There Will be Boredom
Sat, Mar 1st, 2008
I’m going to step out on a limb, against the intelligentsia, against the cinephiles, against just about everyone I’ve talked to, and speak the unspeakable: There Will be Blood was dull. That’s right. I said it. Dull. Hell, let’s go even further: TWBB is turd of a film. Though there’s some excellent acting here, the whole affair is basically a self-indulgent romp of excess. Beyond the excellent acting, I’m wondering what this film does besides drive home the obvious. To know that the early oil business in the US was driven by sociopathic capitalists is no great revelation, and this character study of one of these sociopaths was not all that compelling. So fixated on the totalizing anger and drive for accumulation of a few figures, the film ultimately does little more than amplify such a portrait to unreal terms, and in doing that, it is unflinchingly inhuman. I guess that’s the point, but I don’t find that interesting, or redeeming, or even vicariously fun.
I was actually surprised about how little I enjoyed this film. Granted, I am no huge fan of any of Paul Thomas Anderson’s other work. I hated Magnolia, and I think Boogie Nights is only barely watchable. I can’t help but wonder if there’s some kind of collective idiocy going about along with this season’s flu virus. Apart from some kind of virus that clouds the judgment of people, I don’t get why everyone is so excited about this film. Do people love this film because they’re told to? Do they love it because they think if they do it makes them look more knowledgeable about film?
Who knows? Maybe I’m the idiot. And that’s fine, as long as my punishment is not having to watch There Will Be Blood again.
# Comment by Eric Prescott on Sat, Mar 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pm:
I was riveted very time Daniel Day Lewis was on screen, as well as the kid who played his son, but boy did I not like Paul Dano, and I hated the final scene. It actually ruined everything that had gone before, which I found a bit more compelling than you. The music, editing and performances wove together to be a gripping enough story for me up until the end. But, yeah, seriously over-rated.
# Comment by Eric Prescott on Sat, Mar 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm:
very = every
# Comment by Bob Torres on Sat, Mar 1st, 2008 at 3:39 pm:
Daniel Day Lewis was great, no question. Without him, it would have been way worse.
I thought the music was way over the top, though. And the end was more of the whirling, sucking eddy of dark indulgence that motivated my overall dislike of the film.
# Comment by jenny on Sun, Mar 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 am:
I think the people who loved There Will Be Blood hadn’t seen No Country for Old Men. Once you see NCFOM Blood is just slow and boring.
# Comment by Bob Torres on Sun, Mar 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm:
Cool, Jenny: I’m hoping to see NCFOM very soon. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve heard only wonderful things about it, and much like the Coen brothers films.
# Comment by Vegangsta on Sun, Mar 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm:
“I don’t get why everyone is so excited about this film. Do people love this film because they’re told to? Do they love it because they think if they do it makes them look more knowledgeable about film?”
That’s the way I feel about the Godfather series; I could never really get into it. I personally liked No Country more than Blood, but I felt they were both good films.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on No Country once you get a chance to watch it.
# Comment by Alli on Mon, Mar 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm:
Aside from both being top at the Oscars, why do people compare NCFOM to TWBB? I have yet to see either, but Bob, after your review and pointing out that TWBB was done by the person responsible for Magnolia which I despised, I’m even less interested than before, which I didn’t think possible. Thanks for the warning.
# Comment by Poe on Tue, Mar 4th, 2008 at 1:56 pm:
Hi there,
Thank you for stopping by my site, I was thrilled to see you there. I left a response to your comment if you care to visit again!
Also, I really loved “There will be blood” - but mostly because I found it to be a study of the dark reaches of the human spirit, and I’m a total sucker for that kind of story line. I find it touches the part of my brain that is enamored with human beauty, and that with all the contrast, becomes so clearly defined.
Thanks again for your thoughts on cycling,
Poe