Like a Kick in the Face

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2008)

Good God, this is the most intense movie I've ever seen. As my title says, it's like a kick in the face. So gripping, so beautiful, so riveting. So intense. I don't have much to say, only a short comment on Daniel Day-Lewis' performance. I'm no film school kid; I haven't seen a million movies and have no business comparing Anderson to Malick. All I can say is that Daniel Day-Lewis' performance was the best I've ever seen. For me, it's between him and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter (I haven't seen enough of the other great performances, ie Brando in Streetcar or Waterfront). Just the way he inhabits the character, inhabits the film. When he's off-screen (rarely), you're just on the seat of your pants waiting for him to return. Unbelievable.