Masterpiece? I don't think so.

Rating: 4/10 (31 December 2007)

What is it with people and the IMDb? This rush to judgment is astonishing - the critics too, falling all over themselves to proclaim this film a masterpiece. Do words have no meaning anymore? The awful, awful musical score alone would remove this from the masterpiece category. I thought Daniel Day Lewis was terrific (and yes, channeling John Huston, clearly), and I liked all the other actors. It's nicely directed and happily none of the cast whispers, which seems to be today's generation's idea of acting. Some scenes crackle with energy and good dialogue. But, at the end of the day, what exactly is being said here? That greed and power exist? Okay, great. I had no problem with the length, but it just became repetitious after a while. I have to agree with the comment that this will not hold up to the test of time. Citizen Kane it isn't. Treasure of Sierra Madre it isn't.
I'm sure some of this is shilling as someone suggests, which is why one can never take this site too seriously. Then there are the people who feel they must run home, fire up the computer, and howl to the world of masterpieces that exist only in their film study universe.