Vivid and bleak

Rating: 2/10 (15 April 2010)

I gave this film 2 for two reasons. One over the lowest grade of 1 for day Lewis' good effort at acting. The trade of directing and camera work is also impressive. However, the depiction of the "religious people" is yet again simplistic annoyingly judgmental and plain nuts. That deserves the low grade.
Just think of the maniacal Eli with his lust for church power and influence at his young age. The scene at the church where Eli cast out an evil spirit from an old woman is laughable. No true Christian community would stand the nonsense theatrical yelling of their preacher. Even more ridiculous is the slapping on the face of the kneeling Plainview in front of the whole church by Eli. This is not church this is torture. While being slapped Plainview yells "I'm a sinner! I'm a sinner!"
My goodness, aren't there any churches left so the director or writer would go and do their homework before they mesmerize their audience with insane depictions of a congregation on a Sunday morning? Well, they can blame it on the novelist, I guess.