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma! And he isn't acting alone.

Chasing Amy isn't very skillfully directed but I feel like it attempts to tackle bisexuality in a nuanced way. Although I do have some reservations about it.

Chasing Amy isn't very skillfully directed but I feel like it attempts to tackle bisexuality in a nuanced way. Although I do have some reservations about it.

Me too! Take that, gendered expectations!

Me too! Take that, gendered expectations!

Jurassic Park  is a much better film about the Holocaust. Seriously though. I'm not trying to make some kind of cheap joke. And I agree with everything you said about Schindler's List.