There Will Be Blood (and boredom)

[InsomniacInkRoss]

I didn't see a thread for this film.

 

No spoilers below.

 

I went and saw it, why the hype? Is it from people who have never seen a well made movie so they think it is the end all and be all? It IS a well made movie and Daniel Day-Lewis was fantastic in it, but, I can't really recommend that people rush out to see this. It's better than 90% of the films out there, but that really isn't saying anything. However, if the early 1900's oil business gets you all hot and bothered, then this is the movie for you.

 

No Country blows this out of the water.

[Bert55]

Just saw Atonement, my wife made me go, and it was disturbing. Surprising, Juno was great.

 

As for there will be blood, I was going to see this movie, as I appreciate DDL acting skills. Thanks for the review

[RayKingsForemanGrill]

There Will be Blood is good, but you're absolutely right, No Country is head and shoulders a better film. Having said that, DDL gives the strongest performance put on film in the last 10 years or so...

 

Saw Atonement last night and it was quite good. I think it transcends the "chick flick" tag some are trying to put on it - you're right, it is disturbing, but it makes it a good movie.

 

Two movies I watched this last week that everyone should see: Eastern Promises and Lars and the Real Girl... Eastern Promises is considerably better than Cronenburg's last film History of Violence... and had not DDL put up such a great performance I think Viggo would have been a legitimate contender for best actor...

 

Lars and the Real Girl is also tough to watch but in a really good way... It's uncomfortable, but that;s how you're supposed to feel...

[jordanmuehl]

Artistically, I felt that There Will Be Blood was definitely on par with No Country For Old Men. The cinematography was outstanding, the performances (both DDL and Paul Dano) were outstanding, and Paul Thomas Anderson really got a great original score from Johnny Greenwood (guitar player from Radiohead). No Country may have been the better film, but, in my opinion, it's close.

[Roscoe Chill]

Daniel Day Lewis knocks every role he takes (and that's not many) out of the park. If he's anywhere near as good as he was in "Gangs of New York" he should get the Oscar, which he should have received over Adrien Brody.

[homer]

"Eastern Promises is considerably better than Cronenburg's last film History of Violence"

 

That's good to know. I've been avoiding EP because of my disappointment in History of Violence. I'll bump it up the rental queue.

[jordanmuehl]

Wow. I'm surprised to find that you guys didn't like History of Violence.

[Team Canada]

Daniel Day Lewis knocks every role he takes (and that's not many) out of the park. If he's anywhere near as good as he was in "Gangs of New York" he should get the Oscar, which he should have received over Adrien Brody.

 

Thanks for reminding me how much I hated the Pianist. Not that I liked GoNY either..

[RobertR]

I've been rolling TWBB around in my head for a couple of days now, and I'll agree that No Country For Old Men is the better overall movie. Daniel Day-Lewis is ridiculously good though and it is a great performance. Maybe his greatest.

 

After thinking it over, I think TWBB is a little lopsided in favor of the Daniel Plainview vs. Eli Sunday conflict while ideally it should be more balanced with the Daniel and H.W. storyline. Then again, DDL vs. the various actors that would portray H.W., including a rather good child actor, and the handicaps they would work with is like sending a pitbull up against a toy poodle. Paul Dano is at least able to hold his own. Still, I think the idea of contrasting the story of Daniel Plainview and Eli Sunday with the story of H.W. and Mary Sunday is instructive. And, helps turn the film from merely one of pure archetypes into more of a character study.

 

I'll agree though that it's not a particularly complex plot. And if you're waiting for twists and turns, you're not going to get many. It's definitely travelling in the realm where allegory and symbolism, the central conflict involves a corrupt capitalist vs. a corrupt preacher, DDL's final insults in one scene literally fall upon deaf ears, are as important, if not moreso, than plot. I consider it something of a spiritual brother to CITIZEN KANE, especially in its ending scenes, in its scope and purpose, but without a lot of the whiz bang technical breakthroughs.But it is a finely crafted movie from its acting, dialogue, cinematography, and score in its own right.

 

Robert

[RayKingsForemanGrill]

It actually was my favorite movie of '05... I just like EP better...

 

 

jordanmuehl wrote:

---

Wow. I'm surprised to find that you guys didn't like History of Violence.

 

[TooLiveBrew]

Having said that, DDL gives the strongest performance put on film in the last 10 years or so...

 

If you made a list of best performances in the last 10 years, wouldn't Day-Lewis be on that list multiple times? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

I can't even pick a favorite... but I'm very partial to his role as John Proctor.

 

If he's anywhere near as good as he was in "Gangs of New York" he should get the Oscar, which he should have received over Adrien Brody.

 

The fact that Adrien Brody won an Oscar... for anything... should serve as a constant reminder of what a joke the 'Acadamy' really is.

 

I'll agree though that it's not a particularly complex plot. And if you're waiting for twists and turns, you're not going to get many. It's definitely travelling in the realm where allegory and symbolism, the central conflict involves a corrupt capitalist vs. a corrupt preacher, DDL's final insults in one scene literally fall upon deaf ears, are as important, if not moreso, than plot.

 

Keep in mind that what MSC just described is integral in nearly everything Upton Sinclair wrote (save the 'no twists & turns'). I'm very anxious to see this film.

 

PLEASE, NO SPOILERS! (the 'deaf' thing is close...)