There Will Be Blood

[civilwar-vet]

I've seen several of the trailers. Can't wait til it comes out. Danie Day-Lewis is an awesome actor!

[domenic padulo]

I absolutely cannot wait to see this. I would say I'm most excited about the Jonny Greenwood score, for obvious reasons.

If this isn't in Boston over Christmas, I don't know what I'll do.

[tamidubois]

WOW, what a fascinating movie. My husband and I talked about this film for an hour after seeing it. I think we'll need to see it again for it to really sink in. There is so much going on behind the scenes with these characters. I was left wanting to know more about Daniel Plainview and how he came to be the person he is. I thought there were parallels between the Plainview character and the Ely Sunday character and both men were not so different. I didn't want it to end! That makes a great movie, in my book!

My husband went and bought the book Oil! by Upton Sinclair afterwards, even though this movie is just loosely based on it. I never thought about that whole era and oil prospecting before this. I definitely recommend this movie!

[bradbrevet]

I have a question for anyone that has seen this movie. Did any of you notice the biblical references? I swear there are a lot of them in this film, but I am at a loss for trying to figure out what they mean and what they have to do with the plot.

I really think figuring it out (if they are indeed there) will help in understanding the film.

[domenic padulo]

I caught some of them, but the ones I did catch only threw me off more. The most recognizable one for me was Abel. In the bible, Abel was killed by his brother Caine. This could have something to do with Paul telling Daniel about Little Boston, effectively selling out his family, but I'm not sure of the importance of making Abel the father. I know that Paul was one of the apostles, but I'm not sure how that relates to the story besides seeming kind of ironic.

I may not completely understand the film, but I still love it.

[tamidubois]

It does seem like there is some kind of significance with all of the biblical references in the movie, starting with the title of the movie (Old Testament). I could be wrong but maybe we aren't supposed to read too much into it. There are a lot of interesting choices in the movie with regards to names, etc. Take the name Plainview. I think that character is anything but! There's definitely more to him that what you see. I look at it as a story of two people who on the surface are completely opposite but are really the same.

Daniel is an atheist, Eli is a man of God. But both desire to create wealth. Both are self-centered, manipulative, charismatic salesmen that are in a power struggle for the minds of the people who live in Little Boston. I think that is why it turns into a vicious, personal war. Daniel hates Eli because he's just like him.

I think you can draw parallels in both the oil business and religion when it comes to how power, ambition and greed can corrupt a person. In this story, both people fell victim to it, although Daniel more so. In the wrong hands, that kind of power is destructive.

[bradbrevet]

Now that I look at it again, is it possible the first poster was a representation of the Bible with the movie title embossed into it? I mean, isn't that the only thing it could be considering the tone of the movie...? Perhaps most people assumed this already, I never gave it a second thought until now.

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/Images/stories/2007/oct/therewillbebloodposter2.jpg

[andre]

There are definitely biblical references as there were all throughout Magnolia. But I think there is much to dissect from a social/economic/global standpoint as there is a biblical.

I don't think it's a mistake that PTA decided to make this movie at a time when our dependence on oil is such an issue. Don't ask me what, in fact I hardly care! I loved the movie anyway.

[andre]

"If you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and I have a straw and my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake. I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!"

[davidfrank]

I'm glad I had a 2-hour ride home by myself after seeing this movie. Not going to go into my personal thoughts right now (still trying to figure them out and will need multiple viewings). But nonetheless, this was probably the most hyped up film for me this year, and it still managed to devastate me. It just barely edges out No Country for Old Men as my favorite film of 2007.

[bradbrevet]

Wow, favorite eh? I am curious, is it your favorite for the cerebral aspects and what it does to you or on an entertainment level?

I agree, both No Country and TWBB are amazing films, but for a film to be my favorite I would want to watch them over and over again. Not sure I could do that with either of those films. I do want to see TWBB to search for more answers, but I think No Country has been answered... at least for me it has been to a level that I am satisfied.

[davidfrank]

For the films that make my Top 10 on any given year, it's a mix of the individual film's cerebral/emotional kick vs. entertainment/rewatchablity level. Yet for me those two are often tied together.

For instance, last year United 93 (just edging out The Fountain) topped my list. Both were cerebral and both, for me, had a devasting emotional punch. Unlike some people who get emotionally gutted by a film such as United 93 and say it's brilliant and blah blah blah but I don't think i can watch it again, I'm the opposite. For me, b/c I'm a tad off balanced, find movies that gut me emotionally to have high rewatchability factors. B/c I want a piece of art whether it's a book or song or movie to shake me up...and if that occurs whether it's a happy or sad emotional response I want to have it happen again again and again like I'm a crack addict.

So as far as I'm concerned both TWBB and NCFOM hit me emotionally and have high rewatchability factors, which is why they're topping out my list this year. I think I give the edge to There Will Be Blood b/c I have a natural inclination towards the epic.

But this is not saying I'm above allowing a pure popcorn film to top my list. I was proud to place Revenge of the Sith as the best of 2005 despite knowing people were going to flame me for it. My favorite response from readers was that "I obviously hadn't seen many movies" which in fact I think had seen well over 200 films that year...but I digress.

I think really it just comes down to whatever tingles your spine the most.

[chewbaca69]

i think this is the best film of the year. the biblical references, along with references to our government are countless. pta is to me, the best director out there right now.

[arto]

Able of the bible is the firstborn killed by Cain the second born, the elder overcome by the younger. This theme is present throughout the bible, most notably Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau. Notice how Abel is overcome by Eli who is then overcome himself just as Cain is.

I think, however, if we reverse Abel and Eli, call the father Eli and the son Abel, we see more parallels. In this scenario, Eli, the father, is like Eli of the bible because Eli of the Bible is condemned by God for allowing his two sons to take over the priesthood and defile it. Abel, the son, would be like the Abel of the bible in that he is overcome by his brother.

I'm not saying that this is a correct interpretation or that is was intentionally done or anything, just interesting. The whole Sunday family has biblical names, it might be interesting to see if any other parallels can be drawn, however artificially.

[bradbrevet]

Hey arto, you put it better than I ever could or would even dare try. Do you have any thoughts on Eli's brother Paul who basically sold the Sunday family out? I assumed that name also had to draw biblical parallels.

[andre]

I agree with David (on The Fountain as well!), I've seen TWBB twice now and actually plan on seeing it again. its got juice, scenes that exhilarate and thats all I really need to watch a movie again I think. Or at least one of the things. Plus, this movie is pretty damn funny at times (especially the ending, my God) It was top 3 when I saw it, but it keeps climbing my list. It might be numero uno, I dont know. I've seen Zodiac a bunch of times though and can't really get sick of it.

On another note, that Eli overcoming Able dinner scene is interesting in relation to the biblical story...

[arto]

Paul is a very interesting biblical character. He is originally called Saul and persecutes the early Christians until he is converted and changes his name to Paul. I think that Paul Sunday might parallel Paul of the bible in that Paul was often criticized for spreading the gospel to non-Jews (gentiles). In other words Paul brought the "good news" to people who were not of the faith. Paul Sunday also brought "good news" to a non-believer.

Again, this whole biblical reference thing might be of my own devising, not intended by the film makers. Even so, it can be argued that it is the viewer who puts content into the movie when he watches it. What would even the greatest films be without an audience adding there own thoughts to that of the film makers? This is one of the reasons I think this year has been a great year for cinema. You have two movies, There Will Be Blood, along with No Country For Old Men that really make you think and can be taken a number of ways. Are any of them correct or incorrect? Who can say...