3. “Save Me,” Aimee Mann (1999)
WIth Anderson fully on the record as to the pivotal role that Aimee Mann’s music played in the conception and creation of the film that would become “Magnolia,” it’s the least he could do to put together such an impressive video for one of her key songs as such. Shot during the filming, using recreated versions of the scenes that appear in the film, but retooled for the video, Anderson also relied on his actors —Julianne Moore, Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, William H. Macy and John C. Reilly— to stay in place while the video footage was shot. As a result, it has one of the greatest video casts ever, and, marred only slightly by the fact that Mann seems less comfortable onscreen than PTA’s other music video muse Fiona Apple, it’s a lovely memento of the film for devotees like us. What someone who’s never seen “Magnolia” might make of it we don’t really know, but then we don’t really care what people who’ve never seen “Magnolia” think.
Notable Moment: At 2:15 and the “radium” bit, as we swoop past Tom Cruise, you can really see how the scene was switched around for the film, as sofas and foreground ornaments roll out of the way.
2. “Hot Knife,” Fiona Apple (2013)
A pretty stunning, deceptively simple video for a deceptively complex song, Anderson’s spot for Apple’s “Hot Knife” truly enhances the appreciation of the track by emphasizing its layers and its overlapping, intricate structure. Using split screen, gorgeously lit color and black and white shots of the singer (and her sister who also adds vocals), Anderson visually echoes the lovely Bessie Smith-style rhythms of the song, which is largely a capella, with a drum rhythm and occasional piano accents. Gorgeous and, for a video composed mostly of the singer singing against neutral backgrounds, surprisingly weird.
Notable moment: The introduction of split screen at 1:06
1. “Paper Bag” by Fiona Apple (2000)
Perhaps not the most formally inventive or experiemental of Anderson’s music videos, this “Bugsy Malone“-esque video for Apple gets our top vote just for how much it shows Anderson’s command of the sweeping camera move, and for how much it demonstrates his own cinephilia. A homage to the big musical numbers of old, it’s shot in lush color (the popping red of her dress!) with a cast of 10-13 year-old backing dancers, expertly choreographed in a stunning bar/ballroom location. Bring on the PTA musical.
Notable moment: At 2:00, when we cut to a huge overhead wide that shows off the exquisite location, choreography and the rich set design and period detailing, much of which is reminiscent of Anderson’s “The Master.”
June 26, 2017 update: Obviously this feature is a few years old now and PTA has made a few videos since. Where do you think these clips would rank?
I actually completely agree with these rankings, with the exception of "Fast as You Can" and "Save Me", which I would have switch places. "Hot Knife" and "Paper Bag" are really beautiful.
pretty sure thomas jane is in "try" too. also, i doubt that it is since we\’re talking about pta, but does anyonce know for sure whether or not "hot knife" is shot digitally? is it just me or does it look like it is?