frame²

I always love the movies that are told in a semi-documentary/biographical sort of way. Apollo 13 and Girl with the Pearl Earring (one of my top favorites) are good examples. So I figured that this would be a good pick, aside from the fact that it won a lot of awards and it was critically acclaimed blah blah blah...

First off, Paul Dano (Girl Next Door, Little Miss Sunshine) was fantastic. He was perfect for the role of Eli Sunday, the over zealous wanna-be prophet for the town. He was creepy and conniving when he needed to be and during the moments when Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) didn't give him what he needed/wanted, you are reminded that he is still a kid and how naive he is.

Daniel Day-Lewis didn't impress me at all. It seemed like he was impersonating someone from that time as opposed to acting like someone from that era. He just seemed so out of place and there was something about his character that was unnatural.

As for the storyline... this movie would be a good example of a horrible translation from book to film. As the story progresses for what appears to be no reason at all Daniel became more and more irrational. In the beginning you see him as this very calm level-headed businessman. I suppose everyone has a snapping point though, and his would have to be when his son became deaf after an explosion when they struck oil. Even then you still feel disconnected from his character and unrelatable. I'm left confused by his actions instead of feeling sympathetic and understanding.

Oh, and what was up with the soundtrack?! WORST soundtrack ever. It seemed like they ran out of money making the film so they took the soundtrack from a disposable B-rated horror film and slapped it on this one.

My assessment... overrated. I'm hoping the book will be better. I'll let you know.