"There Will Be Blood" Discussion

[mighty mint]

This has to be the best character driven movie that has come out in the last 5-10 years. Daniel Day Lewis got ripped off during the Oscars. For his incredible performance he shouldn't have gotten an oscar...he should have gotten two!

I would propose a discussion on this film regarding "the third revelation." Any comments or insights?

Also, what did you think about the ending "I am finished"?

[Pirate]

I’m not sure if this is what you’re asking, but I believe the "third revelation" has something to do with Christ’s promise to return. I’d need to look it up to be more specific.

This was a good year for American epics, and like No Country for Old Men, I don’t think Blood could have ended in any other way. I know a lot of people felt somehow cheated by No Country and Blood in this regard, but Blood’s commencement and culmination in madness perfectly bookends its narrative. Several people in the theatre I saw it in nervously laughed out loud during the milkshake line and subsequent beating (which SNL has already parodied), so I think there may be some misunderstanding as to what Anderson was going for.

My favorite aspect of the film was the idea of the contrasting businessman (i.e., Eli’s religious racket and Daniel’s invented family man).

[Astrakan]

I'm assuming we're okay to discuss the movie openly without spolier warnings? Just in case:

SPOILER AHEAD

My only complaint with the ending to There Will be Blood is that I felt Eli should've survived, so he would have to live with the fact that he denounced God.

As for Plainview's fate, I'm pertfectly fine with that.

KM

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Astrakan

My only complaint with the ending to There Will be Blood is that I felt Eli should've survived, so he would have to live with the fact that he denounced God.

In my mind, Eli was never really a believer. Like Daniel, Eli was an opportunist who used his "talents" to his advantage. Daniel took a son and created a character to play; Eli wore the cloth and built a church. Same game, different angles.

[Astrakan]

Originally Posted by Pirate

In my mind, Eli was never really a believer. Like Daniel, Eli was an opportunist who used his "talents" to his advantage. Daniel took a son and created a character to play; Eli wore the cloth and built a church. Same game, different angles.

I considered the same thing, but I felt that his reluctance to denounce God, coupled with his ultra-religious upbringing, suggests that his faith was real.

But it's definitely not a sure thing either way.

KM

[Pirate]

I never really believed Eli’s religious conviction. Tell tale signs were in the way he treated his father, Daniel, and really anyone who took money out the church’s (i.e., his) pocket. But, for me, the final proof was in the way he admits his fraud. Eli’s eyes are smiling as if to say "yes, I'll let you, opposing-yet- kindred spirit, behind the curtain just this once." And then, of course, when Daniel explains that the Oil is gone, Eli tries to crawl back into his disguise, but it’s too late—and, obviously, useless to plead such a case to Daniel.

Another area that I think would be good for discussion is whether or not Paul Sunday existed. I think it may be giving the character of Eli too much credit for him to be both, and to have convinced his family to keep quiet about his dual roles—but there are a lot of people who believe otherwise. I can’t say I’ve made up my mind either way.

[mighty mint]

Well, my two cents are this...

The third revelation is God's continuing work to completion after Christ ascended into heaven. (First revelation - Moses and the Law, Second revelation - Jesus Christ, the embodiment of the Word). This view really puts a massive twist on how Eli and Daniel both claim to be the third revelation...Eli attempted to bring faith and show power, Daniel brought schools and more money for communities so they could have better lives.

The final statement, "I am finished" I believe applies only to that he was done with dinner. The lack of surprise on the butlers face led me to believe that Eli's murder would simply be buried and no one would question his disappearance since he was not popular anymore and did extensive travelling.

I think that Paul did exist as a twin to Eli...

As to Eli's faith...boy that is a hard one. I assumed that as alot of ministers, he may have started out with good intentions (and really weird) but once success came his way he became his focus became obsessed by the wealth of the world, which in this film, is represented by the blood of the ground, oil.

[iluvalex]

Sorry, I couldn't stand this movie. It bored the hell outta me. It just moved way to slow. I know it's character and story driven, but damn... let's get this train rollin'. I've enjoyed most of the academy award winners this year. Highly unusual. 'Blood' seemed to fit right back in with the past winners. Praising it for more than it's worth.

[Rileydog]

yes, I agree- bored.

I gave it till after his kid went deaf. I was interested in the characters, and DDL did an amazing job portaying Daniel.

But, there was no story really, or any developments that got me going. I kept expecting this to be a story of an obsessed man and how he went from nothing to somthing and then some. I kept waiting for a back stab, or a competitior, or his downfall. Something that gave purpose to his drilling.

But instead, what we got was that what he did was actually a backdrop for how it turned out.

Can anyone explain why he went sorta mad at the end? Was he just fed up with everyone? He did comment that he wanted a house and everyone to go away. Was it cause he was used to being alone and didnt have the patience for everyones BS?

I mean why did he turn so vicously on his son? Felt betrayed? Hated having to love a less then perfect person?

It just really didnt go where i thought it would and way before the end I was unsatisfied.

[Pirate]

Rileydog, you should really watch the whole film. Not much point in answering these questions if you haven't seen it through to conclusion.

[mighty mint]

Usually I can't sit through long, slower paced movies but I was so mesmerized by the script and the acting that the time passed very quickly for me. Must be a movie that you need to watch when you are in a certain mood

[Rileydog]

I see how I could be misunderstood-

I did watch it all the way through to the end. I meant I stopped really being interested and engaged with the characters and plot until the aforementioned point in the film.

Now that I have qualified my comments, can I participate in the discussion?

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by Rileydog

Now that I have qualified my comments, can I participate in the discussion?

You could always participate, I just didn't see the point if you hadn't finished the film. But, now that you've clarified . . .

Originally Posted by Rileydog

Can anyone explain why he went sorta mad at the end? Was he just fed up with everyone? He did comment that he wanted a house and everyone to go away. Was it cause he was used to being alone and didnt have the patience for everyones BS?

Plainview was always on the verge of madness, that was his personality. When he confesses to his imposter brother about the competition inside him, he's confessing the nature of his soul. And, as the oil business grew, so to did his paranoia and that maddening competition. Isolation relieves this.

Originally Posted by Rileydog

I mean why did he turn so vicously on his son? Felt betrayed? Hated having to love a less then perfect person?

Well, first off, H.W. wasn't his son. Plainview took the boy after his father was killed while drilling. H.W.'s purpose is a complex one for Daniel. On the one hand, the boy was a tool, a way to ingratiate Daniel to the common people (see his "I’m a family man" schpeal). On the other hand, there was a part of Daniel that wanted to trust and be trusted. This is why Daniel kills the imposter that claims to be his brother. To Daniel, there was no greater offense.

As for why Daniel treated H.W. the way he did after he was deafened, that's really a combination of factors. One, a deaf child was a time-consuming handful that would distract Daniel from his wells. Two, a deaf boy creates sympathy, which Daniel can't use to gain the trust of the people. And, three, there was something about the disability that scared Daniel and spoke to his insecurities.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Rileydog

yes, I agree- bored.

I gave it till after his kid went deaf. I was interested in the characters, and DDL did an amazing job portaying Daniel.

But, there was no story really, or any developments that got me going. I kept expecting this to be a story of an obsessed man and how he went from nothing to somthing and then some. I kept waiting for a back stab, or a competitior, or his downfall. Something that gave purpose to his drilling.

But instead, what we got was that what he did was actually a backdrop for how it turned out.

Can anyone explain why he went sorta mad at the end? Was he just fed up with everyone? He did comment that he wanted a house and everyone to go away. Was it cause he was used to being alone and didnt have the patience for everyones BS?

I mean why did he turn so vicously on his son? Felt betrayed? Hated having to love a less then perfect person?

It just really didnt go where i thought it would and way before the end I was unsatisfied.

I feel the same way. Everything about the movie was great to me except the actual story. I felt I watch a three hour movie about nothing. Why was the murder of Eli the culmination of the movie? Eli seemed like such in insignificant speck.

[brakeonthroo]

that movie was amazing. i thought it was one of the best i had seen in a while





-Matt
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