December 26, 2007 in GENRES

THERE WILL BE BLOOD

RYAN: Daniel Day-Lewis is always good, but even he has stepped up his game in “There Will Be Blood.”

CAROLINE: His character’s so detestable in this movie though, that I could barely look at him. His voice started to bug me by the end, and the sound of him chewing was like nails going through my skull.

RYAN: I loved his voice! He maintained his accent and tone throughout the whole film. It was quite impressive.

CAROLINE: It was kind of guttural.

RYAN: He really created a character for this movie and I was blown away by him. He’ll be nominated for an Oscar for sure.

CAROLINE: I just don’t know that any movie needs to be 2 hours and 40 minutes long; but having said that, this one didn’t feel that long.

RYAN: No, because it’s so dramatic and the pace is so good. It’s an engaging and compelling film. Maybe there was one moment where I started to get uncomfortable in my seat, but the film is beautifully directed and edited, and the score is outstanding. And I mean it literally stands out as a very fine score.

CAROLINE: Paul Thomas Anderson has certainly improved since “Punch Drunk Love.” But this movie is very loud and violent.

RYAN: It’s funny ‘cuz whenever there was a bloody scene, I thought, “Well, like the title says: ‘There Will Be Blood.'” Every time somebody got hit… well, they warned us – there will be blood.

CAROLINE: And there is.

RYAN: And it’s much more realistic blood than that in “Sweeney Todd.”

CAROLINE: The movie is based on a book by Upton Sinclair, and it’s about an oilman at the turn of the 20th century, which is such a random topic. It’s a real period piece and it’s kind of sweeping what with all the oil issues, family drama, etc.

RYAN: It feels like a Western in some ways too. And there’s a secondary plot which opens up a discussion of religion, and those who believe vs. those who don’t.

CAROLINE: The preacher is played by Paul Dano, who was the mute kid in “Little Miss Sunshine.” It was fun to finally see him talk; he’s all full of bluster and religious zeal in the film.

RYAN: Also of note is the little boy who makes his film debut playing Daniel Day-Lewis’s son.

CAROLINE: He has some really tough scenes, and he’s very impressive.

RYAN: It’s pretty rare for Daniel Day-Lewis to make a film these days and you can see why. He puts so much into each character, and this film showcases his talent in such an amazing way.

CAROLINE: He’s famous for really immersing himself in each role and preparing for years, and this film is no exception. He really studied the period and you definitely feel like he becomes this ruthless oilman character. He’s just so mean and horrible that he started to infuriate me at the end. Bottom line?

RYAN: I was riveted by this movie and I highly recommend it. It’s an excellent example of filmmaking and performance. Truly entertaining.

CAROLINE: I would have a hard time recommending this film, but not because it’s bad or poorly made or anything.

RYAN: Maybe it’s because you’re a girl.

CAROLINE: It’s kind of a boy movie. I enjoyed it to some degree and I think it’s an accomplishment in filmmaking, but I can’t imagine telling one of my female friends, “You’ve got to see this, you’ll love it!” There are a lot of other movies out right now that I’d recommend over this.

RYAN: Well it doesn’t open in wide release till mid-January, so maybe by then people will be ready for a new film that isn’t the typical January crap.

CAROLINE: The moral of the story is that Paul Thomas Anderson likes to make very long movies. I love some of them, like “Boogie Nights,” and I appreciate others as good films, but I don’t necessarily love them, like this one.

RYAN: Fair enough.
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