Anderson is a great movie maker

Rating: 7/10 (12 March 2008)

Even though there's been a lot of publicity about this film throughout the award season, I managed to avoid any spoilers before the film finally turned up at our local flea-pit. It was certainly well worth the wait and it was great to see a craftsman practising their art. In terms of the current crop of directors (PT)Anderson must be my favourite and I adore both Magnolia and Boogie Nights.
I'm not sure whether there is much comment about this, but the opening sequence of the film has no dialogue. You can almost sense that Anderson is playing with the audience and my guess is that it must be about 15 minutes before the first dialogue. I've no doubt I'll be able to check that somewhere on the net.
Whereas with Magnolia and Boogie Nights had brilliant performances from several members of the cast There Will Be Blood is very much the Daniel Day-Lewis show. Fortunately Day-Lewis is certainly up to carrying the film and he fully deserved the best actor Oscar. I've no doubt ANderson and Day-Lewis got on well because they are not the most prolific of people in the movies. It's certainly quality rather than quantity for both.
In case anybody doesn't know the film follows an oil prospector from the early part of the 20th century. The film is tough going at times and the lead character is not the most sympathetic of characters, but as with most of Anderson's work there are times at the film when you get totally immersed in it. Well worthy of all the praise and lets hope it isn't Anderson's and Day-Lewis' last work of the decade ... Some hope!