I finally sat down this weekend to watch There Will Be Blood. I have had the film for months but never could find the almost 3 hours to sit down and watch it. Saturday night ended up being an early night for the little one so my wife and I cranked up the DVD player and selected this film for the evening viewing.
It is one of those films that left me staring at the screen for a few minutes into the credits pondering what I just saw. Even now I am not sure how much I liked it. I just know that I liked it.
For those of you not familiar with the story, There Will Be Blood tells the story of Daniel Plainview, former gold/silver prospector who becomes a successful oilman. Soon the opportunity of a lifetime is dropped in his lap but it comes at a price and the title of the film comes to mean many things.
I am purposely short on the synopsis because I think this is a film that needs to unfold for the viewer. It is not to protect some kind of twist or anything of that nature because there are no gimmicks in the film (maybe save one, but we will get to that) but knowing too much ruins the slow burn character development that occurs with regards to Daniel's character. There might be some spoilers below, but not many.
What I really enjoyed most about this film was Daniel Day-Lewis's portrayal of Plainview. He is, quite simply, the most talented actor I have ever seen. He portrays Plainview as the intensely lonely man that he while also showing his inner strengh and his inexhaustible will. What results on screen is a complete character that is believable in every way. This is important in what is basically a character film. The film is not about oil but rather how a man deals with the world when he can't trust anyone. Day-Lewis is able to bring together Plainview's intense loneliness and his increadible strength of will and craft a character you can't help but pull for while hating him for what he does at the same time. Whatching the actor work is utterly amazing and I only wish every actor took their profession as seriously. I'm looking at you Keanu Reeves.
The film also contains a wonderful performance by Paul Dano as both Paul and Eli Sunday. I didn't think I could buy him as the hellfire and brimstone reverend but he is perfect. Paul's part is much more understated than Day-Lewis's but it is no less important. Eli represents everything Plainview hates about the world. Eli is the ultimate liar but someone Plainview has to deal with to get what he needs. Eli is also exactly like Plainview and Plainview hates him for it. Eli says what he needs to say to get what he wants just like Plainview. Eli uses the promise of everlasting life while Plainview uses the promise of wordly wealth to nudge people in the right direction. Dano works well as the foil to Day-Lewis and I was honestly surprised at how well he did in the role. He certainly had more speaking lines than in the last film I saw him in, Little Miss Sunshine.
The other stand-out in the film is the score. You would expect a very period sound for this film but that is not what you get. The score, while mostly orchestral, has a very contemporary sound. It is haunting and works well to feed the darkness and loneliness that is Plainview's character. Composed by Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood, the score is an integral part of the feel of the film. There is some opinion that the score is a gimmick used to make the film feel more weighty than it is but I can't disagree more. It actually enhances the film and allows the viewer to understand that the story's setting (the early 1900s) is not the focus of the film. It focuses the viewer on the characters and I think a 100% period would focus too much attention on the historical parts of the story and not the characters. The score, sadly, did not qualify for nomination for an Academy Award due to the use of pre-existing music. Such a shame as the score is amazing.
It would be impossible for me to analyze the film in the time I have available. Not only that, but I would like to watch it again before trying to take a deeper look into the message. There are multiple themes present throughout the film and it makes statements on things like family, greed, religion, etc. As a viewer you can take what you want from the film but for me the film is about the price of success and how much one can lose in the quest. What you do to get the things you want (or think you want) are more important than what you get as a result.
I give this film my highest recommendation.
It is one of those films that left me staring at the screen for a few minutes into the credits pondering what I just saw. Even now I am not sure how much I liked it. I just know that I liked it.
For those of you not familiar with the story, There Will Be Blood tells the story of Daniel Plainview, former gold/silver prospector who becomes a successful oilman. Soon the opportunity of a lifetime is dropped in his lap but it comes at a price and the title of the film comes to mean many things.
I am purposely short on the synopsis because I think this is a film that needs to unfold for the viewer. It is not to protect some kind of twist or anything of that nature because there are no gimmicks in the film (maybe save one, but we will get to that) but knowing too much ruins the slow burn character development that occurs with regards to Daniel's character. There might be some spoilers below, but not many.
What I really enjoyed most about this film was Daniel Day-Lewis's portrayal of Plainview. He is, quite simply, the most talented actor I have ever seen. He portrays Plainview as the intensely lonely man that he while also showing his inner strengh and his inexhaustible will. What results on screen is a complete character that is believable in every way. This is important in what is basically a character film. The film is not about oil but rather how a man deals with the world when he can't trust anyone. Day-Lewis is able to bring together Plainview's intense loneliness and his increadible strength of will and craft a character you can't help but pull for while hating him for what he does at the same time. Whatching the actor work is utterly amazing and I only wish every actor took their profession as seriously. I'm looking at you Keanu Reeves.
The film also contains a wonderful performance by Paul Dano as both Paul and Eli Sunday. I didn't think I could buy him as the hellfire and brimstone reverend but he is perfect. Paul's part is much more understated than Day-Lewis's but it is no less important. Eli represents everything Plainview hates about the world. Eli is the ultimate liar but someone Plainview has to deal with to get what he needs. Eli is also exactly like Plainview and Plainview hates him for it. Eli says what he needs to say to get what he wants just like Plainview. Eli uses the promise of everlasting life while Plainview uses the promise of wordly wealth to nudge people in the right direction. Dano works well as the foil to Day-Lewis and I was honestly surprised at how well he did in the role. He certainly had more speaking lines than in the last film I saw him in, Little Miss Sunshine.
The other stand-out in the film is the score. You would expect a very period sound for this film but that is not what you get. The score, while mostly orchestral, has a very contemporary sound. It is haunting and works well to feed the darkness and loneliness that is Plainview's character. Composed by Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood, the score is an integral part of the feel of the film. There is some opinion that the score is a gimmick used to make the film feel more weighty than it is but I can't disagree more. It actually enhances the film and allows the viewer to understand that the story's setting (the early 1900s) is not the focus of the film. It focuses the viewer on the characters and I think a 100% period would focus too much attention on the historical parts of the story and not the characters. The score, sadly, did not qualify for nomination for an Academy Award due to the use of pre-existing music. Such a shame as the score is amazing.
It would be impossible for me to analyze the film in the time I have available. Not only that, but I would like to watch it again before trying to take a deeper look into the message. There are multiple themes present throughout the film and it makes statements on things like family, greed, religion, etc. As a viewer you can take what you want from the film but for me the film is about the price of success and how much one can lose in the quest. What you do to get the things you want (or think you want) are more important than what you get as a result.
I give this film my highest recommendation.
Right o! I had the same reaction, particularly your description of wondering at the end "what did I just watch."
It wasn't what I expected and it took about 30 minutes to readjust and some people won't be able to make that adjustment, but this is art and like all good art is it messy and beautiful and haunting and provocative.
I had a similar reaction to The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Which I watched about the same time. It too is long and not what you would expect. But when they were both over you realize that you just experienced something, maybe not nameable, but something that was worthwile.
Too many people will think this two flicks are slow I am afraid but this review is spot on. Well said!
Daniel Day-Lewis is a true artist and his performance alone is worth the three hours.
If you like the period dramas I recommend 3:10 to Yuma. Yes it is a remake, but Christian Bale and Russell Crowe really excel in the film.