Appallingly boring

Rating: 1/10 (7 May 2008)

Appallingly boring, this tedious, insipid movie grinds on and on until yawns are upon the mouths of all but those who might see some kind of eccentric, impressionistic quality to it (and those who leave early, of whose escape I am envious). It seems that the previous reviewers can be divided into the crowd who cannot stop praising this movie, and the few who are shouting that the emperor of "There Will Be Blood" has no clothes. I am of the latter few.
This movie's elusive storyline contains no protagonist, no antagonist and absolutely no clear-cut "goal" whatsoever for the main character Daniel Plainview. The viewer follows the story of Daniel Plainview as he goes about his business of expanding his early 20th century oil company, through several banal setbacks. Characteristic of this movie are the long periods of silence accompanied by dramatic music, which culminate in what can only be called nothing. Not much more is offered in the way of acting or even filming, for that matter. Both are less than mediocre at best, and I'm loath to begin verbally butchering the individual performances. To be fair, I must emphasize that the kid playing Plainview's son (Dillon Freasier) and Daniel Day-Lewis himself, as well as the editor's cutting, were particularly dreadful.
In summary, the movie lacks content and quality, visually, intellectually and content-wise. If ever a movie deserved the one-star rating, this one does.