I should start this review by first stating my bias: I'm a HUGE PTA
fan. (Paul Thomas Anderson) I think the man's a genius. Magnolia being
my favorite, but Punch Drunk Love a close second. There Will Be Blood
lets PTA stretch his legs with some new subject matter and style. His
mood-setting soundtrack is still present however.
My second bias, since I'm feeling particularly honest today, is an
incredible respect for the acting of Daniel Day Lewis. The man can do
no wrong. It's hard to choose a favorite role, but if forced to at gun
point, I'd have to go with his brutal role in Gangs of New York. Once
again, DDL delivers a flawless performance, immersing himself in the
character. Why anyone agrees to be in a film with him is a mystery to
me. They all look like novice hacks in comparison.
The story here is as dark as the oil, and the telling of it is as hard
as the drill work shown in the film. There are no classic good or
bad guys—characters freely move back and forth between likable and
nasty behaviors. One wonders if success makes you slightly insane or
if minor insanity is a requirement for becoming successful. There's no
doubt Daniel has lost a part of his mind by the final scene.
The film is beautifully shot and riveting to watch. It slows to a
crawl at times, and will certainly rub some viewers the wrong way with
it's subject matter. To be enjoyed in the company of other serious
movie buffs.
Rating: B+
No comments:
Post a Comment