Burdizzo said:

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I thought it was entertaining. I usually watch it if I come across it while channel surfing.

One thing that threw me off was that the first time I watched I thought Paul and Eli were the same person with a multiple personality disorder.

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That was an interesting casting choice.

I wonder if the film would have won Best Picture if the Paul and Eli had not been twins. It really served no purpose. Probably not, No Country for Old Men was solid AF but still possible.

The soundtrack was really good, but I don't ever find myself wanting to rewatch this movie.

Mr. White said:

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OldArmy71 said:

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I also saw it only recently, OP, and I was surrounded by people mocking me just as you are. Ignore them.

I too thought it was a strange movie. The cinematography was terrific, as was most of the acting. I could not get over the impression that DDL was doing an impression of John Huston, and from what I have read, I was right, though DDL denied it.

Very depressing movie; no good guys or bad guys. Viewers of the TV Fargo series would recognize the man who plays DDL's son as an adult was the deaf mute bad guy in season 2.

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He went to Deaf school in Austin

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No wonder he was so convincing... I've heard of going to acting school, but to go to school specifically to learn to be deaf? True professional

One of the most boring films I have ever endured. You can appreciate the actors' performances and still be bored to tears at the same time.

Stive said:

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I finally watched this last night.

Someone explain to me why this is a good movie. DDL did an amazing job acting but it seemed a bit like cleaner cut west coast version of Bill the Butcher. The kid story was weird and depressing, the brother story even more so. And the minister was a fellow nutbag (another solid acting job) with zero endearing qualities. I know it's not supposed to be a feel good movie in any way shape or form (successful on that part) but other than some cool visuals and a couple of great acting jobs, the rest of the story plodded along and for the most part sucked.

Maybe I'm missing something...

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You're just not intelligent enough to appreciate it

Obviously.

I'm curious if the posters that didn't enjoy There Will Be Blood like any of PTA's other movies...maybe you just don't like his style.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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I'm curious if the posters that didn't enjoy There Will Be Blood like any of PTA's other movies...maybe you just don't like his style.

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I haven't seen all his movies, but of the ones I've seen, There Will Be Blood is the only one I didn't like. I loved Magnolia, and it's probably in my top 25 of the 90s.

There is a female audience member close to the mic who all but ruined what little humor was in that sketch.

I do love Hader tho

HoustonAg2106 said:

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I'm curious if the posters that didn't enjoy There Will Be Blood like any of PTA's other movies...maybe you just don't like his style.

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I loved Boogie Nights. I don't remember much about Punch Drunk Love but I remember not minding it.

Stive said:

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HoustonAg2106 said:

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I'm curious if the posters that didn't enjoy There Will Be Blood like any of PTA's other movies...maybe you just don't like his style.

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I loved Boogie Nights. I don't remember much about Punch Drunk Love but I remember not minding it.

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Boogie Nights is definitely his most main stream and popular movie I would say. What about Hard Eight, The Master, Inherent Vice, or Phantom Thread?

Haven't seen any of those.

Stive said:

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Haven't seen any of those.

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My guess is you wouldn't like most of them

I'm a big fan of Last of the Mohicans. Liked Gangs of New York (thought DDL was great), but didn't get the hype about TWBB at all. Was damn boring.

Bunk Moreland said:

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TWBB was a masterpiece.

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This.

And I'm going to take a lesson from the OUATIH thread: "If you disagree with my opinion, you're wrong!"

aTmAg said:

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I'm a big fan of Last of the Mohicans. Liked Gangs of New York (thought DDL was great), but didn't get the hype about TWBB at all. Was damn boring.

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Can we stop comparing There Will Be Blood to other non PTA movies? If you didn't like the movie I'm pretty sure it's not because of Daniel Day Lewis (and if it is you are an insane person).

I don't find much boring about building empires and crushing rivals.

Stive said:

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I finally watched this last night.

Someone explain to me why this is a good movie. DDL did an amazing job acting but it seemed a bit like cleaner cut west coast version of Bill the Butcher. The kid story was weird and depressing, the brother story even more so. And the minister was a fellow nutbag (another solid acting job) with zero endearing qualities. I know it's not supposed to be a feel good movie in any way shape or form (successful on that part) but other than some cool visuals and a couple of great acting jobs, the rest of the story plodded along and for the most part sucked.

Maybe I'm missing something...

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...a chromosome? /Mabel Choate

It's possible to both recognize that DDL is an amazing actor while also not being interested in most of the films he has starred in. I feel the same way about Tom Hanks.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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aTmAg said:

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I'm a big fan of Last of the Mohicans. Liked Gangs of New York (thought DDL was great), but didn't get the hype about TWBB at all. Was damn boring.

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Can we stop comparing There Will Be Blood to other non PTA movies? If you didn't like the movie I'm pretty sure it's not because of Daniel Day Lewis (and if it is you are an insane person).

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Somebody else brought up Last of the Mohicans and Gangs of New York. I was just chiming in on that part of the thread.

aTmAg said:

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HoustonAg2106 said:

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aTmAg said:

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I'm a big fan of Last of the Mohicans. Liked Gangs of New York (thought DDL was great), but didn't get the hype about TWBB at all. Was damn boring.

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Can we stop comparing There Will Be Blood to other non PTA movies? If you didn't like the movie I'm pretty sure it's not because of Daniel Day Lewis (and if it is you are an insane person).

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Somebody else brought up Last of the Mohicans and Gangs of New York. I was just chiming in on that part of the thread.

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I just think this is more of a conversation about PTA and his style (which is not for everyone). I love his movies, but I understand that a lot of people don't get it (just like I don't get Wes Anderson movies).

Urban Ag said:

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It's possible to both recognize that DDL is an amazing actor while also not being interested in most of the films he has starred in. I feel the same way about Tom Hanks.

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So you're self aware enough to know you simply dislike two actors who are universally considered 'amazing' (your word) yet you still drop into threads about DDL and Hanks to let people know you dont like DDL and Hanks?

I'm not certain you fully grasp the concept of self awareness.

I've taught numerous classes on it. I recommend this as a good starting point.

https://www.getabstract.com/en/summary/the-outward-mindset/27193

Interesting deflection.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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aTmAg said:

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HoustonAg2106 said:

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aTmAg said:

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I'm a big fan of Last of the Mohicans. Liked Gangs of New York (thought DDL was great), but didn't get the hype about TWBB at all. Was damn boring.

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Can we stop comparing There Will Be Blood to other non PTA movies? If you didn't like the movie I'm pretty sure it's not because of Daniel Day Lewis (and if it is you are an insane person).

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Somebody else brought up Last of the Mohicans and Gangs of New York. I was just chiming in on that part of the thread.

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I just think this is more of a conversation about PTA and his style (which is not for everyone). I love his movies, but I understand that a lot of people don't get it (just like I don't get Wes Anderson movies).

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I had to look up PTA. I think the only other movie of his I saw was Boogie Nights which I thought was a good movie. The scene with the guy throwing firecrackers was probably one of the more suspenseful scenes of any movies I've seen.

Yet I saw TWBB after it was nominated and won it's awards. By the end, I just thought to myself, "that's it? I was supposed to be amazed by this?" Maybe if i had saw it earlier, before having sky high expectations, I would have appreciated it more.

Urban Ag said:

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It's possible to both recognize that DDL is an amazing actor while also not being interested in most of the films he has starred in. I feel the same way about Tom Hanks.

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What is not to like about Joe Versus The Volcano?

I loved the movie. But, I love style and tension. The whole movie just has many, many intense scenes. Very typical PTA, and maybe his best movie.

In my opinion, to understand the award love, you have to consider a Straussian (read, slightly hidden) interpretation of the storyline. I'm not going to worry about spoiler alerts for a decade old movie, but here is my take:

The piece at a 30,000 foot view is a criticism of the protestant work ethic and American exceptionalism. The tension is between the man (Plainview) who worked hard for what he wanted and ultimately succeeded, spectacularly, and the religious institutions that existed in Plainview's community. Without all of the hard work by the men that worked for Plainview, his success would not have been achieved. The foundation of that work ethic is, in part, the worker's religion helped fuel that. The priest held some power over Plainview because the church held some sway over the workers. Add in a little side commentary that religious institutions do not always have pure motives, and you have the stage set for a back and forth between the religious and economic foundations of hard work pays off and why America succeeded so spectacularly.

The protestant work ethic is a delicate balance that people will work hard because that is a virtue, and there is an expectation that hard work will pay off. It doesn't work anymore when the cultural institutions start to take advantage of people who work hard for virtue's sake, including both the economic and religious institutions.

In the end, greed and ambition won the game. American greed drank the Christian milkshake, and faith in our institutions are not where they were in the 1940's and 1950's.



TL;DR - Award judges saw this as an anti-capitalist and anti-Christian movie. Paired with all of the rest of the spectacular things in the movie, it got a lot of award love.

I never finished this movie. Got too bored by it. Given it is loosely based on an Upton Sinclair novel, it isn't surprising to see so much anti-capitalism in it. As usual, DDL is very good but I never could get into the plot, and I like many of PTA's films.