There Will Be Blood thread

[John Junk]

I was wondering why no attempt was made to age Paul Dano in that last scene.  How many years had passed? He looked exactly the same. In a film with such attention to detail, the decison to leave Eli fresh-faced had to have been deliberate. 

I was wondering why no attempt was made to make Paul Dano a better actor in that last scene.  Sorry people, but I'm with B. Buster.  This movie was amazing until H.W. got grown up and then there was some major DRAINAGE in the quality of this film.  That last scene was awkward, the tone was way off, and Dano was majorly outclassed by Daniel Day Lewis.  I think he just wasn't able to pull it off. 

I think it's smart they didn't include the impotence thing, because I was actually pretty convinced that this guy was just so wounded and alienated that he just wasn't interested in sex or love.  And yeah, I got that the thing with Henry and the PeachTree dance was him making a reference to something from the old days that Henry didn't pick up on, and then he was so pissed that he couldn't cavort, because when you're thinking about killing someone you don't really wanna get drunk with them and share hookers.  I know from experience.  The diary stuff backs up the idea that he eventually realized this guy was a fraud, and that's what the Peachtree thing was about.  I also think H.W. realized he was a fraud earlier (remember he looked through his stuff) and that's why he tried to burn him.  But that would hold up better if I thought H.W. was literate.

That hallucination stuff is just loopy.

[<<<<<]

I think it's smart they didn't include the impotence thing, because I was actually pretty convinced that this guy was just so wounded and alienated that he just wasn't interested in sex or love.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I do not feel that any explanation as to the absense of women from his life was necessary at all.  Seemed fairly obvious to a degree that to include a woman somewhere, even in the brothel, would have seemed out of character.  This is probably because Daniel Day-Lewis simply sold me on that character so well that I never even thought to question it during the course of my viewing.

[Emily]

I still say this movie was really about the Iraq war.*











*(i'm just kidding)

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Isn't it obvious?  Plainview was gay as a window!

[buffcoat]

His behavior toward the little girl was quite creepy.

[Martin]

I just watched this today! I loved it! That's about it.

[dania]

I just watched this today! I loved it! That's about it.

Agreed.  Best movie of this century so far.  It's been almost a month and I'm still thinking about it. 

[electricdunnahoo]

I think it's smart they didn't include the impotence thing, because I was actually pretty convinced that this guy was just so wounded and alienated that he just wasn't interested in sex or love.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I do not feel that any explanation as to the absense of women from his life was necessary at all.  Seemed fairly obvious to a degree that to include a woman somewhere, even in the brothel, would have seemed out of character.  This is probably because Daniel Day-Lewis simply sold me on that character so well that I never even thought to question it during the course of my viewing.

During the baptism scene, Eli mentions Daniel lusting after women. Also, you wonder if he had feelings for the Sunday daughter. Perhaps that was why he treated his son so terribly towards the end of the film??

[Dorvid Barnas]

I think it's smart they didn't include the impotence thing, because I was actually pretty convinced that this guy was just so wounded and alienated that he just wasn't interested in sex or love.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I do not feel that any explanation as to the absense of women from his life was necessary at all.  Seemed fairly obvious to a degree that to include a woman somewhere, even in the brothel, would have seemed out of character.  This is probably because Daniel Day-Lewis simply sold me on that character so well that I never even thought to question it during the course of my viewing.

During the baptism scene, Eli mentions Daniel lusting after women. Also, you wonder if he had feelings for the Sunday daughter. Perhaps that was why he treated his son so terribly towards the end of the film??

When I first saw the film, I thought terrorizing the girl's father and essentially adopting her was Plainview's idea of being a good parent.  That, and maybe he identified with her as a victim of abuse.

Now I think Daniel did what he did because his son expressed an interest in the Sunday girl, and Daniel wants no other man to succeed. He was driven to possess the girl, not for sexual reasons, but as a means of maintaining total authority over his son.  Even if HW gets to marry her, Daniel is still her daddy.   

That man sure has a competition in him!

[electricdunnahoo]

I think it's smart they didn't include the impotence thing, because I was actually pretty convinced that this guy was just so wounded and alienated that he just wasn't interested in sex or love.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I do not feel that any explanation as to the absense of women from his life was necessary at all.  Seemed fairly obvious to a degree that to include a woman somewhere, even in the brothel, would have seemed out of character.  This is probably because Daniel Day-Lewis simply sold me on that character so well that I never even thought to question it during the course of my viewing.

During the baptism scene, Eli mentions Daniel lusting after women. Also, you wonder if he had feelings for the Sunday daughter. Perhaps that was why he treated his son so terribly towards the end of the film??

When I first saw the film, I thought terrorizing the girl's father and essentially adopting her was Plainview's idea of being a good parent.  That, and maybe he identified with her as a victim of abuse.

Now I think Daniel did what he did because his son expressed an interest in the Sunday girl, and Daniel wants no other man to succeed.  I think his pathology is such that he was driven to possess the girl, not for sexual reasons, but as a means of maintaining total authority over his son.  Even if HW gets to marry her, Daniel is still her daddy.   

That man sure has a competition in him!

Yeah, that route does make more sense to me. Still, there are references to his sexuality in the movie (the Peachtree dance, the baptism, etc.), but I think it was wise of PTA to not include any overt scene related to Plainview's sexuality. It definitely enhances your perception of his character.

[Chris L]

You don't see moves like this at the Peachtree Dance.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/FQAoFlgZy1Q[/youtube]

[John Junk]

I like how a "production company" was required for that video.

[Beth]

You don't see moves like this at the Peachtree Dance.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/FQAoFlgZy1Q[/youtube]

I laughed a little in the beginning. I'll admit it.


EDIT: This scene reminds me, I really hate the way Eli says "DON'T BULLY ME, DANIEL!"

[John Junk]

I really hate the way Eli says everything.

I tried that "DON'T BULLY ME" line on some bullies once.  Didn't work. 

[electricdunnahoo]

It was only a matter of time Id have to watch some Youtube clip featuring that song set to that scene.