7.7
On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.
Tom Cruise
Frank T.J. Mackey
Philip Baker Hall
Jimmy Gator
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Phil Parma
Julianne Moore
Linda Partridge
William H. Macy
Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
John C. Reilly
Officer Jim Kurring
Melora Walters
Claudia Wilson Gator
Jeremy Blackman
Stanley Spector
Jason Robards
Earl Partridge
Melinda Dillon
Rose Gator
Michael Bowen
Rick Spector
April Grace
Gwenovier
Ricky Jay
Burt Ramsey / Narrator
Emmanuel Johnson
Dixon
Pat Healy
Sir Edmund William Godfrey / Young Pharmacy Kid
Genevieve Zweig
Mrs. Godfrey
Mark Flanagan
Joseph Green
Neil Flynn
Stanley Berry
Rod McLachlan
Daniel Hill
Allan Graf
Firefighter
Patton Oswalt
Delmer Darion
Raymond 'Big Guy' Gonzales
Reno Security Guard
Brad Hunt
Craig Hansen
Jim Meskimen
Forensic Scientist
Chris O'Hara
Sydney Barringer
Clement Blake
Arthur Barringer
Frank Elmore
1958 Detective
John Kraft Seitz
1958 Policeman
Cory Buck
Young Boy
Tim Soronen
Infomercial Guy
Jim Ortlieb
Middle-Aged Guy
Thomas Jane
Young Jimmy Gator
Holly Houston
Jimmy's Showgirl
Benjamin Niedens
Little Donnie Smith
Veronica Hart
Dentist Nurse #1
Missy Spell Tanner
Dentist Nurse #2
James Kiriyama-Lem
Dr. Lee
Jake Cross
Pedestrian #1
Charlie Scott Jr.
Pedestrian #2
Juan Medrano
Nurse Juan
John Pritchett
Police Captain
Cleo King
Marcie
Don McManus
Dr. Landon
Michael Shamus Wiles
Captain Muffy
Jason Andrews
Doc
John S. Davies
Cameraman
Kevin Breznahan
Geoff, Seminar Guy
Miguel Pérez
Avi Solomon
Alfred Molina
Solomon Solomon
David Masuda
Coroner Man
Neil Pepe
Officer #1
Lionel Mark Smith
Detective
Annette Helde
Coroner Woman
Lynne Lerner
Librarian
Felicity Huffman
Cynthia
Scott Burkett
WDKK Page #1
Bob Brewer
Richard's Dad
Julie Brewer
Richard's Mom
Nancy Marston
Julia's Mom
Maurey Marston
Julia's Dad
Jamala Gaither
WDKK P.A.
Danny Wells
Dick Jennings
Amy Brown
WDKK Page #2
Eileen Ryan
Mary
Meagen Fay
Dr. Diane
Patricia Forte
Mim
Luis Guzmán
Luis
Patrick Warren
Todd Geronimo
Orlando Jones
Worm
Virginia Pereira
Pink Dot Girl (voice)
Craig Kvinsland
Brad the Bartender
Patricia Scanlon
Cocktail Waitress
Henry Gibson
Thurston Howell
Natalie Elizabeth Marston
Julia
Bobby Brewer
Richard
Clark Gregg
WDKK Floor Director
Art Frankel
Old Pharmacist
Matt Gerald
Officer #2
Guillermo Melgarejo
Pink Dot Guy
Paul F. Tompkins
Chad (Seduce & Destroy) (voice)
Mary Lynn Rajskub
Janet (Frank's Assistant) (voice)
Jim Beaver
Smiling Peanut Patron #1
Ezra Buzzington
Smiling Peanut Patron #2
Denise Woolfork
Smiling Peanut Patron #3
Michael Murphy
Alan Kligman, Esq.
Robert Downey Sr.
WDKK Show Director
William Mapother
WDKK Show Director's Assistant
Larry Ballard
WDKK Medic
Brett Higgins
Mackey Disciple Twin #1
Brian Higgins
Mackey Disciple Twin #2
Michael Lee Phillips Jr.
Mackey Disciple in Middle
Lillian Adams
Donnie's Old Neighbor
Steven Bush
Paramedic #1
Mike Massa
Paramedic #2
Dale Gibson
Paramedic #3
Scott Alan Smith
E.R. Doctor
Paul Thomas Anderson
Man Confiscating Sign (uncredited)
Miriam Margolyes
Faye Barringer (uncredited)
Bruno Angelico
Fireman #2 (uncredited)
Robert Bella
Detective #2 (uncredited)
Greg Bronson
Waiter (uncredited)
Douglas Busby
Extra (uncredited)
Marc Davies
Seminar Attendee #1 (uncredited)
Bruce Gregory
Randy (uncredited)
Phil Hawn
Bob (uncredited)
Spencer Kayden
Seminar Patron (uncredited)
Brian Kehew
Seminar Patron (uncredited)
Michael Laren
Officer Tom 1958 (uncredited)
Aimee Mann
Hot Date Infomercial (uncredited)
Tom Ohmer
Detective (uncredited)
Colleen Pelletier
Gameshow Audience Member (uncredited)
Herb Santos Jr.
21 Dealer (uncredited)
Tom Tangen
Drunken Dart Player (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Paul Thomas Anderson
July 16, 2022
8
Been a long time since I last watched this but even though this was 3 hours long, never felt the length and I was pretty much captivated throughout (although I did pause a few times to get refill on my drink or grab a snack). The performances all around were great, most notably Tom Cruise, Melora Walters, John C. Reilly and the young Jeremy Blackman (Stanley). It does get heavy-handed and while I "get" the raining frogs scene, that took me out a bit (albeit it was towards the end). **4.0/5**
As a side, the other two kids (Julia and Richard) were hacks, counting on Stanley to carry them. Something that irked me the first time I saw this, lol.