Paul Thomas Anderson dropped out of film school after he submitted a David Mamet script to his script teacher and received a D, but not for plagiarism.
I’ve never viewed this film as anything other than a character study. To place this into terms of capitalism vs. this or that does a disservice to the script and the characters.
As far as the ending goes, Daniel is a character that has to win, has to be the best. He was able to take charge of every situation and come out the victor, but things start to fall out of his grasp when HW loses his hearing. Daniel is no longer able to communicate with his son and can’t bear to have that failure staring him in the face everyday. He begins to distance himself from HW until he finally sends him away after HW begins acting out. This failure is exploited by Eli, who forces him to kneel down in front of the entire town and admit his failure as a father. During this scene, Daniel leans in and whispers something to Eli. During the ending scene Daniel shouts out to Eli that he told him he’d crush him, or something to that effect. Daniel brings his son back but the relationship is too fractured to ever be what it was. As Daniel succeeds financially his son drifts farther away until HW comes to him and says that he is leaving to start his own business. Daniel severs his ties with HW as a son and views him solely as business competitor, in area in which Daniel will easily succeed over HW. Then with the ending with Eli, he forces Eli to admit his failures or falsehoods and then murders him, finally conquering the one person who challenged him or beat him. Daniel being finished, simply means he’s beaten everyone.
There Will Be Blood, though NCFOM is still a great film. TWBB is an amazing film and one of my favorites, if not the favorite, of all time. Everything comes together in TWBB and there are so many scenes from that film that are seared into my mind, like the burning oil derrick and the baptism of Daniel.
@ Mitchell, I’ve made this same comparison to some friends of mine.
@ Chris B, I agree that Jones has played that same part a lot but I think he was best at it here, especially in the film’s ending monolouge, with those small facial twitches of an old man.
KNDY, not sure if you’ve seen Bergman Island but it I would recomend buying it if you’re considering it. I watched it when I bought the Seventh Seal Blu-ray and it was a great documentary. It affected me almost as much as an actual Bergman film would, especially when he talks about his feelings toward death now that he has aged and lost a loved one. For under $10, I think it’s a great buy.
@ Hank: I agree that The Road is amazing and my personal favorite of McCarthy’s but Blood Meridian would be next. I need to finish the rest of his work though.
I have a question about Artificial Eye, they list most of their DVDs as being region code 2 but I’ve read that most are actually region free. Is that true? Can any of you guys clear this up for me? I have a region 1 blu-ray player and would love to pick up the Tarkovsky films that aren’t on Criterion.
Enjoyed it for the most part while watching it but agree that it was extremely overrated. Didn’t deserve the Best Picture win but what really pissed me off was its undeserving win for Best Original Song over Wall-E.
Just watched Solayris a couple of days ago, but haven’t seen Soderberg’s, though I might now since Davies is in it. I do want to say that I have to disagree with Josh on the Tokyo shots, as that is one of my favorite parts of the film. I think it is a great sequence with beautiful shots and is meant to stand in for Kelvin’s space travel. Tarkovsky hated science fiction and technology and didn’t want to waste a lot of time showing Kelvin on his way to the Solaris station, which is why that sequence is so short. The shots of Tokyo are there to stand in for that in a way and show the futuristic advancements we already live in.
Tarkovsky actually meant to take a crew to the World’s Fair in Tokyo and film footage for this sequence but the visas for him and his crew arrived too late, so they shot the sequence that appears in the film.
Put me down for more Tarkovsky on Criterion, or at least an update to Andrei Rublev. Though regarding the Sacrifice, I read a blog post a while ago by some guy who works for Kino talking about how he is currently working on the blu-ray transfer for the Sacrifice. He wrote about how he has a 35mm print and some notes by Tarkvosky and Nykvist that made him think that the previous print out on Kino was too bright and colorful. If you google “Tarkovsky blu-ray” you might be able to find. I’ll pick this up if it comes out soon but I would really love a Criterion release, mostly because I can’t stand the Kino covers, especially the Mirror.
This was a film that I just sat back and enjoyed as a fun ride and didn’t try to think about it too much, so the ending did catch me somewhat by surprise. I enjoyed the ending in that it fit the rest of the mood and fun of the film but it did piss me off because the whole movie I was thinking this girl didn’t do shit to deserve any of it and this old woman was just fucking crazy.
I thought that Mo’nique’s performance was good, mostly because I only think of her as a horrible comedian in Martin Lawrence movies, but after that the film was fairly average.
Film School over 3 years ago
Paul Thomas Anderson dropped out of film school after he submitted a David Mamet script to his script teacher and received a D, but not for plagiarism.
Go to Comment
Heads up!!!! 50% off Criterions over 2 years ago
I haven’t seen a lot of Altman’s work, just McCabe & Mrs. Miller but I liked it a lot. Would anybody suggest getting Short Cuts or Tanner ’88?
Go to Comment
Roman Polanski - which is his best film? over 2 years ago
Chinatown and The Pianist.
Go to Comment
Quick suggestions on some of my future criterion purchases over 2 years ago
Drew, it may have something to do with the upcoming remake.
Go to Comment
P.T. Anderson's Best Film? over 2 years ago
There Will Be Blood, hands down. Probably my favorite film.
Go to Comment
Do you think Sideways is the best film of 2004? over 2 years ago
I have to agree with Luke, Sideways was the best film of 2004. One of my favorites.
Go to Comment
There will be blood - the end over 2 years ago
I’ve never viewed this film as anything other than a character study. To place this into terms of capitalism vs. this or that does a disservice to the script and the characters.
As far as the ending goes, Daniel is a character that has to win, has to be the best. He was able to take charge of every situation and come out the victor, but things start to fall out of his grasp when HW loses his hearing. Daniel is no longer able to communicate with his son and can’t bear to have that failure staring him in the face everyday. He begins to distance himself from HW until he finally sends him away after HW begins acting out. This failure is exploited by Eli, who forces him to kneel down in front of the entire town and admit his failure as a father. During this scene, Daniel leans in and whispers something to Eli. During the ending scene Daniel shouts out to Eli that he told him he’d crush him, or something to that effect. Daniel brings his son back but the relationship is too fractured to ever be what it was. As Daniel succeeds financially his son drifts farther away until HW comes to him and says that he is leaving to start his own business. Daniel severs his ties with HW as a son and views him solely as business competitor, in area in which Daniel will easily succeed over HW. Then with the ending with Eli, he forces Eli to admit his failures or falsehoods and then murders him, finally conquering the one person who challenged him or beat him. Daniel being finished, simply means he’s beaten everyone.
Amazing film, probably my favorite.
Go to Comment
what films you love for there artistic beauty ? over 2 years ago
The Sacrifice
Go to Comment
Films leaving a big smile on your face over 2 years ago
Wall-E
Redbelt (The ending leaves me feeling good)
Manhattan
Go to Comment
Criterion B&N November 2009 Sale now Live! over 2 years ago
Dennis, that 20% off code expired yesterday, I just tried it. Thanks for the other code though, I just picked up:
The Third Man (Blu)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Blu)
Andrei Rublev
Solaris
Fanny and Alexander Box Set
Wish I could have gotten more but I did ask for the Cassavetes box set for Christmas.
Go to Comment
There Will Be Blood or No Country For Old Men, which is the better film? over 2 years ago
There Will Be Blood, though NCFOM is still a great film. TWBB is an amazing film and one of my favorites, if not the favorite, of all time. Everything comes together in TWBB and there are so many scenes from that film that are seared into my mind, like the burning oil derrick and the baptism of Daniel.
@ Mitchell, I’ve made this same comparison to some friends of mine.
@ Chris B, I agree that Jones has played that same part a lot but I think he was best at it here, especially in the film’s ending monolouge, with those small facial twitches of an old man.
Go to Comment
Avatar is a rip off of dances with wolves over 2 years ago
How many Smurf Berries is worth a single Smurf’s life? How many!?!?
Go to Comment
Criterion B&N November 2009 Sale now Live! over 2 years ago
KNDY, not sure if you’ve seen Bergman Island but it I would recomend buying it if you’re considering it. I watched it when I bought the Seventh Seal Blu-ray and it was a great documentary. It affected me almost as much as an actual Bergman film would, especially when he talks about his feelings toward death now that he has aged and lost a loved one. For under $10, I think it’s a great buy.
Go to Comment
OT: What are you reading? over 2 years ago
Reading “Songlines” by Bruce Chatwin but I just finished “Outer Dark” by Cormac McCarthy. I would recommend anything by McCarthy, my favorite writer.
Go to Comment
OT: What are you reading? over 2 years ago
@ Hank: I agree that The Road is amazing and my personal favorite of McCarthy’s but Blood Meridian would be next. I need to finish the rest of his work though.
Go to Comment
List all the Artificial Eyes you own over 2 years ago
I have a question about Artificial Eye, they list most of their DVDs as being region code 2 but I’ve read that most are actually region free. Is that true? Can any of you guys clear this up for me? I have a region 1 blu-ray player and would love to pick up the Tarkovsky films that aren’t on Criterion.
Go to Comment
Your 5 Favourite Directors over 2 years ago
Woody Allen
Paul Thomas Anderson
Ingmar Bergman
Stanley Kubrick
Andrei Tarkovsky
Go to Comment
Slumdog Millionaire Overrated Film of the Year over 2 years ago
Enjoyed it for the most part while watching it but agree that it was extremely overrated. Didn’t deserve the Best Picture win but what really pissed me off was its undeserving win for Best Original Song over Wall-E.
Go to Comment
Criterion B&N November 2009 Sale now Live! over 2 years ago
So, is it pretty safe to assume that this sale will be going on again about the same times in 2010? I’d love to pick up these upcoming blu-rays.
Go to Comment
Paul Thomas Anderson's next project over 2 years ago
Hoffman is no Lewis, but he’s still very good.
Go to Comment
Solyaris and Solaris over 2 years ago
Just watched Solayris a couple of days ago, but haven’t seen Soderberg’s, though I might now since Davies is in it. I do want to say that I have to disagree with Josh on the Tokyo shots, as that is one of my favorite parts of the film. I think it is a great sequence with beautiful shots and is meant to stand in for Kelvin’s space travel. Tarkovsky hated science fiction and technology and didn’t want to waste a lot of time showing Kelvin on his way to the Solaris station, which is why that sequence is so short. The shots of Tokyo are there to stand in for that in a way and show the futuristic advancements we already live in.
Tarkovsky actually meant to take a crew to the World’s Fair in Tokyo and film footage for this sequence but the visas for him and his crew arrived too late, so they shot the sequence that appears in the film.
Go to Comment
Who wants "Stalker" to appear on Criterion? over 2 years ago
Put me down for more Tarkovsky on Criterion, or at least an update to Andrei Rublev. Though regarding the Sacrifice, I read a blog post a while ago by some guy who works for Kino talking about how he is currently working on the blu-ray transfer for the Sacrifice. He wrote about how he has a 35mm print and some notes by Tarkvosky and Nykvist that made him think that the previous print out on Kino was too bright and colorful. If you google “Tarkovsky blu-ray” you might be able to find. I’ll pick this up if it comes out soon but I would really love a Criterion release, mostly because I can’t stand the Kino covers, especially the Mirror.
Go to Comment
WHO IS / WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS EVER? over 2 years ago
Bibi Andersson
Go to Comment
List all the Artificial Eyes you own over 2 years ago
Thanks ERIKC.
Go to Comment
how many of you liked the ending of drag me to hell (2009) ? over 2 years ago
This was a film that I just sat back and enjoyed as a fun ride and didn’t try to think about it too much, so the ending did catch me somewhat by surprise. I enjoyed the ending in that it fit the rest of the mood and fun of the film but it did piss me off because the whole movie I was thinking this girl didn’t do shit to deserve any of it and this old woman was just fucking crazy.
Go to Comment
Nominated for Best Picture Drama. over 2 years ago
I thought that Mo’nique’s performance was good, mostly because I only think of her as a horrible comedian in Martin Lawrence movies, but after that the film was fairly average.
Go to Comment
Great TV Series Recommendations over 2 years ago
LOST
Go to Comment
Great TV Series Recommendations over 2 years ago
Eli, how can you love LOST but not think it’s a great show?
Go to Comment
Box set recommendations over 2 years ago
A seller on Amazon has the MGM Bergman box set of Persona, Shame, Passion of Anna, Hour of the Wolf, and the Serpents Egg for $29.99.
Go to Comment
Lost over 2 years ago
Is it Locke or is it the “Man In Black” as Locke?
Go to Comment