I went to see Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia last week upon hearing that it was the best ensamble cast since Glengarry Glen Ross (1992). I was not disappointed. I had an idea in my head that I would be impressed; William H. Macy and Phil S. Hoffman are in my list of the worlds best actors and Julianne Moore heads my list of the worlds best actresses today. However, I was not expecting this film to knock my beloved Sam Mendes' "American Beauty" off the pedestal I had already placed it on, as best film of the past 10 years.

Magnolia, I must admit, knocked me out. For the first hour and a half, I sat there thinking I was missing something crucial to the plot. I was being bombarded with these short but absolutely perfect scenes, one following another at breakneck speed; this is direction at its best, ladies and germs. (Way hey!) It was only in the last fifteen minutes did everything become crystal clear. I read on Darcy's site that someone said this film lacked Closure. Perhaps that person left half way through???

The acting in Magnolia was superb. I cannot stress enough how flawless (no pun intended) the entire cast were. The drugstore scene with Linda Partridge sent shivers up my back, as did the scenes with Phil Parma and Earl - not least the one where Phil gives Earl a Camel and "lights" it for him. My heart melted.

I saw Magnolia twice, I simply had to see it again in the knowledge that this bit was connected to that, and keeping an eye out for this part and that part. I loved it the first time. It threw me, but I loved it anyway. The second time, I immersed myself. It was a much more exhausting viewing: I literally lost myself in every character and soaked up what they were doing, saying, feeling.

As an amateur theatre director with aspirations of a career in film directing, I view movies differently to the way a lot of my friends see them. They go for the actors - to see Tom Cruise take his kit off; I go for the lighting, the camera work, the subtleties of an actor who is in the background and no one in particular is watching him, yet his actions are as important as the actor in the foreground. In particular, the scene where Frank T.J. Mackey sits by Earls bedside. Watch in the background the movements of Phil Parma. Subtleties like that just make a film for me. If I've learned anything from my experience as a director its attention to detail. Have every tiny "insignificant" detail perfected. From the assistant on WDKK who rolls her eyes at the conversation of one of the kids mothers, to the weights machine in Stanley Spectors fathers bedroom.

As this is a Phil Seymour Hoffman site review, I will give the boy Phil a paragraph all to himself. I have narrowed down my favourite scene with Phil Parma. After much consideration, I've decided that one scene towards the end of the film is terrific. He's seeing Frank T.J. Mackey cry over Earl and is near tears himself. Next thing he knows there are frogs falling from the sky into the swimming pool. I cannot remember the exact quote, but words aren't important when you see facial expressions like Phil's! Its a case of WHAT THE FUCK? Sheer disbelief mingled with sheer disgust - the thought ran through my mind that "hey, they're crying here, why the hell are these frickin' frogs interrupting them!!!!!" On Phil Hoffmans part, this is his best role of the three films I've seen him in (Ripley and S.O.A.W included). Maybe the rest of the cast have a couple of very brief dodgy moments in this fantastic movie, but Philip Seymour Hoffmans part is just breathtaking.

It is refreshing to see such a great (what an unworthy superlative!) film after so many years of utter tripe. I am acutely aware that this review is not as detailed or polished as Tara's, but I'm not a writer, and I'm a tad tipsy at the moment. Go see this film. If you're only going to see Tom Cruise semi-naked, go anyway - you'll see the best acting you've ever seen. If you've a critical directors eye, you will see much much more. ***** 5 stars; 8/8; perfect film-making; a joy to behold; The best 3 hours and 10 minutes I've ever spent in a cinema etc etc etc. I could go on, but I won't. I've said too much already!