There was no more productive and satisfying collaboration for Philip Seymour Hoffman than with writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson. Across sixteen years and five films, Hoffman became something of a muse for writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, who recalled seeing him perform for the first time and thinking, "He's for me, and I'm for him."
From an obnoxious gambler in Anderson's first feature to an aggressive phone-sex supervisor, and from a charismatic and enigmatic cult leader to a shy and sensitive boom operator, Anderson's films continually challenged Hoffman with roles that showcased the remarkable breadth of his talent. As we celebrate the birthday of one of Rochester’s shining stars, experience their entire professional catalog on rare 35mm film.
Dates and Titles:
August 5: Hard Eight (Paul Thomas Anderson, US 1996, 101 min., 35mm)
August 6: Punch-Drunk Love (Paul Thomas Anderson, US 2002, 95 min., 35mm)
August 7: The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson, US 2012, 138 min., 35mm)
*August 8 (5 p.m.): Boogie Nights (Paul Thomas Anderson, US 1997, 155 min., 35mm)
*August 8 (8:30 p.m.): Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, US 1999, 188 min., 35mm)
*Please note that these screening times have been changed
Events in this Series
Magnolia (35mm)
Paul and Phil Paul Thomas Anderson’s third feature concerns twenty-four hours in the lives of a varied lot of Los Angelenos. Two dying fathers work to mend broken ties with their estranged children, while two whiz kids, one grown and one young, struggle with the pressures of their intellects.
Boogie Nights (35mm)
Paul and Phil Penetrating the mood of the disco era, P. T. Anderson’s breakout film follows Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) from his days as a petulant young dishwasher to an intrepid porn superstar in California’s San Fernando Valley in the 1970s, to his fall to rock bottom in the 1980s.
The Master (35mm)
Paul and Phil Paul Thomas Anderson’s mesmerizing survey of America’s bruised post-World War II psyche stands as one of the finest films of 2012 for many reasons: the dreamy cinematography; the exquisite production design; and Joaquin Phoenix’s startling, Oscar-nominated turn as Freddie Quell, a psychologically damaged vet who falls under the sway of charismatic cult leader Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
Punch-Drunk Love (35mm)
Paul and Phil In a bold career move, Adam Sandler ditches his funny-guy persona to play Barry Egan, a lonely, repressed owner of a plunger and novelty-item wholesale company. Prone to fits of rage and social awkwardness, Barry’s life begins to turn around upon meeting Lena (Emily Watson), a friend of his sister’s.
Hard Eight (35mm)
Paul and Phil The feature debut of acclaimed young writer/director Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) is a brilliantly acted character study about the relationship between a professional gambler and his younger protege.