The Big Picture · Discussion · Draft

The Paul Thomas Anderson Movie Character Draft

September 12, 2025/ 112 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan

Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan draft Paul Thomas Anderson characters across seven slots: lead and supporting roles, one-scene wonders, needle drops, and the character each would most want to date, after a news block on the Paramount Skydance bid for Warner Bros.

34 films across 2 segments.

AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.

The week in Hollywoodbefore the draft

Christy 2025

Sydney Sweeney as boxer Christy Martin; loud raves for her out of TIFF, cooler reviews for the film itself.

The Social Reckoning 2026

Sorkin's Social Network follow-up, centered on the Facebook Files and Frances Haugen; cast and shooting in a month for Sony.

The Smashing Machine 2025

Held up as another fight movie whose marketing oversells the uplift.

Reality 2023

The hosts' evidence that Sweeney has real dramatic chops.

Madame Web 2024

Sean's preferred use of Sweeney: hot, in glasses, deployed well.

Anyone But You 2023

The rom-com they agree didn't work for her.

Avatar: The Way of Water 2022

The Dec. 1 watch-along the show has committed Chris to.

Avatar 2009

The first one; Sean's advice is to skip it and just watch the sequel.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado 2018

Chris's running bit: he'd watch this in a Vision Pro during the Avatar screening.

Superman 2025

Gunn's film, summarized at the table as heroes and villains teaming up against a bigger threat.

Freakier Friday 2025

Recreates a Licorice Pizza walkway shot, a deliberate homage.

Weapons 2025

Teed up for next week; everyone at the table has seen it.

Sinners 2025

Coogler's film; the State Farm read hinges on its mid-credits Buddy Guy scene.

The teams drafting Paul Thomas Anderson characters

Amanda Dobbins

Lead Actor

Phantom Thread 2017

Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock, her favorite PTA film and, she argues, its most quotable, weaponizable character.

Lead Actress

Punch-Drunk Love 2002

Emily Watson as Lena Leonard, warm and intrigued by Barry's pudding-miles scheme instead of reading him as a weirdo.

Supporting Actor

Magnolia 1999

Tom Cruise as Frank T.J. Mackey; she takes him in supporting because to her all of Magnolia is supporting.

Supporting Actress

Phantom Thread 2017

Lesley Manville as Cyril Woodcock, who says little, controls everything, and never looks up from the teacup.

One Scene Star

Boogie Nights 1997

Dirk Diggler's prosthetic, argued as its own character: built up like Harry Lime and revealed only at the end.

Needle Drop

Licorice Pizza 2021

Paul McCartney's 'Let Me Roll It,' the cut that set her heart on fire.

Committed Relationship

Licorice Pizza 2021

Skyler Gisondo's Lance Brannigan, all charisma, plus the elite move of throwing food at Alana on the plane.

Chris Ryan

Lead Actor

There Will Be Blood 2007

Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, a force of nature; Chris calls it maybe the best performance he's ever seen.

Lead Actress

Magnolia 1999

Julianne Moore as Linda Partridge; Chris drafts her as a lead over the table's objections.

Supporting Actor

Inherent Vice 2014

Josh Brolin as Bigfoot Bjornsen: 'No Cielo Drive for Bigfoot,' the funniest line in the movie.

Supporting Actress

The Master 2012

Amy Adams as Peggy Dodd, the quietly controlling wife draining Lancaster's pep.

One Scene Star

Punch-Drunk Love 2002

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Dean Trumbell, the Mattress Man: 'shut, shut, shut up,' the moment the movie leaves Earth.

Needle Drop

Boogie Nights 1997

The Beach Boys' 'God Only Knows' over the bittersweet wind-down, Roller Girl staring out the classroom window.

Committed Relationship

Magnolia 1999

Melora Walters' Claudia Gator; he wants the trouble, reverting to his first instinct after flirting with Penny Kimball.

Sean Fennessey

Lead Actor

The Master 2012

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lancaster Dodd; Sean keeps him in lead over the two-hander objection.

Lead Actress

Phantom Thread 2017

Vicky Krieps as Alma, a discovery who goes toe to toe with Day-Lewis and holds the film's real power.

Supporting Actor

Boogie Nights 1997

John C. Reilly as Reed Rothchild over Burt Reynolds, one of the funniest performances in the movie.

Supporting Actress

Boogie Nights 1997

Heather Graham as Brandy, aka Roller Girl; Sean takes her early to thin a shallow pool, calling it her best performance.

One Scene Star

Boogie Nights 1997

Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson, coked-out with the firecrackers, arguably the best single scene in PTA's career.

Needle Drop

Inherent Vice 2014

Neil Young's 'Journey Through the Past' under the Ouija-board run through the rain; Amanda wanted it too.

Committed Relationship

Inherent Vice 2014

Katherine Waterston as Shasta Fay Hepworth, the hex he can't shake and would let destroy his life.

On the board, undrafted honorable mentions

Freddie Quell — The MasterLarry 'Doc' Sportello — Inherent ViceGary Valentine — Licorice PizzaAlana Kane — Licorice PizzaBarry Egan — Punch-Drunk LoveAmber Waves — Boogie NightsLittle Bill — Boogie NightsBuck Swope — Boogie NightsBecky Barnett — Boogie NightsScotty J. — Boogie NightsTodd Parker — Boogie NightsCoy Harlingen — Inherent ViceEli / Paul Sunday — There Will Be BloodSydney — Hard EightClementine — Hard Eight

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV TaskAlien: EarthEuphoriaAnd Just Like ThatSex and the CityPride and Prejudice

Podcasts The WatchThe RewatchablesThe TownRinger TailgateWTF

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