Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the true creative visionaries of our time, giving us such cinematic masterpieces as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Punch-Drunk Love, and Sydney. Being that he is one of my favorite directors, I only thought it fitting to dedicate a post to my five favorite films of his, in no particular order.

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!