Simply, one of the best movies of the year. One of the best movies about a time in American history. In Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the best performances, not of the year, not of the decade, but of ALL TIME.
That is all. For now.
I really can’t add anything to that except to say
DRAINAGE!!***
Seriously, the final scene and it’s multiple reversals was probably the single best scene I’ve ever seen in any movie ever.
I’m almost sorry that the Oscars might not happen, and this thing might not get the full accolades it deserves. But then, this thing is so good that perhaps a strange footnote on its IMDB trivia page is only appropriate.
“You see, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake…”
laugh I can’t imagine that it will get much beyond Best Actor, it’s just not an Oscary film, but I’d want it to sweep if not for the Coen Brothers. Damn them for having an excellent film this year too! I’m a fan of the Coens AND Paul Thomas Anderson, so it’ll hurt seeing them compete against each other. Exciting though.
This is a movie I want to read about and talk about, but at the same time I don’t feel like I’m anywhere NEAR articulate and intelligent enough to do this movie justice. All the usual accolades, “great cinematography, strange and haunting music, fantastic set design, perfect writing, direction, & acting” is far too mediocre for what I saw, and talk about the plot (what there is of it) is beyond my skill. It’s more about characters and their interactions than plot the way most people think of as plot. I don’t even know exactly WHY I like it so much, other than being knocked out by the above things, being interested in this time and place, meeting characters I’ve never seen quite this way before (though I know there have been oilmen movies before), and especially by Daniel Day-Lewis, who didn’t just play the character of Daniel Plainview, he BECAME Daniel Plainview (which is, actually, how he works, by getting into and staying in character, I can’t even imagine what that does to your social life).
What’s most interesting about his acting is that it’s quite a bit more than the fierceness and unlikeability that’s in the trailer, though I had said a couple of weeks ago that I’d give him an Oscar just for the trailer alone. First, there are many many many subtle moments where the acting is done only with the facial muscles and the eyes, important points made just by a look or a slight movement. Second, some have said that his character is unlikable, hateful and has no redeeming qualities. While Daniel Plainview did some things that would earn him that label, I actually liked him for most of the movie. Maybe that’s because Day-Lewis is so skilled the way sutlety works, that he was able to convey a glimmer of humanity, and humor, even though it wasn’t overt and was well-hidden most of the time.
This is billed as an epic, but it’s a fairly intimate epic. It’s grand and sweeping but dark and claustrophobic at the same time. I was right, I’m not doing it justice. In any case, it’s well worth seeing. If only to watch a master craftsman at work.
I might add that religious folks who are Easily Offended should stay away, lest they be Mightily Offended.
It’s hilarious that The Golden Compass was lambasted, yet not a word has been said about this movie, which is FAR more critical of “religion” than TGC ever thought of being. snerk
I just saw this today. Daniel Day-Lewis was just brilliant! I have always liked him and he does not disappoint here. It’s too bad that there may not be any Oscars this year because he completely deserves it.
I can’t wait to see this. I’m glad that the Western seems to be making a comeback, with 3:10 to Yuma and now this.
I agree. And don’t forget the utterly brilliant The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford!
Well, it’s not for children, which is the big thing, and Plainview, the anti-religious character, is so thoroughly evil that we can’t really say the movie condones his worldview.
[spoiler]But I did feel sorry for the poor bastard. He did have a redeeming quality: he really loved HW. Gave up on caring for him too soon, but given what had happened, there were mitigating circumstances, and I think he did deserve to be forgiven by him. He’s evil, yes, but we get to know him so well, and know that he’s also so desperately unhappy that we still have to look at him at least a little fondly. It’s a tragedy in the old sense, were a great man is undone by his own flaws.
The film’s only flaw, IMHO, was that it was too easy to confuse the Sunday twins. It took me a bit to realize that Paul and Eli weren’t supposed to be the same person, and that Eli wasn’t running a very deep scam on his own father.[/spoiler]
Daniel Day Lewis’ performance in this is EASILY the best performance of the century thus far.
Jonny Greenwood deserves a nomination as well, the music was great.
Of course I agree about DDL but I also agree about Greenwood’s score. It reminded me of Kubrick. Very sparse and unusual, but absolutely right for the mood of the film.
Menocchio, I’ve asked that your last two paragraphs be put into boxed spoilers, and that “Boxed Spoilers” be added to the Subject Line, something I forgot to do in my haste to post something, anything, about this film. I have things to say about your points, but I don’t want to quote them.
I really want to see this movie. It’s only showing at one place in town right now and I think I might try to go see it next weekend. I like really like both PT Anderson and D Day-Lewis and the reviews on this movie have been off the charrts.
One question, though, Equipoise, almost every review says that the ending is bizarre, and may be off-putting and that some audiences have even laughed at it. Without spoiling anything, can you tell us what you thought of the ending, whether you thought it worked or whether you thought it marred the movie?
Thanks SkipMagic!
I can see off-putting for some, I can see shock for many and offense for a few. Laughed? I can see that, but I don’t think it would have been a laugh of either scorn or humor or “oh that’s silly, you must be kidding, oh come ON” way. To say audiences laughed at it, whoever said that, was simplifying a very complex scene and interaction.
Hmmm, how to describe a very serious ending…there are a couple of things that happen and lines said that are funny but not in a funny jokey haha way. The scene is very very tense and intense, and Plainview says some bizarre things that would make many laugh in a nervous, WTF am I hearing? way. I know I did. I promise you’ll never look at a milkshake the same way again. The ending definitely worked for me, all of it.
After you’ve seen it, let me know what you think.
Yeah, from what I’ve read, the laughter is nervous and confused, not mocking. I’ve seen comparisons to the Alfred Molina/firecracker scene in Boogie Nights and the “What do you mean, I’m funny?” scene in Goodfellas. They say it’s WTF? laughter like you said.
I’m dying to see this thing. I’ll return to this thread when I’ve seen it.
Nervous and confused, exactly! Comparing the suspense to the scenes in Boogie Nights and Goodfellas is perfect.
When I said “You’ll never look at a milkshake the same way again,” to be more accurate, you’ll never see or think of a milkshake again without thinking of this movie.
Spoilers now. Go away. 
People who haven’t seen this, PLEASE don’t read spoilers unless you’re absolutely, 100% sure you’re not going to see the movie. I went in knowing very little about the plot and characters, and that’s the best way to see it for the first time.
You’re right. That it’s not a kid’s movie makes a difference. No, it doesn’t condone his worldview, butI didn’t see him as thoroughly evil. Maybe it’s because I’m an atheist and despise evangelists, but I loved how he treated Eli. Plainview and I both thought Eli was a faker. I hated Eli, and thought he deserved every bit of humiliation Plainview could heap on him.
[QUOTE=Menocchio]
But I did feel sorry for the poor bastard. He did have a redeeming quality: he really loved HW. Gave up on caring for him too soon, but given what had happened, there were mitigating circumstances, and I think he did deserve to be forgiven by him. He’s evil, yes, but we get to know him so well, and know that he’s also so desperately unhappy that we still have to look at him at least a little fondly. It’s a tragedy in the old sense, were a great man is undone by his own flaws. ./quote] [spoiler] Yes, I felt sorry for him too. He could have had a great life, but he was, as you say, undone by his own flaws. I don’t think he’s evil though. He did bad things, things I don’t condone, but I understood most of the things he did. For instance, sending his son away. I didn’t like that, but I understood it. The boy was freaked out by what had happened to him, and was out of control, and almost killed the two men. The structure and education of a school for the deaf was what he needed, so Plainview was right to send him away. He just did it the wrong way, and deserved the slap that H.W. gave him. His killing his “brother,” I didn’t condone but I understood. Plainview was such a loner, and he finally found someone he felt he could open up to and share his deepest, anti-social thoughts, and Henry turned out to be a con man. Even killing Eli. I don’t condone, but his madness and Eli’s smarmy bullshit finally made him crack.
The only thing I really hated him for was the way he treated HW in the end. Plainview could have learned sign language and they could have made a great team, but he was too far gone. He said horrible, hurtful, hateful things, and I loved HW’s reaction. It was on the verge of relief…“oh my god, I’m NOT related to this asshole, halleluyah!” or maybe I just imagined that. But I still liked his reaction.
[/spoiler]
[spoiler]
[spoiler]I don’t think it was a flaw at all, but a momentary WTF? (Another, momentary WTF, though a big one). I wondered too if Eli wasn’t pulling a fast one too, posing as his own “brother” to get Plainview to come to the ranch, and to try and get a better deal than he would with Standard, but no. Paul was real, and he just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge and away from his fuckhead brother. He could have warned Plainview that he had a twin brother though. I liked Plainview’s reaction when he first saw Eli. He knew this guy was named “Eli” and not Paul, so you could see the wheels turning in his head "ah, twin brother…I’ll bet he doesn’t know why I’m here. That was one of those subtle moments I was talking about that was so great.
The best subtle moment of all was when Plainview realized that Henry was bogus. So much said with no words. He turned from having a good time, to furious and frightening, but it was so subtle that Henry never noticed a thing.[/spoiler]
Aw man, I had a big post written and something went wonky with the board and it didn’t post, though it looked like I did and then edited. Here it is again.
[spoiler] Yes, I felt sorry for him too. He could have had a great life, but he was, as you say, undone by his own flaws. I don’t think he’s evil though. He did bad things, things I don’t condone, but I understood most of the things he did. For instance, sending his son away. I didn’t like that, but I understood it. The boy was freaked out by what had happened to him, and was out of control, and almost killed the two men. The structure and education of a school for the deaf was what he needed, so Plainview was right to send him away. He just did it the wrong way, and deserved the slap that H.W. gave him. His killing his “brother,” I didn’t condone but I understood. Plainview was such a loner, and he finally found someone he felt he could open up to and share his deepest, anti-social thoughts, and Henry turned out to be a con man. Even killing Eli. I don’t condone, but his madness and Eli’s smarmy bullshit finally made him crack.
The only thing I really hated him for was the way he treated HW in the end. Plainview could have learned sign language and they could have made a great team, but he was too far gone. He said horrible, hurtful, hateful things, and I loved HW’s reaction. It was on the verge of relief…“oh my god, I’m NOT related to this asshole, halleluyah!” or maybe I just imagined that. But I still liked his reaction.
[/spoiler]
I was having trouble posting the rest of this. I’ll try again. Btw, people who haven’t seen this film, PLEASE don’t read spoilers unless you’re absolutely, 100% sure you’re not going to see the movie. I went in knowing very little about the plot and characters, and that’s the best way to see it for the first time.
[spoiler]I don’t think it was a flaw at all, but a momentary WTF? (Another, momentary WTF, though a big one). I wondered too if Eli wasn’t pulling a fast one too, posing as his own “brother” to get Plainview to come to the ranch, and to try and get a better deal than he would with Standard, but no. Paul was real, and he just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge and away from his fuckhead brother. He could have warned Plainview that he had a twin brother though. I liked Plainview’s reaction when he first saw Eli. He knew this guy was named “Eli” and not Paul, so you could see the wheels turning in his head "ah, twin brother…I’ll bet he doesn’t know why I’m here. That was one of those subtle moments I was talking about that was so great.
The best subtle moment of all was when Plainview realized that Henry was bogus. So much said with no words. He turned from having a good time, to furious and frightening, but it was so subtle that Henry never noticed a thing.[/spoiler]
Nervous and confused, exactly! Comparing the suspense to the scenes in Boogie Nights and Goodfellas is perfect.
When I said “You’ll never look at a milkshake the same way again,” to be more accurate, you’ll never see or think of a milkshake again without thinking of this movie.
I’ve been off the board for a few weeks (can’t really connect easily from home), but I knew my first post would have to be about, easily, the best 2007 movie I saw. As much as I was looking forward to this film, I did not expect to come away liking it as much as I did. Wow.
Day-Lewis is fantastic, but Paul Dano is pretty amazing, too, and Johnny Greenwood’s music may possibly be the best film score of the last 20 years. Truly incredible and ahead of its time.
And I think this actually has a good chance at quite a few Oscar nominations. I’d say Day-Lewis is a lock, but near certainties would also be for Anderson (directing) and Robert Elswit (Cinematography). I’d also say Anderson (writing) and the Art Direction also have better-than-even chances at a nod, and Dano (Supp. Actor) and Picture are certainly not out of the question. Greenwood certainly deserves a nod, but given the music branch’s rather close-minded attitude toward rockers-turned-scorers (paging Danny Elfman!), I’m not holding my breath on that one.
Great, great film.
Does anyone know if this is going into wider release? My stupid 22 screen megaplex a mere 60 miles from Paramount isn’t showing it :mad: If it is supposed to go wider, I’ll wait, but if not, I’m making the trip to Pasadena this weekend.
I’m glad you liked it, and I completely agree about Paul Dano and the music. It’s funny though, I would have said the music is almost retro instead of ahead of its time. It’s very influenced by Penderecki (used by Kubrick in 2001 and The Shining). I don’t think I could listen to it all the time, maybe not even the soundtrack as a whole (though I haven’t tried), but I loved how the music worked in the film. I even love how it was used in the trailer, this one in particular. Since seeing the film, I’ve probably watched that trailer over a dozen times, because it brings the movie back to me. It’s a stunning trailer, even more so after you’ve seen the film. I’ve never said that about a trailer before.
Btw, there’s one scene in that trailer that isn’t in the movie, when they’re sitting around the campfire and old man Sunday says Eli has a church. That deleted scene, for anyone who’s interested can be found here. I don’t know why it was deleted, it’s great! I love the look on Plainview’s face. This guy doesn’t like suffering fools, but he has to to get what he wants, and you can see that he just wants to tell the Sundays to fuck off but can’t (“Oh” laugh). I also like seeing how HW is learning well at the knee of his pop.
Yep. I hope it’s nominated for everything possible, but I’ll bet at the end of the night it’ll only go home with Best Actor. I think there are only 2 movies in the Oscar race, this and No Country For Old Men. There could be an Director/Picture split with the Coens taking Director and TWBB taking Picture, or PTA taking Director and No Country taking Picture. As long as it gets a bunch of nominations, and as long as DDL wins Best Actor, I’ll be happy, if it means that No Country is winning over it. (Of course, Atonement could sneak in and get Picture/Director, because it’s a more conventional Oscar film, which I guess would be ok…I loved that movie too, but I still hope it’s between PTA and the Coens, something I never would have guessed would ever happen.)
I couldn’t find dates anywhere, but someone on a message board heard that it will go wider (not wide release, just “wider”) the 18th. If what they say is correct, it’s in 51 theaters around the country right now, and will be in 131 theaters on the 18th. That’s still not very many so I imagine more theaters will be added after the Oscar nominations are announced. You could call your theater and talk to the manager to see if your theater is one of the ones getting it. If not, Pasadena it is. I didn’t have to travel for it, but IMO it is worth traveling for.
Though if you do this you might consider buying tickets online in advance. The film’s per-screen average is phenomenal, which means that most showings are sold out. I know that we were going to see it at a midnight sneak preview a couple of weeks ago. We got to the theater 8 hours early to buy tickets, and it was already sold out then (we ended up seeing 3 other movies). I had to wait until opening day last Friday.