Most overrated film of two years

Rating: 2/10 (5 January 2008)

Wow, what a disappointing movie. It opened here in Dallas last night at this morning's 11:15 show at the only theater it's playing was packed to the gills- until a few people had the sense to walk out.
It appears that the popularity of the film may be based on the fact that it bashes two unpopular institutions- the oil industry and religion.
It is totally untenable that either of the psychotic assholes that are the respective lead characters here would ever rise to to such positions of prominence in this world, either now or 100 years ago. Psychotics don't become successful now and didn't become successful then.
There are so many implausibles here that the whole movie is a joke. Would you let your child play on the oil derrick a few days after one of the workmen was killed on it? How in the world did Mr. Bandy happen upon Daniel on the morning after he did the dastardly deed on his brother? If Daniel was at all close to Bandy's place he would have been sleeping at home that night.
Why was there a worker down hole to be killed anyway? The "cellar" on a cable tool rig is just a few feet below the platform. If Daniel never paid Eli, how did the new church get paid for? Why did HW lose his voice and not just his hearing? And possibly the biggest flaw- the score. Part of it was copied right out of the TV show Lost.
The only thing worse than a movie this bad is a movie this bad that someone garners critical praise.