I'm not sure where to start with my praise.

I could talk about the story, how it tells both the tale of Plainview and the oil rush while also being about neither in particular. It's a narrative that could be told in any time, in any place in America, with any protagonist. It could just as easily be the saga of Howard Hughes or Henry Ford. But it's also very directly about oil. It's an interesting dichotomy.

I could talk about the acting, how Daniel Day-Lewis steals the show and is also very nearly fucking matched by Paul Dano in his dual role where you're never really sure if there's two characters or not. But if Dano's performance is terrific, than Day-Lewis is nothing short of legendary. It will go down in history as one of the few outstanding one-man shows in cinema, up there with Orson Welles and Jack Nicholson.

I could talk about the visuals, how every shot seems sprung out of the mind of an insane genius. The exploding oil well is the highlight, of course, but there's also the fantastic dialogue-free opening that wouldn't feel out of place in fucking 2001. Combined with the frantic, alien score and the impeccably accurate sets and costumes, this is a film that is both a period piece and something else entirely.

I could talk about the themes, but I'd take way too long. I could talk about the music over and over again. I could talk about the fucking credits. I could talk about the bowling alley and milkshakes and whiskey. But I'll just say this:

"I'm finished."

Awesome review.

There Will Be Circle Jerk...


(Glad to hear so many enjoyed it - - but Gaaaaak! These reviews are getting disgusting. )

Wow, now I know how the (admittedly deluded) Children of Men detractors felt.

Nothing more annoying then people who LIKED a film, complain about people who loved that same film.

I'm sure I can think of a few things more annoying than that.

People who eat with their mouth open and make a lot of noise?

I liked it. Despite it's long running time I wasn't bored at all but still not as much into it as I wanted to be. Day-Lewis and Dano are both brilliant, their scenes togethere were the highlight of the movie. But I wanted more of them. And I agree about the beach scene with his brother, the look on his face was amazing but sadly only one of the pretty few moments where I was a bit emotionally involved. For me, the movie is easy to admire but hard to love. B+

TechnicaLLy amazing but not amazing overaLL Like how I hoped it wouLd be. It feLt boring for a number of times but that didn't make me disLike the fiLm thanks to the bLoody exceLLent performances of DanieL Day-Lewis and the reaLLy promising PauL Dano. The best thing about it I think was the soundtrack, which was very 2001 Like and made the diaLogue-Less scenes more effective. And the hiLarious church scenes and the ending rocked! Not the best fiLm of the year in my book and I just pushed it to make my top ten but stiLL great.

A-

loved it, need to see it again. Best film of the best pictures.


A-.

Oh my.

Oh my, oh my.

9.8/10
A+

Finally Munk E!!! Jeez!
How long have I been telling you to see it?

I'm not really sure what to say. I really liked it for the most part (really loved how it began and how it ended) as the well made movie it is, but it just falls short of that masterpiece status many are claiming - IMHO of course. I left the theater half in awe (mainly due to that final sequence, and the performances of Day Lewis and Paul Dano), half slighty disappointed.

I... liked it, but didn't love it. I found it very scattershot, and at times it felt like we weren't moving to any kind of conclusion. Daniel Day-Lewis was excellent, but at the same time... there wasn't a moment in the film where it didn't feel like he was acting. And that final bowling alley sequence? Meh. I found the final scene with his son much, much more interesting.

B

Insane.

Just insane.

It didn't help that I saw it with a packed house that felt like laughing ever forty seconds. Jesus Christ, people, shut up.

Ew.

I hate movie ruiners!

I saw it at a late showing... but they were all older and mature.

This crowd was older and mature, too -- I don't get it. When Ciaran Hinds asks if H.W. is okay, and Daniel says "No," people burst out laughing. If you'd been standing outside the theater during the final discussion with Eli, you'd think it was a comedy. And no, I'm not just talking about the milkshake bit -- everything. It was ludicrous.

I thought the final scene was entertaining... until the very end... and then I was just in awe.

But I wasn't laughing. It did get a few chuckles, but that's expected.

I thought it was goofy.

Me and my dad were laughing our asses off the entire last ten minutes--is that bad?

Hmmmmmmmm


You know take DDL out of this film and its a glorious failure in the same way Gangs of New York was. Outside of him this film is nothing but caricature and set-ups so predictable you could set your watch by them.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, I mean the visuals and the soundtrack are spot on but otherwise this was a by the numbers tale that channelled Wall Street through 1900s Wild West Oil country.

DDL like I said was superb and fully deserved the Oscar but everyone else was a bland sketch. Dano's character in particular was a utterly ridiculous parody of all the worst aspects of Protestant Preachers and his final capitulation in the last scene made me cringe at the utter laziness of the writing on display.

I sound terrible negative and I shouldn't because like I said its a decent film, Hell I myself saw alot of my own bad traits in DDL's character in particular his ability to bottle thing's up and then rise to insane irrational anger, but after all the raves I read in this thread I'm left feeling disappointed more then anything.

First Sunshine and now this, what will I do with you Gulliver????

I liked it more than Gulli, but yeah... sorry trix.