READ: Fifteen Years Later - Tom Cruise and Magnolia

The Anatomy of an Actor series is a collection of books which each examine ten different performances from a specific actor, analyzing key qualities about the work that make it exceptional. The most recent installment of these books is about Tom Cruise and, not surprisingly, there is a chapter devoted to Magnolia, and Cruise's process of building Frank TJ Mackey with Paul Thomas Anderson. There are some good quotes from both Cruise and PTA, and the piece is incredibly insightful and perceptive. If nothing else, it reinforces the simple fact that Mackey is one of the greatest friggin' movie characters ever created.

The book is [beautifully] written by Amy Nicholson and Grantland has an exclusive excerpt of the Magnolia chapter.

Scientologists Reportedly Unhappy With ‘The Master'

A while back we heard that Tom Cruise (who has remained friends with PTA since "Magnolia") had been shown "The Master" and that he "had issues" with it. Yesterday, in light of his recent divorce, the NY Daily News did some digging (or speculating) by intimating that the Church of Scientology was unhappy with certain aspects of the film.

A source familiar with Paul Thomas Anderson ’s film about the founder of a Scientology-like religious movement tells us officials of the controversial church group “hit the roof” when they learned — presumably through Cruise — that the movie contains a scene which suggests the belief system was little more than a product of the leader’s fertile imagination.

According to our insider, one scene that didn’t sit well with Cruise takes place on a patio where Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Freddie Sutton, a troubled drifter who becomes Dodd’s right-hand disciple, watches Dodd pontificate about the religion he has created.

During the scene, the source says, another character close to the founder turns to Phoenix and says of Dodd, “You know he’s making it up as he goes along.”
Referring to the actual Church of Scientology, our source says, “Tom Cruise’s people are grumbling about this line — amongst others — but Anderson is not taking it out.”

Cruise’s spokeswoman declined to comment on this story. Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw responded: “No one in the church has seen the film, and we have no comment. ”

Given the media circus surrounding the TomKat divorce right now it's hard to tell the fact from fiction but it certainly wouldn't surprise us.

PTA In Conversation With Robert Downey Sr. Part 2; Tom Cruise Has Seen ‘The Master'

Last Tuesday, Criterion premiered the first installment in a 4 part series capturing a candid discussion between PTA and filmmaker/iconoclast Robert Downey Sr. Today they've dropped the latest episode which you can watch above where the pair discuss the film "No More Excuses" (1968) which is featured in the Eclipse box set of Downey Sr.'s work.

In other news, according to The Wrap, Paul screened "The Master" for none other than Frank "T.J." Mackey himself, Tom Cruise. According to two anonymous sources (aren't they always?) Cruise “had issues” with some parts of the movie but the two have remained friends since "Magnolia." The article also indicates that The Weinstein Co. wants to show the film to John Travolta as well to head off any potential Scientology-themed controversy down the line. Possibly all nonsense, but time will tell. (via @ntwalker)

If you haven't read the scene-by-scene rundown of the 4 minutes of Cannes footage, you should probably do so. And then check out the photos from the teaser in our Facebook gallery and stay tuned to Twitter for the latest news and updates.

More Details On ‘The Master,' Plus 1 Page Of The Script

Thanks to an eagle eyed reader we have a little bit of late Friday news for you all. In the new issue of Life & Style magazine of all places, there's an article called "Tom & Scientology Under Fire Again" that suggests that (former Frank T.J. Mackey) Cruise might in some way be responsible for the delays on 'The Master' project. The magazine spoke with a "Hollywood insider" (emphasizing those air quotes) who said, "Producers have been trying to make the film for a while but the project hasn't gotten off the ground. Some have questioned whether Tom and the church have tried to squash it."

They also imply that Jeremy Renner has dropped out of the project because he's co-starring with Cruise in the new Mission: Impossible film (and not because he just signed onto about 4 other franchises). Funny that it hasn't had the same effect on Philip Seymour Hoffman who co-starred with Cruise in the last M:I film. Hmmm.

Despite these baseless, gossipy musings, the magazine does go on to give a few details about the script (which they claim they got as an exclusive peek) as well as publish an actual page. For those who don't want to be spoiled in the slightest, you might want to stop reading now but I'd say spoils are pretty light here.

The movie features a contentious leader who's a science fiction novelist (Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had the same profession) and happens to be against traditional psychotherapy methods. So what's in the script that has the Church of Scientology quaking in it's boots? Drugging, secret missions, implants and claims of being able to cure leukemia in 36 hours are just a few taboo topics covered in the film. For now, the film is slated for a 2013 release.

Well, that's news to us. You can check out some more slight spoilers in the page of script below. (Thanks Bryan!)

As always, you can get the latest news on Cigarettes & Red Vines on Twitter and Facebook.

July 14, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

There's a New Line flyer in the recent release of the Boiler Room DVD which includes info on the upcoming Boogie Nights DVD. The features listed include "The Dirk Diggler Story - a short film by P.T. Anderson." Before you get too excited, I suspect these were early specifications. If you recall, PTA toyed with the idea of including this, but ultimately changed his mind. I would be shocked if things have changed in the last few weeks. These flyers were probably printed some time ago (Note: they are missing the Exhausted documentary, The John C. Reilly Files, etc.).

I'm very pleased to present an incredible interview from Millimeter Magazine. This very detailed piece discusses the painstaking special effects work for the frog storm & includes numerous quotes from ILM's Joe Letteri, Magnolia's visual effects supervisor. There's been much written about the frog sequence, but little on it's creation from script to screen. It's well worth your time & a great look inside the making of this truly unforgettable sequence.

Finally, I'm going to end today's lengthy update with various PTA related quotes (some old, some new). You'll notice Gwyneth Paltrow isn't afraid to speak her mind. I'll see you next Wednesday!

"Frogs are a walk in the park compared to these waves. Frogs are a little less [harmful] than 2,000 gallons of water hitting you in the face."

- John C. Reilly on comparing what he's had to face on screen
(Entertainment Weekly - 7/21)

"The Wave is incredible - there's no bigger way to end a movie, although my penis in Boogie Nights was a bigger personal moment."

- Mark Wahlberg on the oversize climax in The Perfect Storm
(Entertainment Weekly - 7/21)

''I think 'Magnolia' is one of the best films I've ever seen. And if anyone disagrees with me, I'll fight them to the death.''

- Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Entertainment Weekly - 3/24)

“I thought it was brilliant. I thought parts of it were absolute genius, but I think it is too long and I thought it got repetitive. It makes you want to kick Paul’s ass. Paul needs someone to say ‘Cut it out, you’re going crazy,’ because he is a genius and he is the most incredible filmmaker of our generation. I think he will continue to make great films, but you don’t want to lose sight of what you are trying to say and some of it could have been trimmed down. His technical skills are just incredible, but it’s too long.” 

- Gwyneth Paltrow on her reaction to Magnolia
(Reel West Magazine)

“It was easy to get this money and it was easy to make this movie. But I think that it’s a one time thing after the success of Boogie Nights. I’m in a great position to have final cut over my movies and control over their elements, but I know that I have to use it productively and hopefully make some money.”

- Paul Thomas Anderson on his future after Magnolia
(Reel West Magazine)

''I have a tuxedo and I went once before and I didn't win, and I want to win. I want an Oscar.'' 

- Paul Thomas Anderson (Entertainment Weekly - 3/24)

"I wanted to be supportive of PTA. He’s a filmmaker I really enjoy. He’s just unique. He’s an old soul kid. He’s a good guy."

- Tom Cruise (On Rosie O’Donnell's show)

March 15, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

I hope you all went out yesterday & picked up the incredible new Magnolia score by Jon Brion. It's great to see this finally released. There's a nice introduction/liner notes by PTA & after hearing this, it just reinforces my original thoughts of how the hell this did not get nominated by the Academy. 

PTA & Tom Cruise were among the nominees who attended the annual Oscar luncheon on Monday in Los Angeles as we inch closer to the show on March 26. Here's a picture from the event:

Today I added a piece from Esquire Magazine entitled "The Next Scorsese". Although it's ludicrous to make comparisons, it's fun to see who some of the top film critics selected. There is also an online poll on their site where you can cast your vote. Currently PTA resides in 2nd place behind Wes Anderson.

PTA is also featured prominently in the USA Today Life Section cover story on Oscar nominated writers who direct. I have included the article below. 

Finally, Aimee Mann's appearance on Saturday Night Live has been pushed back to a later date & the latest Magnolia Box Office numbers are posted as the number of screens in the U.S. is down to 56. 

February 16, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

As I'm sure you have all learned by now, Magnolia was nominated for three Oscars. It's nice to see Paul, Aimee & Tom get recognized. Hopefully we will have a few winners this year. The Oscar telecast will be on March 26, 2000. On a related note, the Chicago Film Critics Association recently unveiled their nominations & Magnolia received 4 nominations (Picture, Director, Screenplay & Supporting Actor).

February 3, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

I can't hardly believe it but the site had its 50,000 hit tonight! It's really come along way in such a short amount of time & I just wanted to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to stop by & check it out. 

SAG nominees were announced. Magnolia nabbed three nominations in the following categories: 

Best Ensemble Film - Entire Cast

Best Supporting Actor - Tom Cruise

Best Supporting Actress - Julianne Moore

The winners will be presented on March 12, 2000.

January 29, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Well, it looks like the Kevin Smith/Magnolia story got big enough that Entertainment Weekly picked it up. There is not much to the story, and that's good, because I have had enough of it. Now, let's talk about more important things.... 

Hope you caught PTA on Late Night with Conan O'Brien last night. It was pretty short and sweet, but it's good to see him and the film get some more exposure. It was nice to see Tom win the Golden Globe Award, let's hope that will equate to Oscar Gold this time.  

In case you missed it, the official Magnolia Shooting Script/Companion Book is out in paperback. There will be a Hardback coming out as well. I'm still trying to get the latest information on the Jon Brion score being released on CD. I will keep you posted. 

True West will open in New York on March 2. For those that don't remember, it's the play with John C. Reilly and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The official site is up and running so take a look. 

December 30, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Well, it looks like Magnolia was sort of snubbed (or the nice way of saying it was "overlooked") by the Hollywood Foreign Press who vote for the Golden Globes. Magnolia was nominated for only two awards: Best Supporting Actor - Tom Cruise and Best Original Song - Save Me by Aimee Mann. I have never been a huge fan of their selections, so let's hope this doesn't affect its chances come Oscar time. 

Hopefully those of you in Los Angeles and New York have had a chance to see the movie by now. I would love to hear your thoughts, so send me an email. 

I have a decent sized update today with some new articles and interviews. The Paul Interview/Q & A in Madison Magazine is especially good, but as usual, please read with caution as it does contain some spoilers. 

December 16, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Paul Chat Session Tonight

Paul just completed a chat session tonight at 9:00 EST/ 6:00 PST with Yahoo! There were some decent questions and some typically funny PTA responses. I will post the transcript as soon as it's ready. 

Magnolia Wins More Awards and Nominations

Magnolia edged out Being John Malkovich and was named best film of the year by the Toronto Film Critics Association. Paul Thomas Anderson was also awarded Best Director and Best Screenplay (Tied with Being John Malkovich). I will update the site with any awards Magnolia wins as they are announced. Here is the complete list:

Best Picture

Magnolia

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson

Best Screenplay

Magnolia - Paul Thomas Anderson

The Golden Satellite nominations were also announced today. These are chosen by the International Press Academy. Magnolia garnered a few more:

Best Picture

Best Supporting Actor - Tom Cruise

Best Director - Paul Thomas Anderson    

Best Screenplay - Paul Thomas Anderson

Best Original Song - Save Me (Aimee Mann)

Best Ensemble Cast

November 25, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Entertainment Weekly Tidbits

They ran an article recently on holiday movies with long running times. Of course, they mentioned Magnolia. Here's what Paul had to say:

"Magnolia was three hours and 20 minutes, and I'd been cutting like crazy," sighs director Paul Thomas Anderson of his sprawling L.A. drama, whose final running time is just under three hours. "If you're asking someone to give that kind of time, you have to be sure it's for a good reason."

Another article on holiday movies and their Oscar chances. Here's what they said about New Line and Magnolia's chances:

NEW LINE: Can the only major never to score a Best Picture nomination make history with Paul Thomas Anderson's follow-up to Boogie Nights? If nothing else, MAGNOLIA should provide Tom Cruise with better Oscar chances than Eyes Wide Shut.

November 8, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

1st Magnolia Interview

Here's a great interview with John C. Reilly from the Sunday Edition of the LA Times. There is quite a bit about Magnolia as well as John's entire career. Some funny stories are shared about Paul and John and some of the wacky things they do. Check it out. 

Trailer Talk

A very funny and sarcastic take on the Magnolia trailer from my local paper, The Seattle Times: 

We don't really know what this is about, but it's got the director and the cast of Boogie Nights and one raggedy-looking Tom Cruise. He's grown out his hair - does this mean he can act? The camera spins from character to character, and each says, "I'm (fill in the character's name)." What they really should say is, "I'm (fill in character's name) from Boogie Nights, but now I have more facial hair." Except for Julianne Moore.

The Farrelly Brothers?

Entertainment Weekly recently concluded their Online Poll to coincide with the unveiling of their 100 Greatest Entertainers (1950 -2000). These online polls should be taken with a grain of salt (Seth Green from Buffy the Vampire Slayer won best TV actor), but I was interested in how the Best Movie Director category would shake out. Without further adieu, here's the results:

1.  Kevin Smith, 18.9%
 

2.  Quentin Tarantino               16.7%
 

3.  Tim Burton                           14.3% 


4.  Bobby & Peter Farrelly         7.3% 

5.  Andy & Larry Wachowski     5.0% 


6.  Paul Thomas Anderson        4.2% 

7.  John Singleton                       3.9% 


8.  David Fincher                        3.8% 


9.  Sam Mendes                         3.5%
 

10. M. Night Shyamalan             3.3%

Magnolia the Underdog 

Ten Underdog fall movies you shouldn’t miss by Peter Travers

1.  Magnolia - 
Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights) wants to keep this personal drama under wraps until it opens, but here’s what to expect: Anderson tracks 10 characters over one day in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, crafting an intimate epic that exposes the emotional highs and lows of life at the end of the century. And look for an unbilled Tom Cruise to win the best reviews of his career as a sleazy motivational speaker.

Courtesy of US Magazine - November 1999 Issue

PTA on Cruise

An interesting quote from PTA on Mr. Cruise which was also found in EW's 100 Greatest Entertainers issue (Tom was #52).

"He's like an animal for information. He was always asking questions. Really interesting, technical stuff about what sort of lens I was using, or what I was thinking when I wrote a particular scene. He's ferociously curious."

PTA Alums at the Box Office

Philip Baker Hall turns in another great performance in Michael Mann's new film The Insider. Hall plays a 60 Minutes executive producer and goes toe to toe with Al Pacino. As usual, he's not given enough screen time, but he energizes the film whenever he shows up.

Luis Guzman has a critical (but small) role in the #1 film this past week, The Bone Collector. He gets most of laughs in this thriller in the vein of Silence of the Lambs and Seven (it doesn't hold a candle to these two movies). 

It's good to see these great actors get some screen time in major studio films. 

July 23, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

PT on the Set of Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut

Because of the nature of the material--and also because it's how Kubrick always worked--filming on Eyes was an intensely intimate affair. Kubrick himself usually manned the camera, allowing only a handful of crew on the set. One outsider permitted to watch the proceedings was 29-year-old Boogie Nights director Paul Thomas Anderson (Cruise, who'll be appearing in Anderson's follow-up, Magnolia, smuggled him past security). "Kubrick had a really small crew," recalls Anderson. "I asked him, 'Do you always work with so few people?' He gave me this look and said, 'Why? How many people do you need?' I felt like such a Hollywood a--hole."

Aimee Mann label troubles/Magnolia music

Among the most publicized dropees has been ex-'Til Tuesday singer Aimee Mann, who's become the martyred poster child for axed artists. Last January, the critically admired Geffen singer played her third solo album to her new bosses. (The record includes tracks that may be featured in Paul Thomas Anderson's December movie, Magnolia.) "At first they told us they liked [it]," says Mann's manager, Michael Hausman. "But later we found out they didn't like it so much. I met with Jimmy [Iovine, former Interscope cohead-turned-Interscope Geffen A&M cochair], and he was like, 'You'll have to excuse me, it's so crazy here--we're merging bathrooms.' I've got an artist who spent two years making a record, and this guy's telling me about bathrooms." In early May, Mann received official word she'd been let go. Adding insult to penury, to take her unreleased record elsewhere, she must first buy back the master tapes from UMG, which could run into several hundred thousand dollars. (UMG would not comment on the status of these negotiations.)