Met up spontaneously with some friends last night and saw Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood". Following is my initial review. I should disclaimer this by saying that after about a week of pondering, my views occasionally shift. So if you see a big fat *EDIT* on this post, may it surprise you not. SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW!
THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Rach's Review: 6.5/10
Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love) tackles the challenge of the gritty oil business in this period piece spanning from 1898-1927. Daniel Day Lewis lights up the screen with his enigmatic portrayal of Daniel Plainview, a charming sociopath realizing his talent for the oil industry. Lewis was perfectly cast for the role of Plainview and portrays his battle between his ego and his id with complete consistency. Lewis carries the film through many a slow moment, enticing the viewer to stay a little bit longer if only to see what he says next. Though Anderson succeeds in creating tension through well built characters and a uniquely suspenseful score he has chosen a tough subject matter to sell. Anderson pushes his choice of genre to it's boundaries without breaking any firm barriers and he does it all with his trademark slow-moving style. Watching this film was like watching a documentary that just happened to be on the History Channel, each time I reached for the remote, a turn in the story stayed my hand. I think this film will succeed on Anderson's reputation alone, and Lewis' performance makes it worth the watch. I would recommend this film, but with it a medium popcorn and a large dose of patience. A hard story to sell, but I think Anderson will cover his costs.
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