Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Barry Del Sherman, Dillon Freasier, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Paramount Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: April 08, 2008 Running Time: 158 minutes Theatrical Release Date: April 08, 2008
Genre: Feature Film-Drama Rating: R Release Date: 8-APR-2008 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com: Unmistakably a shot at greatness, Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood succeeds in wild, explosive ways. The film digs into nothing less than the sources of peculiarly American kinds of ambition, corruption, and industry--and makes exhilarating cinema from it all. Although inspired by Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel Oil!, Anderson has crafted his own take on the material, focusing on a black-eyed, self-made oilman named Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), whose voracious appetite for oil turns him into a California tycoon in the early years of the 20th century. The early reels are a mesmerizing look at the getting of oil from the ground, an intensely physical process that later broadens into Plainview's equally indomitable urge to control land and power. Curious, diverting episodes accumulate during Plainview's rise: a mighty derrick fire (a bravura opportunity that Anderson, with the aid of cinematographer Robert Elswit, does not fail to meet), a visit from a long-lost brother (Kevin J. O'Connor), the ongoing involvement of Plainview's poker-faced adoptive son (Dillon Freasier). As the film progresses, it gravitates toward Plainview's rivalry with the local representative of God, a preacher named Eli Sunday (brimstone-spitting Paul Dano); religion and capitalism are thus presented not so much as opposing forces but as two sides of the same coin. And the worm in the apple here is less man's greed than his vanity. Anderson's offbeat take on all this--exemplified by the astonishing musical score by Jonny Greenwood--occasionally threatens to break the film apart, but even when it founders, it excites. As for Daniel Day-Lewis, his performance is Olivier-like in its grand scope and its attention to details of behavior; Plainview speaks in the rum-rich voice of John Huston, and squints with the wariness of Walter Huston. It's a fearsome performance, and the engine behind the film's relentless power. --Robert Horton
The history of greed in the oil business This film was a little slow but I found myself engaged and entertained throughout. The main character is a trip, always talking about how much he hates people and how only sees their bad qualities. The guy basically does anything and everything possible to control as much oil as possible. It seemed to me an analogy of our country not just in our pursuit of oil, but the extent to which we exploit others for our own purposes.
Fine drama, confused in places This is an intense study of a single minded oil man and his struggles and tests in reaching the top. It also shows the various delusions, brutalities and neglects he is a party to in his rise in his field.
Without some first rate acting, this film would not hold together. It has too many uneven elements and parts of the story do not fit as naturally as might be liked. That it remains a stunning piece of cinema is a tribute to everyone involved, but I strongly recommend people to watch and decide for themselves. At the very least, you will see some stunning acting and fine, affecting drama.
Boring. There's a reason why nobody saw this movie until after the Oscars. Now, of course, all kinds of people are trying to tell you how great it is, but the fact is that it's boring, and the... let's call it "acting" done by Daniel Day Lewis is of about the same caliber as Jim Carey in "The Mask". If you like long, dull, depressing movies, filled with scenery-chewing and spastic over-acting, then this is for you. But really, why not save yourself some time, and just TELL everyone you "loved" it? Because really, that's what this movie is about- pretending you liked it so that everyone will know what a pretentious cineophile you are.
horrible and dark indictment of frontier capitalism This is the story of one of the most eccentrically evil and heartless men that has ever been put on film. DDL exudes the alienation and hatred of a psychotic achiever, who will stop at no humiliation or violence to achieve his goal of building a house as he remembers it from his childhood.
The portrait of a raw Texas, shorn of romantic myth, is unbelievably vivid and graphic. From the silent work that DDL carries out in a dank mine, you get a feeling for the lack of all social structure and decency in the greedy poor. As he works his way up, he leaves a trail of damaged people in all his achievements. However, this work of art is no caricature. The characters are realistic and believable, if uglier than we care to imagine much of our past to have been.
DDL creates a truly unique character. He hates and uses everyone, even the son he adopts, letting no one close, especially women. His one unguarded moment leads inexorably to murder. His alcoholism and seething rage are all that he has, beyond his oil wealth. It is truly frightening.
Recommended. THis is a true artistic success, but I would recommend renting it rather than buying it: you will only want to watch it once.
Boring There might be blood, but you might sleep through it. While the acting is superb, the storyline in this film leaves much to be desired. When I finished watching this one, the first thought that came to me was "that's it"?
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