I kind of look at it the way Winston Churchill did…

“Democracy is the worst form of government… except for all the others.”

Capitalism is the best economic system out there, but that doesn’t mean it’s not often cold-hearted and has pushed men to do some very ugly things. It also doesn’t mean it’s not at odds with much of what Christianity teaches.

Art is about looking at the good and bad in humanity. I’m Catholic, so I’ve been taught since birth basically to be very conscious of my own faults. Just because I examine them, doesn’t mean I hate myself. Same principle applies to There Will Be Blood, I think.

Capitalism is not cruel, socialism is. 20th century history makes that fact crystal clear. Capitalism is an embrace of liberty and change in the marketplace. That’s the freedom to create, the freedom to succeed and most definitely the freedom to fail miserably. Socialism is our “leaders” deciding what is safe and sane for the masses to protect us from harm because we are such weak, pathetic creatures. Nothing that is really worth striving for doesn’t come without the real prospect of failure. It’s kind hearted to embrace that very central core essence of humanity. It’s cruel to chain it up with “good intentions”

I see what you’re saying. And I agree with your take on the theme of the film.

I know it was based on a book, which may be ROUGHLY based on a true story, but I feel there was so much more that could have been done with it.

I know one of my issues is that from the people I know that liked it kept saying Daniel Day Lewis is “so bad ass”. So I think I kept waiting for him to go nutso (i.e., killing that guys family who wanted to buy his business).

It was also a little over the top when he completely disowned his son. Brutal! For me that went too far and made him almost inhuman and unrelatable as a character.

I spent too much of the movie waiting for the big payoff and never got it (although seeing him pick up the spare on Eli’s head was quite satisfying).

Oh yea that reminds me, apparently Paul and Eli were actually brothers played by the same actor. I read this after seeing the film and spending the whole movie trying to figure out when that kids schizophrenia was going to be dealt with.

Alright, sorry to anyone who hasn’t seen this movie. I can see why it’s likeable but obviously there is some debate to be had. My advice, go in expecting nothing…good or bad and you will get the best experience. Hype killed it for me.

Steve

Well, first, I liked the story of Plainview discovering oil and starting his oil business. Love the landscapes and the wordless 15 minutes intro. It’s a part of U.S. history not really looked at too often.

Second is the Plainview character. He’s basically the movie. If you find his interactions with the people around him and his gradual slide into meglomania interesting, then you’ll like the film, I guess.

Third, is the theme of the film. My take on it ***SPOILERS– kinda!*** is that his feud with the preacher represents the internal battle of America. We’re a Christian country that’s beholden to the cold-hearted economic system of capitalism. The end, for me, says that no matter how much we like to identify ourselves as a Christian country, when it really comes down it – when it comes down to hard choices that directly impact one’s life and well-being, Capitalism (or money) wins out in the end.

It was 30 minutes of story, which I didn’t find to be good, spread out over 3 hours.

I’m not here to bash it, I’m really looking for someone to explain why it’s good as a movie, or from a writing perspective.

Also, I don’t think it’s because I’m too dense to see it because I’ve heard a lot of intelligent people give the same review. Thanks!

Steve

-GOD

-GOD

-GOD

-GOD