There will be Blood
Yup, it's a masterpiece alright.
This is my 2nd time around with Paul Thomas Anderson's
There will be Blood. Big fan of the director so I always found it weird that I didn't love the film as much as many others. During my initial viewing, I found the film to be very good but I certainly wasn't blown away by this so called modern masterpiece. Luckily with this viewing I see it as not only one of the greatest films of the last 10 years, but one of the greatest of all-time.
The opening 15 minutes are Perfect. We see Daniel Plainview getting his hands dirt to find oil. It's a dirty,grimy job, and we get to see his obsessive determination and hunger for success at play.The film somehow doesn't peak with it's magnificent opening however. Instead my admiration only increases as the film progresses. I can't possibly continue this review without mentioning how striking the photography is. Each shot breathtaking, awe-inspiring even. Jonny Greenwood's compositions and the atmospheric imagery go hand in hand, giving the film an almost permeating sense of dread. Though the entire film is a visual feast, a particular scene involving an oil explosion might quite possible be one of the greatest scenes in cinema history. But putting aside the film's aesthetic perfection, i'll get into what really drives the film.
I love character studies. I love films with compelling main protagonists, and Daniel Plainview is to me one of the most compelling characters out there. A man with an abundance of ambition and intelligence, yet he is someone who is consumed with overwhelming hubris. The man at points is despicable, a walking monstrosity. Yet there's still humanity in him, and you still feel sympathy towards him. This is an epic vision of humanity, and as egotistical Plainview is. He still feels human. I also adore how mature the film's script is. It deals with themes such as religion,capitalism, and human frailty. The acting is superb.....ah I'll stop with these pointless superlatives. I'll just end it at this. I Love this film. Its a reminder of why I love films so much, and it really is an outstanding achievement. I doubt PTA will ever top this, but I sure as hell would want to see him try.
The Conformist +
Keeping this mini-review short and sweet. Magnificent cinematography and a story that's quite good. It will not be making my 70's list, but its worth checking out.
The Last Picture Show
I like to think of this film as the Anti-
American Graffiti. This isn't a nostalgic look at innocent sweet times of adolescence, in fact it's the complete opposite and I have nothing but respect for that. This film shows us a small little town with bored teenagers who don't really have much to do. The people there are unhappy, and all have problems of their own. Usually films about the teenage years glorify how great it was to be a young. How splendid their little town was, and how cheery the people living there were. This is a portrait of a dying town, a forlorn memory of times long gone.The word that best suits the film is:Bittersweet.
I'd definitely recommend viewing it at least once before you guys submit your lists.
Don't Look Now +
A very spiritual horror flick, and beautifully shot too I must add. There's a huge focus on the color red, red almost always signifying doom or impending death. I already knew the "twist" ending coming into it, but that doesn't take away from the film's palpable sense of suspense. The canals and streets of Italy look genuinely frightening,especially during the nighttime sequences.
Naked Lunch +
There's a few cool scenes here, but I just got the vibe the film was being odd just for the sake of being odd.I suppose I like it a bit, but it's not top-tier Cronenberg by any means. Awesome makeup and practical effects though. I don't really know who to recommend this film to, but there's a scene in here where a typewriter pops a boner. I mean if that sounds up your alley then give it a go I guess.
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