Friday, June 26, 2020

June 26 - Paul Thomas Anderson


Happy 50th Birthday, Paul Thomas Anderson! Happy 50th Birthday, Paul Thomas Anderson! Born today in 1970, this American filmmaker developed an interest in filmmaking from a young age.  

 
An alumnus of the Sundance Institute, Anderson made his feature film debut. This was with the 1996 American drama/crime film 'Hard Eight'. 

 
Anderson is noted for his frequent collaborations with actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Daniel Day-Lewis.  

 
For his film crew, this includes American cinematographer Robert Elswit, American costume designer Mark Bridges, and composers Jon Brion and English musician and composer Jonny Greenwood. 

 
The first film of which Anderson is best known for writing, co-producing and directing is the 1997 American drama/independent film 'Boogie Nights'. 

 
Set in 1977 Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, the film focuses on a young high school dropout and nightclub dishwasher Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg). 

 
He later becomes a popular star of pornographic films, chronicling his rise in the Golden Age of Porn of the late 1970s through to his fall during the excesses of the 1980s. 


The film is an expansion of Anderson's thirty-two-minute 1988 American mockumentary drama/short film 'The Dirk Diggler Story'.  

 
Other than Wahlberg, 'Boogie Nights' also stars Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Heather Graham. 

 
The film premiered at the 22nd Toronto Film Festival on September 11, 1997. It was later theatrically released on October 10, 1997, garnering critical praise.  

 
The following year, the film was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Supporting Actor (Burt Reynolds) and Best Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore). This occurred at the 70th Academy Awards in late March 1998. The film's soundtrack has also received acclaim. 

 
The fooling year, Anderson wrote, co-produced and directed the second film of which he is best known. This was the 1999 American epic psychological drama film 'Magnolia'. 

 
With a runtime of three hours, the film features am ensemble cast. It is a mosaic of interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley. 

 
'Magnolia' received positive reviews, with critics praising its ambition in acting (particularly Tom Cruise as Frank Mackey, a sleazy motivational speaker peddling a pickup artist course to men). 

 
The narrator recounts three instances of incredible coincidences and suggests that forces greater than chance play important roles in life. 

 
The film also received positive reviews for direction, screenplay, and storytelling, as well as soundtrack, largely consisting of songs by American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann. However, some deemed 'Magnolia' overlong and melodramatic. 

 
Of the ensemble cast, Cruise won the award in that category at the 57th Golden Globe Awards in late January 2000. Two months later, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 72nd Academy Awards 'Magnolia' in late March. Cruise. 

 
In the time between, 'Magnolia' won the Golden Bear at the 50th Berlin international Film Festival in February. 

 
'Magnolia 'was also American stage, film and television actor Jason Robards' final feature film. He played the role of Earl Partridge, the former producer of a long-running quiz show "What Do Kids Know?" who is dying from cancer. 

 
In the late 2000s, Anderson wrote, co-produced and directed the third best film of which he is best known. This was the 2007 American epic period drama/history film 'There Will Be Blood'. The film is loosely based on American writer Upton Sinclair's 1926 political fiction novel Oil! 

 
The film received significant critical praise for its cinematography, screenplay and direction, particularly the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis as silver miner-turned-oilman Daniel Plainview during the Souther California oil boom. 

 
At the 80th Academy Awards the following year, 'There Will Be Blood' was nominated for eight Oscars (tying with another Paramount Vantage/Miramax co-production, being the Coen Brother's 2007 American neo-Western thriller/crime film 'No Country for Old Men'). 

 
The nominations for 'There Will Be Blood' included the Best Feature Picture and Best Director (both for Paul Thomas Anderson). The film won two Oscars: Best Actor for Day-Lewis and Best Cinematography (Robert Elswit). 

 
Of the 2010s, Anderson wrote, co-produced and directed his fourth and final film of which he is best known. This was the 2017 American historical romance/drama film 'Phantom Thread'. 

 
The film later received acclaim for its acting, screenplay, direction, musical score, costume design, and production values. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the Top Ten Films of 2017. 

 
The following year, 'Phantom Thread' received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Costume Design (Mark Bridges). This occurred at the 75th Golden Globe Awards in early January 2018. 

 
The following month, the film earned four nominations at the 71st British Academy Film Awards, winning for Best Costume Design. This occurred in mid-February. 

 
At the 90th Academy Awards one month later, 'Phantom Thread' was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Supporting Actress (Lesley Manville) and Best Original Score (Jonny Greenwood). However, it won for Best Costume Design. This occurred in early March. 

 
Other notable films of which Anderson is known is the 2002 American romantic comedy film 'Punch-Drunk Love', the 2012 American psychological drama film 'The Master' and the 2014 American neo-noir mystery/comedy crime film 'Inherent Vice'. 

 
Other than his film credits, Anderson has also directed music videos. These were for artists including Fiona Apple, Radiohead, Haim, Joanna Newson, Aimee Mann, Jon Brion and Michael Penn. 

 
Anderson has also directed a 2015 American music/documentary film 'Junin. The film was about the making of the album in India. 

 
Anderson's films have consistently garnered critical acclaim. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, one Golden Globe Award and five BAFTA Awards, and has won a Best Director Award at Cannes, a Silver Bear at Berlin and a Silver Lion at Venice. 

 
Anderson's films are often characterized by their depiction of flawed and desperate characters, explorations of themes such as dysfunctional families, alienation and loneliness, a bold visual style that uses moving camera and long takes, and memorable use of music. 

 
According to Anderson's personal life, he had been married twice. The first was to American singer-songwriter, pianist and poet Fiona Apple (1997–2002. The second was to American actress, comedian, and singer Maya Rudolph (2001–present). Anderson has four children. 

 
Also known as P. T. Anderson or PTA, Anderson has been active from 1988–present. 

 
#borntodirect

@PTAnderson 

@Criterion 

@theguardian 

@indiewiire

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