1. Paul Thomas Anderson. Yeah, I like Paul. Maybe it’s because he’s married. Maybe it’s because all of his movies are amazing. Maybe it’s because he likes Radiohead. Maybe it’s because he likes footlong subs. Who knows? Well, it’s actually because his movies are amazing and I’d recommend every one of them. I’m actually appalled that we have copies of Punch-Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood in stock because you great people need to get off your lazy butts and purchase them. No, don’t rent them, they must be owned! Okay, maybe you should rent them if you’re unsure. But hey, why don’t you purchase it from us, watch it, and then decide if you want it to be a rental or not. You know we’re cool with it!

2. Paul Rudd. Yeah, I like Paul. He’s in a lot of cool movies. I don’t even think I need to name any because they’re all good. Some of his movies I’ve enjoyed are Anchorman, The Baxter, Clueless, Diggers, Fast Track, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The 40 Year Old Virgin, I Could Never Be Your Woman, I Love You Man, Overnight Delivery, Role Models, Romeo + Juliet, The Ten, Walk Hard, and Wet Hot American Summer.

3. Paul Montgomery Shore. To be honest, I don’t know if I’m a fan. To be honest, Encino Man was great but that doesn’t mean I like Paul Montgomery Shore. Yeah, that’s his name. Shore, Paul Montgomery. You know the one. “Excellentè!” Wait, that was Teddy on Pete and Pete. Fudge… I don’t know. Pauly Shore is Dead is another movie.

4. Paul Giamatti. Brilliant Actor. Big Fat Liar = Big Fat Oscar. Big Mommas House = Big Millionaire House. He also loves the letter S… Sabrina, Safe Men, Saving Private Ryan (AKA Safe Men 2), Shoot ‘Em Up, Sideways, Singles,  Storytelling… All big fat shoe-ins for a good Giamatti gathering! No, but seriously, he’s pretty good…

5. Paul Newman. The legend who used my hometown of Carnation to set up a camp for sick children. Pretty legit, Paul. He’s also starred in some of the greatest movies ever made, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke, and Cars. But seriously (I never saw Cars), the man was a screen legend, a natural do-gooder, and he has about the most classic name ever (take that, Lincoln!). He may be gone, but he’s still the coolest.

1. Boogie Nights – This is the film that put P.T. Anderson on the Map, made people believe Mark Wahlberg could act, and even revived Burt Reynolds’ career for a year or so. Set in the booming 70’s porn industry, this movie has much more to offer besides t & a (timing and acting). It is filled to the brim with comedy, drama, and even a fair share of drugged out disaster scenes; not to mention a booming soundtrack and an amazing supporting cast of P.T. Anderson regulars, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly, and more. Based loosely on industry legend John Holmes, this film offers a giant measurement of enjoyment.
2. Magnolia – A sprawling epic set in modern Los Angeles, this movie deals with the intersection of multiple stories one one very rainy evening. Is it fate? Coincidence? John C. Reilly as a cop? Tom Cruise as a womanizing infomercial hound? Jullianne More as a crazy lady? William H. Macy as quiz kid Donnie Smith? Phillip Seymour Hoffman playing a character named Phil? Yes, it could be all that and more, if only you were to watch it. I highly suggest you do. It’s a downer, but in a good way. This movie grips and will give you indian burns.
3. There Will Be Blood - based on Upton Sinclair’s classic novel Oil!, we have another sprawling epic, this time set in the turn-of-the 21st century as the ambitious Daniel Plainview (Played to a T by the similarly-named Daniel-Day Lewis) strives to rise to the top of the booming oil industry. What this movie lacks in a supporting cast of P.T. Anderson regulars, it more than makes up for it in it’s amazing landscapes and vivid score by Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood. This is the kind of movie with a premise your grandpa would be interested in, but then he would find it too “out there” and turn off the DVD player after 20 minutes. It’s that good.
4. Punch-Drunk Love. Best Valentine’s Day movie ever? Certainly the best Adam Sandler movie ever. Sandler breaks into serious work with his portrayal of Barry Egan, a small-business owner whose main concerns include Healthy Choice Pudding and Emily Watson’s character Lena Leonard. Watch Sandler fall in love, get in trouble with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and.. well I don’t really know what all to say about this movie, except it’s well worth a watch.
5. Sydney (retitled as The Hard Eight) – This feature debut by Anderson may not be in the same epic callibur of films like Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, or even Punch-Drunk Love, but it’s an extremely impressive debut nonetheless. Basically, you get to see Paul C. Reilly be mentored by Philip Baker Hall, hook up with Gwyneth Paltrow, and even hang with Samuel L. Jackson. The movie’s all about gambling and counting cards, so you know someone’s gonna get beat up.

There you have it. If you must watch a Paul Thomas Anderson movie, I suggest you make it one of these five. They’re all spectacular!