Not worth your time!

Rating: 2/10 (19 May 2008)

This critically acclaimed film follows the life of fictional oil tycoon Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) from 1898 to 1927 as he first discovers oil, seeks to expand his business (along the way hearing about an oil rich farming area and striking it big), works to establish a pipeline to circumvent railroad shipping fees, and finally we see the state of his life when he's finally achieved his ambitions.
On the surface this may seem to be a good backdrop for a fascinating character study and period adventure. And perhaps it is. However, I for one walked away from the film very disappointed and empty.
Here is yet another example of what the "critics" seem to love in a movie these days. A movie is now a monumental achievement and great art if:
1). The production values are high 2). The running time is over 2 1/2 hours 3). The film gives the aura of being an introspective morality play 4). Christianity/Christians are shown to be stupid/eccentric/hateful/abusive, etc. 5). We see someone slowly descend into madness or evil 6). There is no clear-cut protagonist and no redeeming values presented
Now if this is your idea of a great movie, then by all means watch this one (and a million other hyped films with the same elements). However, I fail to see the point of watching a movie where we are drug down into a pit of darkness and made to waller in the filth up to and through the very end. That is all this film offers.
While Day-Lewis does a decent job in his role, it is one that is never makes sense to the viewer. For such a long film, the character development is poor, and it consistently sends a mixed message about greed, corruption, loyalty, family, religion, capitalism, etc. This film with it's dissonant score, dramatic cinematography, method acting and slow, slow pacing tries REALLY hard to convince the viewer that he is watching some very important events happen in the heart of our little oil tycoon. When a film has to try so hard, it's NOT a good sign. But then I guess it was good enough to fool the critics.
In the end, although there were good elements such as the whole scene in and around where the oil derrick catches fire (this was a wonderful technical achievement which blended well into the story in an unobtrusive way), and Day-Lewis' solid performance, it was not anywhere close to enough to carry the overlong non-sensical film that leads to nowhere.
It's not even worth watching once. Avoid it!