Reviews of There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Boredom

Posted : 2 months, 1 week ago on 30 May 2008 11:58 (A review of There Will Be Blood)

I had heard from numerous sources that this was a "amazing" film and an equal amount of sources that truthfully didn't care much for it. I'll come out and say it now; I'm of the latter faction.

I'm not sure it's a fair assessment to say that if one were to denounce this movie that they clearly have no real appreciation for masterpieces and would much rather watch blockbuster hits. It's probably a great film, perhaps one of the great ones even but that doesn't mean I have to like it or enjoy it.
I saw the Mona Lisa once and aside from the fact that it was tiny and hidden behind a glass casing, not to mention surrounded by hordes of people, I understood the fact that for some apparent reason I'm not aware of many other people have named it a great piece of art. I can say well "It's decent enough," but it's not something I can enjoy on a deeper level. I can't connect with the Mona Lisa like I can connect to a poorly drawn but humorous image of a dancing banana. Sure it's not "high class" but it's certainly more enjoyably approachable.

I don't mean to imply that There Will Be Blood is an epic masterpiece in cinema; it tries too hard to be that. There was some superb acting here but I just couldn't feel the connection. No doubt about it Daniel Day-Lewis did give a stellar performance and I did enjoy Paul Dano as Eli the crazy preacher dude (he screams like a girl) but I was still bored out of my mind. Had it not been for the creepy but fantastic score I would have given up within the first half hour.
I don't listen to Radiohead but apparently many of my peers do and perhaps I might have to listen in the near future. Jonny Greenwood, who's a member of Radiohead, composed the score and it's hauntingly amazing. Plus there were excerpts of (string ensemble?) pieces by Brahms and some guy named Arvo Part. It just didn't seem to fit right in the whole setting of the film but perhaps it was this discord that made it work the way it did. Every time I heard those tense strings I kept expecting something big to happen (and nothing ever did). It was as if I were watching a different sort of film with more horror and ghastly creatures waiting to pounce one people and stuff. That might have been more fun if Eli was a leader of a zombie cult that was out to kill anyone trying to drill in their land. And maybe if they had a pyromaniac who was the last salvation against the zombie invasion. Oh and if siblings got along better to ward off said zombie invasion. Then it'd be better. Maybe.

But no. Instead I was watching an unconventional film about a guy who digs oil and stuff. Some creepy evangelical prophet and subsequent blind followers. Throw in a little boy and some "brothers" for good measure. That in itself wouldn't warrant my boredom but the film was too long and the pacing way too slow for me to enjoy it. I like me some different movies but this just didn't work out for me.

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There Will Be Blood review

Posted : 2 months, 2 weeks ago on 22 May 2008 04:28 (A review of There Will Be Blood)

This is a fantastic film. Wonderful imagery, characterisation and film score. Daniel Day-Lewis did an amazing job. The film score is especially stellar, and really captures the action of the film. Everybody who likes quality dramas should see this.

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excellent

Posted : 2 months, 4 weeks ago on 11 May 2008 06:15 (A review of There Will Be Blood)

The story of an oilman, Daniel Plainview.

Splendid performances by Daniel-Day Lewis and Paul Dano, who is very convincing as a preacher.
Beautiful cinematography by Robert Elswit.
My hats off to the producers, who took a risk in producing this film, and to the scriptwriters who did outstanding work in adapting the book Oil by Upton Sinclair - even if they didn't respect the book 100%, the final product is a great movie.

I certainly didn't expect this film to be this excellent. Recommended viewing to all.


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One of 2007's best films!

Posted : 3 months, 2 weeks ago on 21 April 2008 06:43 (A review of There Will Be Blood)

"Drainage! Drainage, Eli, you boy. Drained dry. I'm so sorry. Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching? And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!"

Words cannot do justice to accurately describe this movie; Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood is an unmissable event and without doubt one of the best movies to hit cinemas during 2007.

This is another of those masterpieces that separates those who love the blockbusters and those who love good filmmaking. In order to appreciate the movie, you must be in the latter category.

Daniel Day-Lewis completely stole the show here; his portrayal is unlike anything I have seen in such a movie. Set in the oil fields at the turn of the 20th Century, the film chronicles the rise of prospector Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) who becomes an independent oil man. He becomes a very wealthy man as his oil wells begin to take in lots of money.

This sprawling epic is a tale about greed, corruption and the pursuit of the American dream. Focusing heavily on the troubles and dangers of working at an oil well; some of the scenes of brilliant, compelling drama are never likely to be seen again. This powerful drama is reliant on performances by the actors; without Day-Lewis or the members of the supporting cast the film would not have succeeded. There are many other memorable characters who are developed perfectly over the running time, but it would take too long to talk about each individual, brilliant performance.

The film is a prime example of a modern masterpiece with improper marketing. The marketing campaign for the movie didn't do much for me, and it was only after the reviews I read that sparked an interest in seeing it.

The script is exceptionally well written. There Will Be Blood is a character study that shows us many scenes of drama and development of characters. Because of the strong script (based on Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil!") and remarkable direction, the film works. We can feel the tension between the characters due to such accomplished performances.

Overall, There Will Be Blood is among the finest films to hit cinemas during 2007. In a year filled with disappointing sequels and remakes, it's great that masterpieces like these get made. Highly recommended if you can spare 150 minutes of your time.

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Great acting

Posted : 5 months, 1 week ago on 27 February 2008 01:07 (A review of There Will Be Blood)

This movie is worth watching just to see Daniel Day-Lewis perform his magic. He is an amazing actor and shows his fantastic skills again. The movie is a little on the long side and moves slowly at times, but it is very well made. This one is for adults only. I don't think the kids will get into this one.

Flash

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Remember The Hollywood Studio Epics?

Posted : 5 months, 2 weeks ago on 23 February 2008 12:34 (A review of There Will Be Blood)

A movie that hits you like a fever, There Will Be Blood is not the type of story that gets told very often. A multi-layered portrait of all that comes with a desire for power, the film will leave audiences feeling exhausted and with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film is presented in an assured and confident manner. Anderson is the most naturally gifted filmmaker of his generation, a fact that is evident here. Packed with breathtaking shots and scenes of boiling intensity, the movie makes no apologies about its tendency towards the grandeur inherent in telling an epic story that spans decades. Perhaps the first thing that will strike viewers will be the unavoidable use of images that comes naturally when setting a story in the old west. However, Anderson's work also packs enough depth and complexity to let you know that it never relies solely on this foundation. Although ripe with symbolism, There Will Be Blood does not settle solely on the pretense offered by its images. Instead it gives us complex characters that prove to be the soul of the story.

The film is anchored by the powerful presence of Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, a silver miner turned oilman. Day-Lewis' performance is a thing of beauty. Equal parts larger-than-life and nuanced, his Daniel Plainview perfectly embodies the spirit of a salesman while putting across the multiple layers required for the portrayal of a man with an all-too-human desire for power. Critics of Daniel Day-Lewis performance will say that his portrayal is far too theatrical, a criticism also given to his portrayal of Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York. The reality is that Day-Lewis does not carry this to everyone of his performances. However, he knows when a character is supposed to be showman. Plainview is a salesman and without his exagerated mannerisms he would be nowhere as a businessman. What is truly outstanding is that, unlike other actors, Day-Lewis is able to bring out the more human aspects of Plainview what make him a fascinating character to watch.

Joining Day-Lewis is Paul Dano as Eli Sunday. Dano balances out his character appropriately, giving Sunday the calm and silent demeanor that stands in sharp contrast to his passion for religion. While Dano does not deliver the performance of his career in this film, he does show hints of tremendous talent in his portrayal of an evangelical preacher that stands in opposition of Plainview's search for power.

Providing the score for this conflict is Johnny Greenwood's haunting score. Greenwood manages to accentuate the barren desert setting with a score that is both minimalist and entrancing. The music enhances the dark, pessimistic, and the emotional tone of the film, while never taking the attention away from the acting.

There Will Be Blood is an achievement in cinematography, acting, writing and film-making unlike anything released in a while. It is a film that puts its focus on unlikable characters and dares to take you in deeper in spite of this fact. Like Raging Bull, it is a character study of a man who you would not normally want to know and who you will be unable to forget about, after it is all said and done.

Watching There Will Be Blood is a powerful and emotionally draining experience, and after seeing all five nominated for best picture this year, this is no doubt the one I would bet, though No Country For Old Men (which also deals with greed and what it does with simple men) is magnificent as well.

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