IF ONLY KINSKI WERE ALIVE
This is the sort of film Hertzog & Kinski would have made together. It has an echo of 'Fitzcarraldo' and 'Aguirre, the Wrath of God'; if you like these films, watch this, but be prepared for a disappointment. If Hertzog & Kinski had made it they could have carried the theme, added the dark spark which might have made this work. There was an actual point in this film where I thought "Its broken!" and fall apart it did. As it is you get some grand cinema and an adequate central performance. The two disc version is poor on extras. There are no commentaries, which is really the only reason to buy 'Special editions' of this sort.

There Will Be Blood- Two Disc Edition
'There Will Be Blood' brings us Daniel Day-Lewis in a masterly performance following the life of an oil prospector and the relationships he forges and ruins. Some of the first things to strike me were how this film is beautifully directed with marvelous use of light and shadow and how the soundtrack helps keep things on edge with various percussive elements and discordant notes. But the key to this film really is Day-Lewis' performance and the whole film rests on his portrayal of Daniel Plainview, never has a film rested so strongly on one actors supreme work. This film doesn't have any real resolution, although some parts are tied up, but this looks at the overall life of this brutal and savage man as he exploits both community and nature for his gains in oil. At 2 and 1/2 hours it did begin to feel a touch long towards the end, but Day-Lewis manages to hold you captivated by his rich and in-depth performance and keeps you watching until the very end. The supporting actors play their roles well and Plainviews son was especially note-worthy. A dark tale, in both content and execution, but one that should be watched at least once to soak up it's atmosphere, acting and beautiful direction.

A word about character...
Some people will hate this film, others will adore it. That much is plain enough, if only from the briefest of glimpses at the Star Ratings summary above. Those who think they will enjoy most likely will, whilst those who don't indeed won't.

One point - several people have commented upon Plainview's character as somewhat lacking in background and explanation. Whatever happened to subtlety and finesse in storytelling? Like the best short stories, and indeed some of the finest cinema of recent times, the most terrifying things are those which remain unexplained, yet are hinted at and alluded to. There is no need to spell out his childhood, his background and his relationships with his parents or other women (perhaps there is a reason for women playing next to no part in this segment of Plainview's tale?). Speculate. Imagine. Do some work for yourself, you won't be right or wrong. So often these days everyone feels the need to trace a character's actions back to childhood traumas or broken relationships; we don't need to know exactly what happened to Plainview before the events of the movie since the character he has become suggests it more than likely wasn't particularly positive. Look at the relationship with the boy, with the priest; there are certainly clues enough. The absence of a drawn out and 'all-explaining' backstory is one of the movie's many strengths, not a flaw.

Perhaps it is the vulgar propensity for voyeuristic 'abuse-memoirs' that is to blame for this modern malaise. Perhaps it is the trend towards cheap psychoanalysis or lazy, convenient filmmaking that can blame all manner of evils on a troubled childhood or an abusive partner. Whatever it is, it seems a shame that enigmatic and mysterious characters are now seen as a flaw in modern cinema.

I loved it. Almost as much as Assassination Of Jesse James.



Study of Greed and Paranoia
More than an epic tale of an early 20th Century oilman, this is a fascinating study of the greed for power and what it does to a man.
We meet Daniel Plainview down the bottom of a mine, exerting himself in mind-numbingly monotonous and backbreaking work, looking for gold or silver. He is a man willing to endure pain and humiliation to grasp more money, or more power. As he quickly moves from gold to black gold, he becomes more powerful, and his ruthlessness and underhandedness become more and more apparent, combined with the charisma required to persuade landowners to part with the mineral rights of their property. We learn about how he sees other people when he adopts a boy who he finds useful to put a kind face on his activities, and how he treats a man appears claiming to be his half brother. The movie kicks into gear though when he meets an equally power hungry man in the unlikely form of the young faith healer and preacher, to whom he takes a seemingly instant dislike. With the relationships with these three characters, we see his dilemna- his power is only something if he can pass it on, but when he sees only the worst in other people, how can he? Who will be worthy of the three to take on his mantle..?
The style of the movie has some stunning direction which tells us much of the story through scenes and images, rather than words, yet this is married with an intelligent, absorbing and uncompromising script. The music is daringly inventive, although with me the jury is out whether it is a success or a distraction.
Daniel Day-Lewis turns in yet another 100% authentic and believable performance, creating a chilling and yet at times charismatic character, and Paul Dano is remarkable as the young preacher.
Sure, women are given little to no role in the story, and it is unremitting in its bleakness, at times feeling like it has been designed to within an inch of its cinematic life. It's not going to be to everyone's taste.. However the authenticity, stunning performances and script that demands the viewer engage in some thought, have created what might just be a bona fide masterpiece, even with its flaws.


"I have a competition in me"
This will be a review of the film and not the extras on this two disc edition which are frankly disappointing.Also,if this was a review about the DVD casing it would probably get one star.Flimsy,made of cardboard and mine already has a tear in it!

Still,the movie itself is excellent.It does seem to divide opinion with amost as many people awarding it one star as opposed to five.But for me it is worth full marks because the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis is fantastic.He is at times manic,almost sympathetic and nearly comic but it is rivetting and one of the finest performances of recent years.The character of Daniel Plainview could have very easily descended into farce,but Day-Lewis keeps things in check right to the very end.I suppose that the story is pretty thin when you consider that it is spread over nearly three hours but it is always compelling.

The cinematography is great also and though I wasn't sure about the music at first,on second viewing it does fit the mood of the film very well.It is by no means a one man show as there are many other good performances.But really this is a movie that will be remembered for a towering piece of acting from an extremely talented artist.

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