33rd Hall of Fame

There Will Be Blood

I couldn't get this to stream on my tv from the links provided (they worked on my pc, tablet and phone but not the tv) so I went to the jungle to see how much it would be to rent it and come to find out it was on sale for $4.99. Pfft. Sold! and I HATE buying digital copies of stuff.

So yeah, I really like this movie and it was the clear favorite once the nominations were revealed. I love watching great actors work. For my money DDL is the best around, has been for awhile and this is one of his best performances. He kind of walks that delicate line, especially in the final scene, of being so close to over the top that it's campy but he never quite crosses it. Watching him become Daniel Plainview is enough of a reason for me to recommend this movie.

Now Paul Dano crosse that line a bit for me at times and is the weakest part of the film. The most glaring is when he's performing his "exorcisms." But that's like saying I don't like the way Michelangelo did David's fingernails. So I prefer his character when he's TRYING to be calm and outsmart Plainview which, of course, never happens.

But there's so much more. The music and cinematography are perfect. I wish Nolan would take some cues from PTA on how to use music in film. The music is there when it's needed and not when it's not. Seems simple but somehow good directors screw it up a lot. The music enhances the scene, it doesn't take over.

This is my fourth watch and I don't know if it's going to get any better for me. I really wasn't a fan after the first watch but I bought in the second time. I won't say it's easily the best film of this HoF but it is the best film of this HoF...after The Bank Job of course.