There Will Be Blood

[DoobyDoo]

I'm really looking forward to this movie. For those who don't know, it's Paul Thomas Anderson's (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_thomas_anderson/about.php) next movie. Here's the synopsis:


A sprawling epic about family, greed, corruption, and the pursuit of the American dream. Set in the booming West coast oil fields at the turn of the 20th century, "There Will Be Blood" follows the rise of rugged prospector Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) who becomes an independent oilman after hitting it rich with the strike of a lifetime. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film is inspired by Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil!"

Reviews (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/there_will_be_blood/)

Trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/therewillbeblood/domestictrailer1/)

It opens in limited release on the 26th, but it probably won't be in most theaters until some time in January.

[Captain E.]

I'm really looking forward to this movie. For those who don't know, it's Paul Thomas Anderson's (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_thomas_anderson/about.php) next movie. Here's the synopsis:



Reviews (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/there_will_be_blood/)

Trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/therewillbeblood/domestictrailer1/)

It opens in limited release on the 26th, but it probably won't be in most theaters until some time in January.

I watched the trailer.. and really can't tell what's supposed to be going on.. It looks pretty interesting though, so maybe I'll check it out.

[DoobyDoo]

I watched the trailer.. and really can't tell what's supposed to be going on.. It looks pretty interesting though, so maybe I'll check it out.

I prefer this trailer for the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2Ae2SIXac

It's not as vague, and it's a more exciting trailer.

[El_Duderino]

I am excited to see this. Daniel Day Lewis is probably the best actor alive right now. I predict many oscars.

[DuffMan]

He is a great actor, it stinks that he doesn't make more movies because the ones he does make are aweseome!

[Lt Melmo]

I saw this today in Bethesda. Thoughts:

-the foremost word I can use to describe it is "interesting." Just in general.
-there were probably four scenes that I thought were the last, but it kept going and going. It's a really long two and a half hours.
-DDL is as good as advertised.
-the real standout is the music. Greenwood's score, while not singularly incredible, works extremely well with the film. There are a lot of scenes where it's just physical action and music, and they're beautiful. Honestly, one of the best music-heavy movies I've ever seen, and if it doesn't win the Best Score Oscar I'd be surprised and pissed.
-the cinematography was also fantastic and should at least contend for an Oscar. One of the more interesting techniques used throughout the entire film is the use of really long shots in dialogue, so we're not constantly flipping between characters as they speak. The camera concentrates entirely on one actor, mostly DDL, with the others off-screen. I love this-- there's always so much lost when we can't see how a character is reacting to someone else speaking.
-the actual content of the story-- eh. There was a lot going on, and a lot didn't seem necessary. It begins with a concentration on the oil aspect and gradually turns more and more into a character study. I don't personally mind this in retrospect, but the movie does a lot to distance itself from the audience. There's little humanity, little accessibility, and for me, the only moments I really connected with the film were during scenes where the music was the centerpiece and there was no dialogue. It looks so lush at times but it's very cold throughout.
-the religious angle frustrated me. It was there, but it wasn't developed. I feel like a lot more could be said about it in terms of the character of Plainview, exactly how his character deals with issues of faith and humanity. And this was a strong aspect, but at times it felt like the angle was just stuck in there for the writer to comment on universally.

[Tank]

I saw this today in Bethesda. Thoughts:

-the foremost word I can use to describe it is "interesting." Just in general.
-there were probably four scenes that I thought were the last, but it kept going and going. It's a really long two and a half hours.
-DDL is as good as advertised.
-the real standout is the music. Greenwood's score, while not singularly incredible, works extremely well with the film. There are a lot of scenes where it's just physical action and music, and they're beautiful. Honestly, one of the best music-heavy movies I've ever seen, and if it doesn't win the Best Score Oscar I'd be surprised and pissed.
-the cinematography was also fantastic and should at least contend for an Oscar. One of the more interesting techniques used throughout the entire film is the use of really long shots in dialogue, so we're not constantly flipping between characters as they speak. The camera concentrates entirely on one actor, mostly DDL, with the others off-screen. I love this-- there's always so much lost when we can't see how a character is reacting to someone else speaking.
-the actual content of the story-- eh. There was a lot going on, and a lot didn't seem necessary. It begins with a concentration on the oil aspect and gradually turns more and more into a character study. I don't personally mind this in retrospect, but the movie does a lot to distance itself from the audience. There's little humanity, little accessibility, and for me, the only moments I really connected with the film were during scenes where the music was the centerpiece and there was no dialogue. It looks so lush at times but it's very cold throughout.
-the religious angle frustrated me. It was there, but it wasn't developed. I feel like a lot more could be said about it in terms of the character of Plainview, exactly how his character deals with issues of faith and humanity. And this was a strong aspect, but at times it felt like the angle was just stuck in there for the writer to comment on universally.

Wow, thanks. Can you review every movie like this? :D

Seriously, I appreciate the in depth review. It will help me with my expectations before I see the movie.

[rolliefingers]

The last hour of this reminded me of Citizen Kane.

Greenwood's score was fantastically weird. And if DDL doesn't win Best Actor, the Academy should disband. You could feel the hate emanating from his eyes. Unbelievable.

2007 really was a tremendous year for movies.

[bobmc]

I saw this today in Bethesda. Thoughts:

-the foremost word I can use to describe it is "interesting." Just in general.
-there were probably four scenes that I thought were the last, but it kept going and going. It's a really long two and a half hours.
-DDL is as good as advertised.
-the real standout is the music. Greenwood's score, while not singularly incredible, works extremely well with the film. There are a lot of scenes where it's just physical action and music, and they're beautiful. Honestly, one of the best music-heavy movies I've ever seen, and if it doesn't win the Best Score Oscar I'd be surprised and pissed.
-the cinematography was also fantastic and should at least contend for an Oscar. One of the more interesting techniques used throughout the entire film is the use of really long shots in dialogue, so we're not constantly flipping between characters as they speak. The camera concentrates entirely on one actor, mostly DDL, with the others off-screen. I love this-- there's always so much lost when we can't see how a character is reacting to someone else speaking.
-the actual content of the story-- eh. There was a lot going on, and a lot didn't seem necessary. It begins with a concentration on the oil aspect and gradually turns more and more into a character study. I don't personally mind this in retrospect, but the movie does a lot to distance itself from the audience. There's little humanity, little accessibility, and for me, the only moments I really connected with the film were during scenes where the music was the centerpiece and there was no dialogue. It looks so lush at times but it's very cold throughout.
-the religious angle frustrated me. It was there, but it wasn't developed. I feel like a lot more could be said about it in terms of the character of Plainview, exactly how his character deals with issues of faith and humanity. And this was a strong aspect, but at times it felt like the angle was just stuck in there for the writer to comment on universally.

Wow! Tank got you but I second his words. I think I need to see DDL! Thanks rollie also! :002_shappy:

btw - what was your rating?

[Lt Melmo]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll try to write some more about movies I see (saw a ton this year) but this is just one of those that are really easy to talk about. It's noticeable. Had I enjoyed it a lot on a personal level, I probably wouldn't be able to say much more than "this was awesome!" :p

As for a rating, I honestly don't know. I forgot to put this in my other post, but I felt like it's a movie you enjoy simply because it's so impressive and nearly everything is perfectly executed... not because it's affecting on a personal level. And if it doesn't really resonate with me personally, I can't give it four stars. But three is too low. So I guess 3.5.

And more on the religious side of the film: I've read that a popular interpretation of Daniel Plainview is that he's literally Satan himself. I like this, but it doesn't really seem right to me. I certainly wouldn't mind if that was the intention though, it'd add a little more to "Paul Dano is an Evangelical preacher and DDL hates the crap out of him."

[DuffMan]

So this movie is finally out in much wider release starting Today. I'm hoping to check it out at some point over this 3 day weekend!

[Mashed Potatoes]

I'm withholding judgment until I see it a second time. Like any ambitious book or symphony there's no way to fully understand and appreciate after one go round. I'll share an email exchange I had with Michael Sragow who reviewed There Will Be Blood for the Sun.

SPOILER ALERT. Don't read the exchange if you haven't seen it.







I just read your review of There Will Be Blood after seeing it yesterday. When I walk into an epic movie I ask myself 2 questions. What is the director trying to say, and how successful is he/she in conveying that message. I can't answer the latter until I do the former, which is where I stand now. I agree with you that themes about America, manifest destiny, and unchecked capitalism are put on the back burner in favor of a character study. Perhaps you could share your opinion with me about some things and help clarify my thoughts.

1. Did Daniel Plainview have any real feelings for his adopted son? In their final interaction he claimed that he was just a pretty face needed to buy land, yet, there are many scenes where he puts himself in danger to save his son. Moments of tenderness which did nothing to advance his career. At the end was he simply mad that his son had become his competitor, or perhaps had married into the family of hypocrites he despised, or were his words truthful?

2. Did Daniel have any real feelings for his fake brother before he was exposed? He admitted his intense competitive spirit and hate for all people to him and no one else. Perhaps he craved real family, a crack in the armor?

3. You said "Sunday's apparent twin," I thought they were the same person? Eli used the persona Paul to do his dirty work in order to gain power through the church.

4. What did you make of the music? It was abnormal to say the least. Unimportant moments were bursting with dramatic scores. At times it was as if the music purposefully overpowered the dialogue.

Thanks in advance, I know it's a lot of questions,


Sorry I can't answer in detail -- I really am off to finish a book and I'm on deadline.

First: No, Paul Dano is playing two different people, but the director never addresses that. Daniel even makes a point of telling Eli that his brother gave him the lead. The brother simply disappears from the narrative.

Second, your other questions simply point to the lack of depth or clarity. At the point that Daniel must choose between leaving the oil fire to other hands or protecting his boy, he chooses the former. As far as the "brother," what is he responding to in the "brother" if WE can't even tell what the brother is playing?
This isn't ambiguity, but dramatic impotence and confusion, at least in my view.

Third, the music drove me crazy.

All the best, M.S.

[bobmc]

I saw it recently and I never thought of bowling as a contact sport before. I find it odd that I get into the character and start pulling for him to do things I find immoral and devious. I didn't like the guy but still find myself as him. :confused:

[MurphDogg]

The answer to your question about whether Paul Dano's characters were the same person can be answered by reading most any interview about the movie. Dano was cast as Paul and the actor cast as Eli was fired a couple weeks into filming for not being strong enough presence to match Daniel Day-Lewis.

[mikeygale]

I'm withholding judgment until I see it a second time. Like any ambitious book or symphony there's no way to fully understand and appreciate after one go round. I'll share an email exchange I had with Michael Sragow who reviewed There Will Be Blood for the Sun.
You've never heard a symphony in your life, you pretentious little faker. And Kitchen Confidential doesn't count as an ambitious book.

[Lt Melmo]

Just when we thought Jonny Greenwood pretty much had it made after this whole Radiohead thing blows over, along comes this little setback. According to a report from Los Angeles Times' The Envelope, Greenwood's much-feted, 8.1-earning score for Paul Thomas Anderson oilman flick There Will Be Blood will not be eligible for an Academy Award nomination this year.

Those noms will be announced tomorrow morning, and until this development many expected Greenwood's score would easily make the cut. According to sources quoted by The Envelope, however, it's been disqualified because "the majority of the music was not composed specifically for the film."
lame lame lame lame lame

[NewMarketSean]

lame lame lame lame lame

I agree. That is one of the best film scores of all time.

Anyway, about the film, I loved it. DDL gave one of the best performances of all time and I think that in time, if not already, this will be considered one of the great American movies. There is so much to dig into and to look for in repeated viewings, much like the Godfather. I love this film the more I think about it. ****

Oh and "I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!"

[DuffMan]

Finally saw this yesterday and I thought it was very good. There were a few parts that seemed to drag a little bit, but the acting more than made up for this Daniel Day-Lewis was awesome (that's really no surprise to me), but I was also really impressed with Paul Dano who i thought did an excellent job as Eli Sunday.
As others have already mentioned I too was impressed with the score for the film I thought that it really helped set the tone for the story.

[The Wedge]

I've come to the conclusion that Daniel Day-Lewis' involvement in any film gives it an automatic Oscar bid.

So as an experiment, I'm going to film two hours of DDL picking his nose, and submit it to the Academy.

(seriously, check out his resume)

[CrimsonTribe]

Eli and Paul were different characters, but it took me at least halfway through the movie to figure it out.

As for the movie, the performances by DDL and Paul Dano were great, but I was left confused as to what the point was. Either way it was a great story. Was PT Anderson trying to say something or not?

[vatech1994]

I agree. That is one of the best film scores of all time.

Anyway, about the film, I loved it. DDL gave one of the best performances of all time and I think that in time, if not already, this will be considered one of the great American movies. There is so much to dig into and to look for in repeated viewings, much like the Godfather. I love this film the more I think about it. ****

Oh and "I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!"

You're a very interesting guy. Rambo and There will be Blood both appeal to you. Those are two divergent movies. Sean, you're more than meets the eye. ;)

NOTE: This isn't sarcasm. I'm being serious.

[vatech1994]

I've come to the conclusion that Daniel Day-Lewis' involvement in any film gives it an automatic Oscar bid.

So as an experiment, I'm going to film two hours of DDL picking his nose, and submit it to the Academy.

(seriously, check out his resume)

With apologies to some amazing actors, DDL is the best actor I've ever witnessed. He is simply flawless in everything I see him in. Can you imagine being tight friends with this guy? He is so freaking intense and intelligent.

[The Wedge]

With apologies to some amazing actors, DDL is the best actor I've ever witnessed. He is simply flawless in everything I see him in. Can you imagine being tight friends with this guy? He is so freaking intense and intelligent.

No doubt. He's phenomenal. But I swear to god, they could cast him as Crocodile Dundee in Crocodile Dundee 4, and it'd be instant Oscar gold.

[DuffMan]

I'm not sure if you guys heard this, but originally Paul Dano was only cast to play Eli Sunday's brother. Something happened and the guy that was supposed to play Eli left the film so Anderson decided to make the characters twins making Dano play Eli as well. Apparently he only had 3 or 4 days to get ready for the part before he had to start filming scenes. That's pretty amazing because I thought he did a very good job in the movie and more than held his own with DDL.

[NewMarketSean]

You're a very interesting guy. Rambo and There will be Blood both appeal to you. Those are two divergent movies. Sean, you're more than meets the eye. ;)

And with that Tansformers reference, I enjoyed that craptastic movie too. I also watched the first AvP movie last night and even kinda enjoyed that.

I'm all over the map.

[NewMarketSean]

I'm not sure if you guys heard this, but originally Paul Dano was only cast to play Eli Sunday's brother. Something happened and the guy that was supposed to play Eli left the film so Anderson decided to make the characters twins making Dano play Eli as well. Apparently he only had 3 or 4 days to get ready for the part before he had to start filming scenes. That's pretty amazing because I thought he did a very good job in the movie and more than held his own with DDL.

Dano didn't get nominated, did he? He deserved to.

[DuffMan]

Dano didn't get nominated, did he? He deserved to.

Unfortunately he didn't, I agree he definitely deserved to be with that performance!

The nominations for Best Supporting Actor are

Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James), Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilsons War), Hal Holbrook (Into The Wild), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

[CrimsonTribe]

Unfortunately he didn't, I agree he definitely deserved to be with that performance!

The nominations for Best Supporting Actor are

Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James), Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilsons War), Hal Holbrook (Into The Wild), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Casey Affleck should win that. Wow, that's two pro-Casey Affleck posts in a row for me.

[CrimsonTribe]

I'm not sure if you guys heard this, but originally Paul Dano was only cast to play Eli Sunday's brother. Something happened and the guy that was supposed to play Eli left the film so Anderson decided to make the characters twins making Dano play Eli as well. Apparently he only had 3 or 4 days to get ready for the part before he had to start filming scenes. That's pretty amazing because I thought he did a very good job in the movie and more than held his own with DDL.

From what I've heard, the guy originally cast to play Eli couldn't handle DDL offscreen (DDL stays in character and thus acted evil to the kid even when filming stopped) so they had to recast the part and just had Dano play both brothers.

[Tank]

Casey Affleck should win that. Wow, that's two pro-Casey Affleck posts in a row for me.

I haven't seen "Jesse James" yet, but I loved the guy in Gone Baby Gone. Looking forward to getting it in from Netflix soon.

[TyCobb]

Just saw There will be Blood. It is my 2nd all-time favorite film, just behind Shane. If anyone read "A Hero of Our Time" by Mikhail Lermontov then you can answer this question. Doesn't DDL character seem a lot like Pechorin?

[CrimsonTribe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iia6S5nqtbY

[Bosibus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iia6S5nqtbY

Haha, that is hilarious.

I just watched the movie, I thought it was really good but a little under-developed. The woman, on the other hand, did not like it all. :cussing:

I need to watch it again though I think to really see what is going. I thought Eli and Paul were the same person in the script, I was just thinking that Paul was Eli's double personality.

A quick question, when DDL was unveling the oil rig and thanked Mary Sunday, was Eli pissed off or happy he at least said something about the hills and Sunday family?

[NewMarketSean]

Haha, that is hilarious.

I just watched the movie, I thought it was really good but a little under-developed. The woman, on the other hand, did not like it all. :cussing:

I need to watch it again though I think to really see what is going. I thought Eli and Paul were the same person in the script, I was just thinking that Paul was Eli's double personality.

A quick question, when DDL was unveling the oil rig and thanked Mary Sunday, was Eli pissed off or happy he at least said something about the hills and Sunday family?

Eli and Paul were different in the script. In fact, another actor had started filming scenes as Eli but he was let go from the film. Dano filled in last minute and played both characters. So they were intended to be different people, but whether or not he is the same guy adds another level of depth to the film.

And yes, Eli was very upset when Plainview didn't acknowledge him at the ceremony.