Magnolia is about how our choices, good or bad, stay with us our entire lives, and we can't escape them. We are all incurably diseased by our mistakes. These characters' experiences echo each other, which some critics considered annoyingly redundant. Krystov Kieslowski, whose work is constantly preoccupied with the interconnectedness of our lives. Yes, critical complaints against the film are justified.
Magnolia suffers from bland dialogue and sketchily-drawn characters.
Anderson's script sets up characters in Big Crisis for Big Speeches about morality and guilt. There are definitely moments when the film stops to preach to the audience. It's not the finest art, but it does pack a punch, especially in its consideration of the universality of suffering and need. Anderson isn't the first preacher to speak to the masses in starkly drawn parables, hoping that those with eyes to see will see. The performances are engaging, although sometimes exaggerated.