STACK #212 June 2022

FEATURE MOVIE

into madness is made even more powerful by surrounding talent the likes of Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds and Kevin J. O'Connor. Punch-Drunk Love Some readers may not be happy with our exclusion of Phantom Thread (2017), which is – absolutely – a remarkable film. However, when narrowing Anderson's nine films down to just five choice picks, it's hard to resist his 2002 romantic-comedy. It’s unique in his catalogue and features a career defining performance from the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman. With unlikely lead performances from Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, Anderson considered the film to be

For insurance purposes he was hired as the back-up director for Robert Altman's Prairie Home Companion , in the event of the 81-year-old director's incapacity. Anderson shadowed his every move during production. His father was a popular TV personality and horror host, whose famous alter ego was 'Ghoulardi', the host of Shock Theatre . Both Hard Eight and Boogie Nights were adapted from short films Anderson had made in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

STACK selects five of the best from the acclaimed filmmaker ahead of the release of his latest feature, Licorice Pizza , this month. Words Glenn Cochrane

Magnolia Another hallmark of its time, Magnolia was released in 1999 and became one of the most discussed and examined films of the decade. Just over three hours long, its complex and interconnected stories transcend the typical anthology format, weaving character tales together like a meticulously crafted tapestry. It’s perhaps Anderson's most comparable film to Robert Altman's work, and grounded by a phenomenal ensemble cast including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Jason Robards, John C. Reilly and a show-stealing turn fromTom Cruise, whose connection to the material makes it his most personal performance to date. There Will Be Blood Critics declared Anderson's fifth movie one of the best films of 2007. It’s the story of a ruthless oil prospector who will stop at nothing to become the most powerful tycoon in the world, and it earned Daniel Day Lewis an

his respite from the weightiness of Magnolia . It’s a sweet, dramatic, irresistible and ultimately charming tale about two lonely souls whose worlds collide. Licorice Pizza Deservedly nominated for 'Best Film' at this year's Oscars, this is arguably Anderson's best film to date and can be appropriately described as a cross between Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused . Set in the early 1970s, it chronicles the coming-of-age story of two young people who navigate life through a

Boogie Nights The obvious frontrunner, Boogie Nights lifted the curtain on the adult film industry and 'exposed' Mark Wahlberg to moviegoers, solidifying his acting career following his previous vocation as a rap artist and fashion model. Modelled on the life of infamous adult star John Holmes, Anderson's film showcased a who's who of Hollywood talent including William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham and the legendary Burt Reynolds, whose performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. With the home entertainment release of his latest opus, Licorice Pizza (2021), upon us, we take a look at five Paul Thomas Anderson films that stand out in his stellar filmography. P aul Thomas Anderson might best be described as the Robert Altman of his generation, and given that so much of his work owes a debt of gratitude to the late maestro, it's a compliment he would likely embrace. Having burst onto the scene with his 1996 debut, Hard Eight , Anderson became part of the 'Video Store Generation' of filmmakers – alongside contemporaries like Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith and Alison Anders – whose knowledge of cinema came mostly from renting videos from local stores. His sophomore film, Boogie Nights (1997), was met with accolades and set him on course to become one of the most prolific artists of his generation, and with nine feature-length films under his belt (plus a swag of music videos and commercials), Anderson’s mark on cinema is undeniable.

series of misadventures and get-rich-quick schemes. Accompanied by a killer soundtrack, the film exploits the modern viewer's proclivity for nostalgia and showcases stellar performances from two of Hollywood's rising stars: Cooper Hoffman (son of Phillip Seymour) and Alana Haim (of the pop/rock act Haim).

Oscar for Best Actor. Regarded by many as an allegory for modern day capitalism, it can also be seen as a meditation on America itself and the trappings of possessiveness. Moreover, the film's depiction of one man's descent

• Licorice Pizza is out June 15

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