Have to say that Daniel Day-Lewis deserves all the accolades, honors, awards, and the Oscar, as he is VERY impressive especially when he plays a character that starts normal and as the movie develops slowly -very slowly- becomes absolutely repulsive.This Paul Thomas Anderson film is quite different to what American cinema does, this is truly art cinema and that was quite a surprise for me, as was not expecting art and that was just fabulous! Has marvelous absence of words, silences, sounds that complement or intensify the scene, slow, very slow pace, outstanding dialogues, great cinematography and impeccable direction.
The story, well that’s something else. It is very intense and hard to see, to digest and to like. But it is a good story in the sense of being very character driven and an outstanding study of human nature, a study mostly about the negative side of the soul. Being a period drama tells about Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) life from the late 1890’s up to the early 1910’s where from being a gold and silver prospector goes to become one of the most wealthy “oil men” in America.
As you notice the story outline is quite simple but as you may suspect, the movie is not necessarily about how he acquired his fortune. This is a movie about Daniel Plainview desire to be alone and far away from people. Sorry to give mild spoilers, but if you have the idea that this is a sort of an oil history movie –like me- you have to be prepared as is not. Also have to add that there is very little violence and no red blood, the blood is of a different kind.
Of course this bold story would have not been the same without the amazing performance by Daniel Day-Lewis and a cast that delivers very well and gives you the sensation of being transported to the time period. The performers plus the art style gives you a film that will stimulate your emotions very intensely; so, prepare yourself as you will be able to penetrate the life of an extreme sociopath and experiment all kind of emotions.
The movie since last year started to win many awards and just today BAFTA honored the movie with 9 nominations, so I assume that the Academy will do alike.
Absolutely not for all audiences and I think this is a movie that men will like, while women perhaps will not. But, obviously is a must be seen for Day-Lewis amazing performance and to be able to see a rare American art cinema.
It is an extremely good movie with a difficult to watch story, so I cannot say that you will enjoy it, but you will definitively admire this “boldly and magnificently strange” (as one critic says) film.
recently watched this, I found that it was the same story that has been told in about 10 other movies. I didn't think this one was as good as the others...
ReplyDeleteI thought it was too ostentation, the story written by Upton Sinclair was a tighter more concise story and had a much gritty, bleak story. I think the director was going for an Oscar nomination rather than Sinclair's outlook on the story.
I agree that there are many movies that tell stories similar to the one told in this movie, but imo what makes this story different is the outstanding performance by Daniel Day Lewis. With another actor and an average performance I would totally agree with you kibbs.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the movie could be considered ostentatious and probably is because is art cinema which is not very common in American cinema. But please lets do an imagination exercise, imagine that the movie is in Russian directed by a Russian director then perhaps it does not seem that ostentatious, isn’t?
As far as I read the screenplay was inspired in Upton Sinclair novel by the name of Oil! and is not an adaptation as the book story is quite different. No doubt that Paul Thomas Anderson –who also wrote the screenplay and directed- was doing a non-commercial movie and in the net there are many articles that clearly state his intentions and the “risk” that producers and studios took by participating. So, I concur that Anderson was going for an Oscar nomination and well he got 8 nominations, including one for best director!
Still, I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoyed as much as I did.
Day Lewis was good in the role and you are right, I would have a hard time finding another actor I would put in this role. He is the reason I watched this movie in the first place! :)
ReplyDeleteI love art cinema, i.e. Yimou Zhang. With some movies, the bigger the stage, the better, for me. but not this time. I will see the next one by this producer and see..
Oscar nominations. 2 words.. Michael Clayton. I always get annoyed when I good movie is over looked and a so so movie is included...
Thanks for your thoughts! :)
You're welcome!!! and as you can see today Paul Thomas Anderson got the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlinale and another to J. Greenwood for Outstanding Artistic Contribution - Music... I imagine that the movie will get many more honors as it stays in the fest circuit. :)
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