Absolute best movie of 2007

Rating: 10/10 (28 June 2020)

My opinion from technical aspect is the amazing score composed by Johnny Greenwood. Music was used in this film to heighten the emotion. Example, in the burning oil derrick, the score consist of string instrumental that evokes anxiety. Another brilliant way for Anderson to use music, he uses it to foreshadow for future consequence. Like when Daniel Plainview and his imposter step-brother en route to Bandy's ranch, the scene has neutral atmosphere yet the background music is anxiety-inducing, panic sort of. Then, the lighting setup in this looks very naturalistic despite in behind the scene, they are using tons of spotlight during production. The amount of efforts they put to make the shot worked should be appreciated. Personally, I was surprised to know this film's budget is the same amount from his older work, Punch-Drunk Love because of how ambitious and precise it look in this film more than Punch-Drunk Love. Great performance from Daniel Day Lewis too, who's giving this sort of over-the-top acting.
On surface level, this film is great for character study and the plot. Its interesting event what makes mainstream audience who's unfamiliar with cinema, could enjoy. Also for people who are into films they could observe on deeper level like Plainview's psychology, subtleties performance and still enjoy it. This is another amazing movie by Paul Thomas Anderson, which he wrote his character as a normal human being with complexity instead of objectifying it into a caricature. We as the viewer might dislike Plainview, but we still could empathize with his tragedy from his childhood, things he went through building his own oil empire. Personally, in first act I was impressed by its subtlety with less dialogue, second act by the production design and characters development while on third act by its high emotional impact. I also think this is that intelligent type of film, with repeated watching you could pick up new detail everytime.