There will be blood... eventually

Rating: 1/10 (10 February 2008)

I haven't felt so strongly about a movie in a long while but then again "There will be blood" is something unique. I can without doubt classify this as the worst movie I have ever had the misfortune of suffering through. It is I suppose possible that I somehow missed the aspects of the movie that others seem to have experienced as profound moments.
This film endeavours to be about so many different things (family, religion, oil etc) but manages to explore each so fleetingly that and in such a bizarre way that it leaves the audience bewildered. There was no dynamic to keep the story (or lack there of) moving forward, at times it felt like a seemingly random series of events with no connection whatsoever to the scenes pro them.
The music adds to the ruin that this movie is. While possibly enjoyable if observed out of context to the scene in which it is attached is atrocious in conjunction to the scene being observed. I recall a ten minute long scene with a hugely suspenseful score that provokes a reaction in the audience in a similar way that a horror or thriller movies score would, but instead of being justified the scene ends abruptly and the built up suspense slowly dissipates. This trend continues through out the movie.
Through out the movie scene changes are heralded by am almost 20 second sync of sound that distracts and complicates not only the current scene but the following one as well. In conjunction with this no consideration is paid to the audience as scene changes will often rapidly change from extended darkness to eye burning brightness.
What remains to be mentioned is the acting of this movie. It becomes apparent that the theme of this movie is to have the protagonists portrayed as out of this world batshit crazy (forgive the curse words but trust me it's accurate). If this was the director's intent then each respective actor has done a spectacular job. Eli in particular was frighteningly insane as the priest of the small church, as was Daniel to ward the closing moments of the movie.
In closing I would recommend steering well clear of this disaster of a movie, save your self the torment. At over two and a half of stagnant plot and meaningless scenes you will be clawing at your eyes in frustration. I can't help but think that the entire movie was a tortuously long build up to one huge joke, There will be blood...eventually.