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!

2. It’s Pat. Okay, I’m starting to realize why I didn’t come up with the Guilty Pleasures category. I mean no disrespect to Jessica, but I simply can’t feel guilty about these movies. So instead of racking my brain for something I may not even successfully accomplish, I’m going to talk about movies that the general population may dislike, or even hate, but that I found very enjoyable. So here we go, It’s Pat. This movie is the bee’s knees. SNL alum Julia Sweeney brings her most successful SNL character (which still wasn’t very successful) to the big screen in this gender-bender of a comedy about the androgynous Pat Riley (as I quote the theme song, “A lot of people say, ‘what’s that?’ It’s Pat!). A lot of people also think this movie is stupid, but I thoroughly enjoyed the silly humor and found it clever all the ways they had of disguising Pat’s real gender. Even Pat’s love interest Chris, played marvelously by Kid’s in the Hall’s Dave Foley, and a beautiful interaction with weirdo com-rock band Ween. Upon reflection, that last sentence didn’t make sense, but I think it’s fitting with the oddity that is this movie. To be honest, I have no idea why it’s #92 on the list of IMDb’s Bottom 100 movies. I thought it was a great comedy.

3. Heavy Weights. Another great flick that I have no shame in admitting I own. As much as I’d like to write about how marvelous this movie is, no film review could be as elegant as this one I’ve found on IMDb by user niftyjim:

An unparalleled cinematic masterpiece, 13 April 2006

Continuing in the tradition of classic films such as ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’, director Steven Brill has added his name to the short list of truly great directors with his sweeping masterpiece ‘Heavy Weights’. In arguably his finest performance to date, Aaron Schwartz plays Jerry Garner, a young man who is forced to attend a summer camp against his will. Upon arriving at the camp, Jerry is befriended by Roy (Kenan Thompson) and Josh (Shaun Weiss). Together they challenge the the tyrannic rule of manic camp counselor Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller) while overcoming their own personal insecurities to have the best summer of their lives. Thompson and Weiss both deliver Oscar-worthy performances, and Ben Stiller is at his best as the fitness-crazed camp counselor who must whip the campers into shape. Brill is truly at his best here, weaving an intricate tale full of mystery, suspense and deception, while capturing the essence of the human spirit and the hope and perseverance of children. This is a must have for any true fan of film.

4. Flyin’ Ryan. I don’t even know what to say about this movie. Did I enjoy it? Possibly. Was it quality? Absolutely not. Is it about a boy who buys Healys and discovers they allow him to fly? Certainly. Does it look like it was shot on a hand-held camera by the actor’s parents? Of course. Do we have it at MovieCycle so you can check it out to see how ridiculous it is? Correct. Will you purchase it, only to return it in a day or two for the rental return store credit less a dollar per day? Probably.

#5. The Brothers Solomon. This movie apparently didn’t hit it off too well with critics or audiences, but how am I to avoid a movie directed by Bob Odenkirk of the legendary Mr. Show? I can see why people wouldn’t want to check this movie out. It does appear to be a weird one, especially at face value, but this movie has a lot of funny people in it. Will Forte, the SNL cast member soon to take off in Hollywood (or fail horribly) with this summer’s upcoming MacGruber movie, and Will Arnett, who everyone knows as Gob from Arrested Development, play socially awkward brothers who try to produce a grandchild for their dying father. Also noteworthy is Chi McBride (you may know him as Detective Emerson Cod from Pushing Daisies), who possibly steals this movie in the role of James. What can I say? I really enjoyed the film, but keep in mind I also really enjoyed It’s Pat. I would at least check it out if you like silly humor though.