Real Review

Rating: 10/10 (14 July 2008)

Now what makes this film so special? why did this movie receive such rave reviews? why did Day Lewis receive an Oscar for this?The answer to these questions are all answered in the movie the only thing you have to do is watch it. When i watch a movie or anyone else watches a movie we have expectations. I had great expectations for this movie because in my eyes as it was released the director Mr Anderson was competing against the Coen brothers and Day lewis was competing against Denzel Washington in American Gangster. So already in the making we had No Country For Old Men vs There will Be blood, Paul Anderson vs Coen brothers and Day Lewis vs Denzel Washington. Now any reader of this post can see this is a huge task. There will be blood prevails in all categories. Now I'm not saying that this movie was directly in competition with these sources but at the time it was released it just so happened that these other movies and actors were around. What Anderson does in this movie was amazing. right from the beginning he creates a suspense which rises as the movie develops. Not for an instance is there a dull moment, but continually the suspense rises and rises to a point where u know that the character Daniel Planinview is going to snap. It is obvious to see that this movie is a character study as well as a movie about oil, greed and religion.
In order to make a great movie the director must NOT lose the interest of the viewer at any point. The opening scenes must create curiosity, suspense, hype and this must not be lost at any point. This is what separated this movie to the other movies released in its time. Anderson keeps that suspense and hype and he keeps it till the end. The ending could have ruined the movie if it was different because the curiosity of the viewer was so high at that point, that only a fitting ending to the rest of the movie could have made it a masterpiece and that is exactly what happens. The ending raises the suspense to an all time high leaving the audience breathless as they leave the theatre. If you don't understand this go watch American gangster and you will see how the opening scene in that movie (light cigar throw on man in oil and pump rounds into mans chest) creates too much hype and suspense for the director to carry on building upon whereas in TWBB the suspense starts well and doesn't stop. Last words, Day lewis has taken acting to a whole new level.