Paul Thomas Anderson as an Auteur

Therefore, the messages in these films are expressed through elements such as lighting, camera placement, use of soundtrack, and the creation of characters. There have been famous directors in history that can be recognized as Auteurs. One of the modern directors whose work is based on the auteur theory is Paul Thomas Anderson. As an Auteur, Anderson is a filmmaker who has demonstrated the use of consistent themes and patterns in most of his films. Auteurism in Thomas Anderson’s movies Anderson is regarded as one of the greatest Hollywood directors of modern times because of the distinctive nature of his films. As the father figure, Sydney is valuable in giving guidance to John and helping him overcome dangerous situations. The film depicts Sydney as a character who does not have a smooth relationship with his biological children, and is desperate to become a foster father (Sperb 32).

Johns meets Sydney at a point when he needed him the most after having lost his (John’s) mother. The death of his mother and failure to make money from gambling makes John desperate to get a surrogate family, which can support consider him as their own. The theme of family is also depicted by the isolation of Clementine from her family. Jack acts as the father of Dirk and is instrumental in helping him launch his career and become successful (Sperb 68). As it is the case with Sydney in Hard Eight, Jack does not live with his biological family. Horner also mentors other young people such as Scotty, Rollergirl, and Reed. Jack considers the other characters as his children and makes the family unit strong and stable. Magnolia is another film by Anderson that highlights his auteurism and focus on the theme of family.

Unlike Donnie who does not confront his parents, Stanely demands to be treated by his father. Dysfunction of the family is also highlighted by Partridge’s rejection of Frank, his biological son. When Partridge abandons his family, the life of his son is affected adversely, and this leads to feelings of rejection, which are worsened by the death of Frank’s mother (Lane 25). In comparison with Hard Eight and Boogie Nights, the character who should act as a father figure in Magnolia does not show love and affection. At the end of the movie, Frank is desperate as he is left without family. Further, the camera is tilted at an angle to highlight the neon sign that is visible on the theater. As it is the case with Hard Eight, the camera uses low-key lighting in the club setting where the movie is shot (Sperb 50).

There are also neon lights that move around the club while the faces of the characters are hidden from the camera. The features of camera used in this movie reflect its setting. The camera shots in Magnolia are also unique, thus portraying the outstanding nature of the films directed by Paul Anderson. Non-diegetic sounds help to depict how moods shift throughout the film (Ritter 167). Moreover, the sounds are used during conversations between different characters in the movie. Songs such as “Wise Up” in Magnolia depict that the life of most characters did not turn out as they wanted. The sounds in the movie show the disappointments of Stanely Claudia, and Donnie (Goss 182). Conclusion Auteurs are directors whose movies reveal their beliefs, feelings, and creativity. No. p. Print. In the article, Goss analyzes three films whose director is Paul Thomas Anderson.

The author acknowledges that Anderson is one of the upcoming Auteurs in the American film industry. In the book, the author goes beyond the style of the movie, and evaluates deep elements that the directed features. Besides, the book provides an in depth description of the role of the director as an auteur in the film. The text is helpful as it explores the contemporary setting within which the movie is released. It enabled me to understand the place of media literacy in the digital era. The book is an essential reading for students who would wish to gain an understanding of postmodernism. This book is helpful as it enables the reader to understand how each of the films released by Anderson contributes to his development as an auteur. The book is recommended for students who want to understand the relationship between the different styles used by Anderson in his works.

Ritter, Kelly. “Spectacle at the Disco: Boogie Nights, Soundtrack, and the New American Musical. ”Journal of Popular Film and Television Vol. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2013. Print. In the book, the author notes that Anderson uses unique cinematic styles in his films. The director majorly focuses on the media culture as a way of narrating the experiences of the post-modern world. Sperb covers the evolving aesthetic of the filmmaker, as well as the context of his movies within history.  Magnolia. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print. Martinez, Jose F. M.  Blossoms & Blood: Postmodern Media Culture and the Films of Paul Thomas Anderson. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2013. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form.