There Will Be Blood

2007 Paul Thomas Anderson, regarded as one of the finest films off the past decade
yes, it's very impressive, but let's not get too carried away
The use of images to tell the story is fine
in parts the cinematography is excellent; long pans
Anderson has great, simple, creation of space around Plainview
washed out backdrops and low key interiors
repeat use of colour schemes; red, for example are well done
as are certain sillouhetted compostions
it is a taut story, excellent in that plot brings out character
problem is that a few scenes seem to come a little from knowehere; random violence
as though the editing was down from too much; unmotivated, but not random (presumption of justification)
the film would be more interesting if viewed from liking/ identifying with Plainview more
Day-Lewis is of course excellent, sidelit with his red face, is given long takes at times
space and edit fragments as it goes on, showing shattering worldview
but the moment is never really reached, we really have a road that lacks an understanding (Anderson presumes we have reached an end, that Plainview is shown as nuts; but this never really happens)
nothing wrong with open endings, but inconsequential, especially in a film about character, is a problem
music is intrusive and loses tension, loses realism, really not impressive
a fine film, which doesn't quite reach the huge expectations it set itself
Of course unfair to compare with 'Kane', but similar arc, this film is excellent but not in that class
rather compare with 'The Murder Of Jesse James'...an interesting comparison, both led by plot,