There Will Be Blood

[davenav]

I just saw the new PT Anderson epic, There Will Be Blood. To say I was spellbound by Daniel-Day Lewis' performance is an understatement of fairly large proportions. I'm assuming this was shot on DV because celluloid would have melted from the heat he projects in scene after scene.

The film is based on a 1927 novel by Upton Sinclair, "Oil," but as expanded by Anderson's script and DDL's blinding portrayal, it is a story elevated into the realm of allegory and myth. And Anderson's direction is as assured as even the master himself, John Ford.

It was impossible to believe that another film from this year could stand beside No Country For Old Men for sheer breath-taking cinematic boldness, but here it is. Surely, it will be a major contender in several categories at the Oscars.

[Dan C]

I'm really looking forward to this one. The musical score also sounds out of this world as well, at least from what little of it I've heard so far.

dan c

[phallumontis]

I saw the trailer for this when I went to see No Country for Old Men, and it looked like a winner. Sounded like one, too! (Jonny Greenwood did the soundtrack). I'll be sure to see it when my podunk town starts showing it.

[Director]

I saw a screening of this. It's good, but not that good. PTA is a great director but IMO, he needs to work on his drafts and edit his running times a bit more.

Yes, Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano are awesome in the film, but the story and themes are a bit lacking.

Of course, in the awful 2007-2008 season this film will surely be a contender for best film.

[RDK]

Saw this today. Mostly agree with Jason. Thought it started out very strong but faded as it went along - and I really disliked the ending. I agree that DDL is terrific in it, though. I have mixed feelings about PTA - I think he's a better director than storyteller - but overall I think this was one of his better films.

[Jimbo]

I saw this Friday, I thought it was brilliant, one of the 2 or 3 best movies of 2007. Day-Lewis was mesmerizing, and Paul Dano (who played the brother in Little Miss Sunshine) was a scream as the young preacher. Great acting, cinematography, and score. 2-1/2 hours flew by.

I must say that the look and feel of the film reminded me much more of Kubrick than Ford, almost an homage.

[LeeS]

I'm interested in seeing this. I just hope it is not as self-indulgent as other PTA films.

[davenav]

Well, I've not been a big fan till now, but I don't think it's self-indulgent. Some may see DDL's performance as such, but for me the two and a half-hours flew by. I don't think people should get so hung-up on 'story', I found it a riveting character-study and allegory.

[RDK]

Aside from some aspects of the ending (don't want to give anything away), this is probably PTA's least self-indulgent film.

[davenav]

I hope people are making plans to see it.

I can't imagine that DDL won't be nominated for an Oscar. PT Anderson will prolly get a nod, for adapted screenplay as well as Direction. It could even get a nom for Best Picture, although there is a lot of competition in that category this year.

[Dave G.]

I saw it last night and it blew me away.
Surely one of the best I have seen in a long time & I think an instant classic.

[jason100x]

I watched this last night and thought it to be an excellent experience. Visually a great exerience, and I was really drawn into the story. I was telling the friend I saw the movie with afterwards that the Academy Awards should have in any year that Daniel Day-Lewis makes a movie a Best Actor Award for him and a separate award for "Best Actor Besides Daniel Day-Lewis"!

[tommy-thewho]

I will watch anything with Daniel Day Lewis in it. Great actor..

Wish he would do more movies... He seems quite reclusive...

[jtaylor]

I saw this last night, and with the exception of the excellent performance given by Day-Lewis, I thought this film was bad, if not atrocious.

Way too many superfluous scenes, running way too long. The first scene, for instance, could've been cut to about 30 seconds instead of the 10 or so minutes it actually took, sans dialogue.

I know I'm in a minority here, but I thought it was no good.

[ATR]

Overrated, but worth seeing for some of the individual scenes alone (particularly Plainview's baptism). I always look forward to the next PT Anderson film because he's willing to take risks other directors won't.

I would bet that Anderson had to convince a number of studio heads, producers, and assorted backers that his ending worked, and when he couldn't he left it that way anyway.

[The Panda]

Saw it last night. A bit long and belabored, but DDL is nothing short of amazing. He just disappears into the role. It seems almost like a documentary.

The music (sometimes just a percussion track) was very intrusive, loud, and distracting. So much so that my wife said she was distracted and unable to really get into any of the characters.

Because of that, I will be very careful who I recommend it to. Incredible acting, strong script, great cinematography and sets, but the music is so loud and occasionally off the wall that it's almost like they couldn't bring themselves to make a movie that was in the classic 'epic' mode.:confused:

[davenav]

Hmm. Most people who I talk to cite the music as 'incredible.'

Swings and roundabouts, as they say.

[RDK]

My only problem with DDL - who is indeed terrific - is that he looked so much like Tom Selleck! :laugh:

[let him run...]

Very early on in the film DDL's charactor injuries his leg, through the rest of the film he favors that healed leg. But there is one scene where he stands, and begins to walk, but having sat for awhile his leg has obviously stiffened up on him and it takes him a few shaky steps before he can walk with his normal, although favored gait. That detail is not central to any part of the film, but it shows Daniel Day Lewis' ability to inhabit a role. Amazing performance!
One thing that did end up distracting me was, somewhere along the way, DDL's voice started reminding me of John Huston's very distictive way of speaking. Is it just me or does anyone else hear it too?

[ATR]

V
One thing that did end up distracting me was, somewhere along the way, DDL's voice started reminding me of John Huston's very distictive way of speaking. Is it just me or does anyone else hear it too?

It's mentioned in more than one review that the performance is reminiscent of Huston's in Chinatown, and the story itself harkens back, in some ways, to the Huston directed Treasure of Sierra Madre, which starred Walter Huston.

Interesting that another poster thought Day Lewis disconcertingly resembled Tom Selleck, as I thought he looked like Burt Lancaster.

Regarding the score, it's received raves on its own yet like another poster I found it a bit distracting at times. It reminded me of the Ligeti choral music in 2001, but Jonny Greenwood (I think that's his name) is no Ligeti.

[leGrandOrange]

(delurking) first post, whoo!

Greenwood is the guitarist/synthesist for the band Radiohead--they're quite popular. I don't really like their stuff, but Greenwood's work here is really good--one of the better scores I've heard lately.

Excuse the following effusion:
I'm not too much of a fan of Anderson, either (I like his brother, Wes, much better--that's a joke, I think...), but this movie is totally over the top--in a good way. DDL is awesome. And as far as the beginning--which one poster complained about--I thought it was incredible--just a wonderful visual prelude. The ending did not bother me, either, I think it sums up the pathos and insanity of DDL's character. Obviously, Anderson, likes big endings--let's not forget the ending of "Boogie Nights." Back to TWBB--, everything in between, too, is just full on. What a fun film!

[phallumontis]

I just got back from seeing the film. Aside from the play-by-play commentators behind me in the theater, it was one of the best films I've ever seen. Daniel-Day Lewis is really something else, and Paul Dano is promising. While I've always liked P.T. Anderson's films, I feel like he has finally made a name for himself outside the art-house crowd with this one. Truly a masterpiece of film making.

[Shawn1968]

I saw this yesterday and unfortunately wasn't too impressed. Yes, the acting is fantastic, but the story, IMO, seemed to almost say "we are making an important epic here" and was a little too self-indulgent/full of itself in parts.

I'm in the minority here, so take this for what it is. Still, I had higher hopes (and I'm a big Paul Thomas Anderson fan as well).

[Rando]

I must say that the look and feel of the film reminded me much more of Kubrick than Ford, almost an homage.

I felt exactly the same way. Some scenes (especially the train pulling into town) reminded me a lot of Leone, but it felt like Kubrick's fingerprints all over the film. It gave me the same sense of uneasy dread as "Eyes Wide Shut."

[Larry Mc]

Great performance by Daniel Day Lewis. I'm a little confused about Paul and Eli Sunday. Were they the same guy?