There was a time when Daniel Day-Lewis was a struggling Irish actor. He had a bit part in "Gandhi," achieved fame with "A Room With A View," and won his first Oscar playing a real life artist in "My Left Foot." That was just the beginning.
There was a time when Paul Thomas Anderson was young man who inspired to be a major film director. Severely discouraged in school, Anderson carved his own path with highly energetic and entertaining films with big stars. His first film "Hard Eight" showed he had talent. His next film, "Boogie Nights" showed he destined to be an all-time great. In 2002, Anderson made his most daring film to date: "Punch-Drunk Love," a mellow film starring Adam Sandler way out of his comfort zone. This film was a major success.
Combine the already established actor and young director and greatness was guaranteed. It received acclaim across the board when it first came out and has only grown ever since.
"There Will Be Blood" is a carefully detailed gothic-western with lots to say beneath the surface but is just as great at the surface.
The film opens up in a silent overture with Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) beginning his journey digging for oil. You know how everyone says the first ten minutes of "Up" could be its own short film? Same thing here. Images only stirring up the start of a great film.
"There Will Be Blood" is about Plainview who tries to achieve the most success in the world as an oil tycoon. When he crosses paths with the shady pastor Eli Sunday (played by Paul Dano who is due for an Oscar in the future), a strange rivalry in formed. Both leads are extremely deep and exceedingly well acted.
Day-Lewis won his second as the evil Plainview. Just look at him and you can see how cold a person he is. He is not completely evil, well, not as first. But he is deeper than all of Day-Lewis' other characters. So deep, you may need to watch this a few times in order to fully digest who this man really is.
Anderson's directing is first rate. Like the greatest, his shots look good and also have great meaning behind them. This can be done through angles and shadows. The most obvious is Plainview seemingly digging his own path to hell. Genius.
With a bunch of important underlying themes that take a long time to dissect, the best thing to do is watch this more than once. Paul Dano is great, Daniel Day-Lewis is at his very best and the filming is very impressive. Don't miss this important flick.
4/4
There was a time when Paul Thomas Anderson was young man who inspired to be a major film director. Severely discouraged in school, Anderson carved his own path with highly energetic and entertaining films with big stars. His first film "Hard Eight" showed he had talent. His next film, "Boogie Nights" showed he destined to be an all-time great. In 2002, Anderson made his most daring film to date: "Punch-Drunk Love," a mellow film starring Adam Sandler way out of his comfort zone. This film was a major success.
Combine the already established actor and young director and greatness was guaranteed. It received acclaim across the board when it first came out and has only grown ever since.
"There Will Be Blood" is a carefully detailed gothic-western with lots to say beneath the surface but is just as great at the surface.
The film opens up in a silent overture with Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) beginning his journey digging for oil. You know how everyone says the first ten minutes of "Up" could be its own short film? Same thing here. Images only stirring up the start of a great film.
"There Will Be Blood" is about Plainview who tries to achieve the most success in the world as an oil tycoon. When he crosses paths with the shady pastor Eli Sunday (played by Paul Dano who is due for an Oscar in the future), a strange rivalry in formed. Both leads are extremely deep and exceedingly well acted.
Day-Lewis won his second as the evil Plainview. Just look at him and you can see how cold a person he is. He is not completely evil, well, not as first. But he is deeper than all of Day-Lewis' other characters. So deep, you may need to watch this a few times in order to fully digest who this man really is.
Anderson's directing is first rate. Like the greatest, his shots look good and also have great meaning behind them. This can be done through angles and shadows. The most obvious is Plainview seemingly digging his own path to hell. Genius.
With a bunch of important underlying themes that take a long time to dissect, the best thing to do is watch this more than once. Paul Dano is great, Daniel Day-Lewis is at his very best and the filming is very impressive. Don't miss this important flick.
4/4