| The Problem with Paul Thomas Anderson  [+ favourites]
The problem with PT Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love) is that he writes characters and their dialogues in a manner that is very unique and creative, but not realistic. This is because I think he does not know that much about those characters or fails to really empathize with them in a realistic manner.
The reason his movies are interesting is he reacts to this failure by creating a complete interpretation of it himself. Most storytellers react to this failure by borrowing cliche'd ideas. This is probably 99.99 percent of the people out there. However, rather than fall for that he creates his own little reality where these characters behave in certain ways and react with other characters behaving in certain ways. The audience can't empathize with the characters (as a whole) because they aren't reacting in realistic manners. However, it is interesting to watch because it's a different take on situations that would otherwise be blasphemised by cliches. Also, since he has numerous characters, they all react in these weird and wacky ways.
But this, in itself, isn't really very exceptionally entertaining storytelling. If the audience can't really empathize with the characters, they won't really be moved. They'll be entertained like they are watching a cartoon... but they won't cry, they won't feel that adrenaline, they won't be driven up and down by the characters and their reactions.
The best stories, of course, and the most difficult to execute well, are the ones where absolutely realistic people who everyone can empathise with are put in extremely extraordinary situations, and react to these situations in realistic manners. That's a ride for the audience, the best ride, the purpose of the story.
The only director that I know of that has really done this well is Spielberg, but only in past films such as Jaws, Schindler's List, etc.
The reason this isn't so evident is that he generally throws in moments and themes that the audience can empathize with. Donny in Magnolia for example - it is possible to empathize with his character very often in the movie.
He is good at telling a story and using music and cinematography, so it is characters like Donny that make his films seem very deep and authentic, because the presentation of Donny is very effective. However, if he could do that for all the characters, it would be borderline masterpieces.
The idea that "i just don't get it" is the trick used - it makes you think that it's just too deep and complicated to understand. But in reality, it just doesn't make that much sense.
"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."
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