Good Acting, Poor Framework

Rating: 4/10 (15 April 2008)

Daniel Day Lewis deserved his Oscar for best actor. In spite of the films multitude weaknesses, he delivered a superb performance in the role of Plainview.
The movie also deserved the Oscar for best Cinematography - it was wonderful. Better than many films for a long time.
That's it however. The movie itself, the story, the direction, editing and soundtrack made me feel like I was riding in a truck over a very rutted road and bouncing my way along without a seat belt.
Plainview is evil but the movie has to a actually tell you so and demonstrate it so because there is nothing in his character that would make you think him to be capable of some of the actions he does. His most atrocious deeds seem to be forced without motivation.
I found this movie to be very similar to Road to Perdition. Well acted, but unlike Perdition, There Will Be Blood is built on a poor development of the story.