Paul Thomas Anderson: Family, Religion, and some analysis

Very few people can consider themselves a master of cinema; even less can call themselves good at it. Very few directors are able to put themselves above the rest by being innovative, imaginative, and powerful with a film camera. Enter Paul Thomas Anderson who by the age of 41 has written and directed five movies, four of which have gathered universal critical proclaim, been nominated for five Academy Awards, won the Golden Bear, and won the Best Director award at the Cannes film festival. A master of the long take and being able to craft epics that focus on multiple characters, Paul Thomas Anderson is a one of a kind filmmaker unlike anyone else before him. As Entertainment Weekly put it, Anderson is “one of the most dynamic directors to emerge in the last 20 years” with movies that “crackle with energy and typically showcase volcanic performances” (EW Staff). What makes Paul Thomas Anderson so great? He explores deep themes like family as he explores the ideas of surrogate fathers and creations of new families. He also analyzes religion in his films by comparing it with consumerism and letting Exodus and liberation play a big theme in Magnolia. In this paper I will attempt to explore the story behind Paul Thomas Anderson by analyzing his autobiography and how his life is seen through his films, then explore the themes of family through all of his films, and religion in Magnolia and Boogie Nights.