Paul Thomas Anderson

A striking portrait of drifters and seekers in post-World War II America, Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master unfolds the journey of a naval veteran who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future, until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.

There are stories of coincidence and chance and intersections and strange things told. There is the story of a Father, the Young Wife, his Lost Son, the Caretaker, the Boy Genius, his Father, the Game Show Host, the Daughter, the Mother, the Ex-Boy Genius, and the Police Officer in Love. This is a story set in the San Fernando Valley on a day full of rain with no clouds. This is a story about family relationships and bonds that have been broken and...

A down-and-out silver miner raising a son, self-made oilman Daniel Plainview, whose voracious appetite for oil turns him into a California tycoon in the early years of the 20th century. Getting the oil from the ground is an intensely physical process that later broadens into Plainview's equally indomitable urge to control land and power. Along the way, Plainview deals with a mighty derrick fire, a visit from a long-lost brother, and the ongoing involvement...

Sydney, a poker-faced professional gambler plays guardian angel to unlucky John and his girlfriend. When John's and his bride's honymoon night leads to a disastrous hostage situation, the gambler takes care of it as usual. But when a slick casino pro threatens to reveal a secret from Sydney's past, Sydney decides to hedge his bets and not leave anything to chance.

Magnolia is a mosaic of American life woven through a series of comic and poignant vignettes. Nine people will weave and warp through each other's lives on a day that builds to an unforgettable climax.

Barry, a socially awkward man who is constantly being tormented by his seven sisters, falls madly in love with a mysterious woman. But a loose thread from his past may threaten their happiness.

"A young couple experiences first love in San Fernando Valley, California, during the early 1970s."--