Sunday, February 24, 2008

There Will Be Blood

It was amazing. Maybe 20 minutes could have been cut, maybe. I wasn't ever bored. And I never actually thought during a scene, "well this isn't necessary." The lead character, Daniel Plainview, has no redeeming qualities. Until the end you think he might have one, and then he reveals something that lets you know he doesn't even care about that. The dialogue is hilarious for such a dark movie. You hear him say these things and think, "no human would really ever say that" and then realize, "he would." It was beautifully filmed, beautifully scored, and flawlessly put together. I have no criticisms.

Oscars- my picks are in red.

I haven't seen near all the nominated movies. Some of them I just didn't care to.

Best Actor- All I've seen are Eastern Promises and There Will Be Blood. I have to say, although Viggo was excellent in Eastern Promises, Daniel Day Lewis' performance blew his out of the water. That being said, if either of them win I won't be upset.

Supporting Actor- Seen- Casey Affleck in "the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" and Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men." I'd give it to Casey Affleck in a heartbeat. No Country for Old Men was a flawless movie, but Casey's role was a lot more difficult than Javier Bardem's. Much, much much more complex.

Best Actress- Seen - Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and Ellen Page in "Juno."
I might want to give it to Cate because she was robbed of it last time she played Elizabeth. (Gweneth Paltrow got it for Shakespeare in Love, and I don't think she was near as worthy as Cate Blanchett was.) But- then would that be robbing Ellen Page of it? I'm not sure how difficult it was for her to play Juno. She was good. If she wins, I'll cheer.

Achievement in Cinematography- This is one of those categories where I just vote on how good the movie looked. I saw Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. I'd give it to There Will Be Blood.

Achievement in Costume Design- Elizabeth: The Golden Age- (Sweeney Todd might deserve it for originality but I didn't see it so I can't say.) I got to see the Elizabeth costumes in person at the Arclight and they're GORGEOUS. But Cate Blanchett must be tiny.

Directing- Juno, No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood- such a tough call- but I think I'll go for No Country for Old Men. I've never sat through such a tense movie. Juno was brilliant and cute and funny and everything that type of movie should be, but the atmosphere created by No Country for Old Men was not easy to achieve.

Original Score- the only movie i saw that was nominated was 3:10 to Yuma and what I'm going to say about this is how the hell was There Will Be Blood not nominated?

Best Picture- Juno, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. I would love for Juno to get this though, because maybe it would encourage more people to make this kind of movie, but There Will Be Blood was so amazing.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so out of the movie loop

Elaine said...

I actually liked There Will Be Blood, not as much as you, but I did. After hearing how people thought it was too long and winded, I was a little torn about seeing it but Im glad I did bc it is worth it. and it doesnt feel long.

I know everyone praises Daniel Day Lewis, but Paul Dano was very good too.

And too bad for me I already knew the situation with his son and that it wasnt what it seemed. so I looked at him with contempt and disgust from the start.

The was such a funny ending too.