Serpent at the Door: The Films of P.T. Anderson

From ‘Hard Eight,’ ‘Boogie Nights,’ and ‘Magnolia,’ to ‘Punch Drunk Love,’ ‘There Will Be Blood’ and ‘The Master,’ P.T. Anderson’s body of work remains a paragon of American cinema. This critical overview provides a much-needed interpretation of his entire canon. Beginning with his earliest short-film and proceeding through his most recent tragedy, ‘Serpent at the Door’ explores the major themes and narrative devices utilized in the construction of his art. Above all, it describes the umbrella of divine intervention that hangs over his universe, motivating his characters through arduous journeys of discovery. Fate and chance dominate his drama, threaded between flawed gods and lost men. These inescapable relationships animate his movies, coalescing into hopeful moments of personal redemption. Anderson’s cinema deserves the broadest critique possible given the depth and breadth of his artistry. ‘Serpent at the Door’ provides a cohesive argument that speaks to the purpose and quality of his collective vision.