This is the first time I have tried to review a film, so any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated.
There will be Blood is a 2007 film directed and written for the screen by Paul Anderson. Running time: 158 minutes.
Ignore the advert afterwords - this is the best quality trailer I could find
?There will be Blood?, whenever I mention that title to someone who has not heard of this film they immediately think of an action film. Clichéd, yes, but they do. Thankfully There Will be Blood is not referencing violence ? it is a reference to Oil.
Paul Anderson (who had directed Blossoms and Blood in 2003 before this film) loosely based this screenplay on the book Oil, written by Upton Sinclair. I use the term loosely because, as Paul Anderson himself admits, ?"there's not enough of the book... to feel like it's a proper adaptation."
The film centers around Daniel Plainview (excellently played by Daniel Day - Lewis), and his bid to earn money through the oil business, around the year 1900. Plainview, and his ?partner?, (who he refers to as his son) H.W own a large amount of land, which they use to dig up and export oil. They are constantly searching for new areas of land to buy and drain. After a tip, Plainview travels to a small shack in California, where he strikes oil. The film then turns, as Plainview, and a local priest (Eli) argue about the value of religious ideas. Plainview begins to turn crazy, expressing hate and anger towards everything ? the viewers also learn of his troubled past, and future.
That is a very straight foreword version of the plot. I have tried to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. The plot itself is easy to understand, but the ideas displayed are complex. What really makes this film stand out, among others, is the level of sophistication these ideas are displayed with. Greed, religion, lies are all expressed in this film.
Although the film may be set around 1900 (the film advances throughout a decade) the dialogue is easy to understand, dramatic and clever.
H.M. Tilford: We'll make you a millionaire while you're sitting here from one minute to the next.
Plainview: What else would I do with myself?
H.M. Tilford: Are you asking me?
Plainview: What else would I do with myself?
H.M. Tilford: Take care of your son. I don't know what you would do.
Plainview: If you were me and Standard offered to buy what you had for a million dollars, why? So, why?
H.M. Tilford: You know why.
Plainview: Yeah, you fellows need to scratch around in the dirt and find it like the rest of us instead of buying up someone else's hard work.
J.J. Carter: [defensively] I've scratched around in the dirt, son.
H.M. Tilford: Where you going to put it all? Where? Build a pipeline, make a deal with Union Oil, be my guest. But if you can't pull it off, you got an ocean of oil under your feet, with nowhere to go. Why not turn it over to us? We'll make you rich. You spend time with your boy. It's a great discovery... Now let us help you.
Source : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/
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Whilst the plot is compelling, the one part of the film that certainly stands out to me is the acting. Daniel Day-Lewis does a fantastic job as Daniel Plainview. Showering the audience with a wave of different emotions, perfectly capturing Plainview?s happiest days, his saddest days, and the madness stirring inside him. It should also be noted that Day Lewis won an Academy Award - Best actor for his performance. Other noteworthy performances include that of Eli Sunday (played by Paul Dano) and Henry Brands (played by Kevin O?Connor). In short, the standard of acting is extraordinary, as you can no doubt tell from the trailers I have posted.
The atmosphere is also extremely well done; the tone of the film never slows down - despite the large amounts of exposition, because you wish to learn more behind the interesting characters Anderson has created.
The films biggest failing, is its music. I know everybody has different tastes, but if you listen to the end of the trailers you will hear the type of music played. Composed by Johnny Greenwood (the guitarist for Radiohead!), the music just doesn?t suit the vibe of the film. It features disjointed thuds, as opposed to the simple melodies I feel would have worked to far greater effect in this film. On the other hand, his work has recently been nominated for a Grammy.
There Will be Blood is a truly terrific film, nominated for 8 Oscars (and winning 2) the film has been called a ?masterpiece? by a number of acclaimed critics.
I urge any self-respecting DVD player owner to rent or buy this film, simply because of its overall quality. There may not be many action sequences (as opposed to this years big films, particularly The Dark Knight), but the plot, terrific acting and general nature of the film make it a marvel to spectate. If you enjoy Drama you must watch this film.
.
There will be Blood is a 2007 film directed and written for the screen by Paul Anderson. Running time: 158 minutes.
Ignore the advert afterwords - this is the best quality trailer I could find
?There will be Blood?, whenever I mention that title to someone who has not heard of this film they immediately think of an action film. Clichéd, yes, but they do. Thankfully There Will be Blood is not referencing violence ? it is a reference to Oil.
Paul Anderson (who had directed Blossoms and Blood in 2003 before this film) loosely based this screenplay on the book Oil, written by Upton Sinclair. I use the term loosely because, as Paul Anderson himself admits, ?"there's not enough of the book... to feel like it's a proper adaptation."
The film centers around Daniel Plainview (excellently played by Daniel Day - Lewis), and his bid to earn money through the oil business, around the year 1900. Plainview, and his ?partner?, (who he refers to as his son) H.W own a large amount of land, which they use to dig up and export oil. They are constantly searching for new areas of land to buy and drain. After a tip, Plainview travels to a small shack in California, where he strikes oil. The film then turns, as Plainview, and a local priest (Eli) argue about the value of religious ideas. Plainview begins to turn crazy, expressing hate and anger towards everything ? the viewers also learn of his troubled past, and future.
That is a very straight foreword version of the plot. I have tried to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. The plot itself is easy to understand, but the ideas displayed are complex. What really makes this film stand out, among others, is the level of sophistication these ideas are displayed with. Greed, religion, lies are all expressed in this film.
Although the film may be set around 1900 (the film advances throughout a decade) the dialogue is easy to understand, dramatic and clever.
H.M. Tilford: We'll make you a millionaire while you're sitting here from one minute to the next.
Plainview: What else would I do with myself?
H.M. Tilford: Are you asking me?
Plainview: What else would I do with myself?
H.M. Tilford: Take care of your son. I don't know what you would do.
Plainview: If you were me and Standard offered to buy what you had for a million dollars, why? So, why?
H.M. Tilford: You know why.
Plainview: Yeah, you fellows need to scratch around in the dirt and find it like the rest of us instead of buying up someone else's hard work.
J.J. Carter: [defensively] I've scratched around in the dirt, son.
H.M. Tilford: Where you going to put it all? Where? Build a pipeline, make a deal with Union Oil, be my guest. But if you can't pull it off, you got an ocean of oil under your feet, with nowhere to go. Why not turn it over to us? We'll make you rich. You spend time with your boy. It's a great discovery... Now let us help you.
Source : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/
Whilst the plot is compelling, the one part of the film that certainly stands out to me is the acting. Daniel Day-Lewis does a fantastic job as Daniel Plainview. Showering the audience with a wave of different emotions, perfectly capturing Plainview?s happiest days, his saddest days, and the madness stirring inside him. It should also be noted that Day Lewis won an Academy Award - Best actor for his performance. Other noteworthy performances include that of Eli Sunday (played by Paul Dano) and Henry Brands (played by Kevin O?Connor). In short, the standard of acting is extraordinary, as you can no doubt tell from the trailers I have posted.
The atmosphere is also extremely well done; the tone of the film never slows down - despite the large amounts of exposition, because you wish to learn more behind the interesting characters Anderson has created.
The films biggest failing, is its music. I know everybody has different tastes, but if you listen to the end of the trailers you will hear the type of music played. Composed by Johnny Greenwood (the guitarist for Radiohead!), the music just doesn?t suit the vibe of the film. It features disjointed thuds, as opposed to the simple melodies I feel would have worked to far greater effect in this film. On the other hand, his work has recently been nominated for a Grammy.
There Will be Blood is a truly terrific film, nominated for 8 Oscars (and winning 2) the film has been called a ?masterpiece? by a number of acclaimed critics.
I urge any self-respecting DVD player owner to rent or buy this film, simply because of its overall quality. There may not be many action sequences (as opposed to this years big films, particularly The Dark Knight), but the plot, terrific acting and general nature of the film make it a marvel to spectate. If you enjoy Drama you must watch this film.
.
