Bench strength

Magnolia was a much-debated movie when it came out in 1999.  Audiences either loved it or hated it.  Paul Thomas Anderson's final cut was more than 3 hours long, and anything that's longer than 2 hours is usually tagged as boring, unless you have hobbits outwitting Orcs to sustain your interest.  

The movie is an ambitious mosaic of the interlocking lives of about 12 characters, all living in San Fernando Valley, all in search of redemption and forgiveness, pained from the choices they had to make.  Those who liked it tried to find meaning in everything that Anderson had shown.  Does everything have to happen for a reason?  Is life ruled by coincidences?  Do we eventually become our own parents even if we resist that?  Events do happen inexplicably; some are of Biblical proportions.  

After watching Magnolia, I didn't even try to explore any profundities that were all over Anderson's intricate script.  Why punish myself intellectually when I just had an emotionally draining movie experience?  I just thought it was the finest piece of ensemble acting.  Every actor was worth Anderson's screen time.  Everyone jelled, was pulling his own weight.  Hmmm, teamwork's a nice lesson from the movie.  Much of my time at the office is spent harnessing teamwork.  It isn't easy.  Sometimes, the stress that comes with managing egos makes me want to burst into song as a means of diversion, and evasion.