very different film

Rating: 6/10 (3 May 2008)

I too was reminded of "Days of Heaven" with this film. The pacing and the style. I actually enjoyed in more in the watching than in reflecting back on it. This was not nearly as beautiful a film as DOH nor is it as cohesive a story. I was very interested in seeing it after Daniel Day Lewis' acceptance speech at the Oscars. His joy & pride, and enthusiasm were very inspiring. But the movie lets one down. It seems more a vehicle for his acting than his acting was to tell the story. The overall mood was one of uncertainty, apprehension, pending disaster. Plainview himself is an uneven, uncertain character. What ever his motives the intentions he expressed in setting up the conditions for the oil workers was admirable. His love for the child certainly seemed genuine whatever his stated reason for adopting him. Very impressed with Paul Dano whom I did not remember from "Ballad"