There Will Be Blood – what am I missing? - Blu-ray Forum

cravnsn · 11-09-2008, 11:13 PM

OK, my wife & I watched the film. Great acting all around, particularly by Daniel Day Lewis. Costuming, photography, locations…everything was good.

But, what the hell was the point of the movie? Over 2 hours, and no pay off. We watch a lot of movies, and neither of us could come up with a point. Are we missing something?

Red Hood · 11-09-2008, 11:29 PM

greed at the turn of the century in two major things that drove america, religion and industry and how to men very far apart were also the same.

I dunno

JasonR · 11-09-2008, 11:30 PM

I'll tell you what you're missing....

DRAINAGE!!!! DRAINAGE ELI!!!!

Red Hood · 11-09-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonR

I'll tell you what you're missing....

DRAINAGE!!!! DRAINAGE ELI!!!!

I drink your milkshake.

ps3andlovinit · 11-10-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonR

I'll tell you what you're missing....

DRAINAGE!!!! DRAINAGE ELI!!!!

That made me

jadedeath · 11-10-2008, 02:49 AM

There was supposed to be a point?

Logan

assydingo · 11-10-2008, 02:58 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hXJMFW25nY

I enjoyed the movie. The pacing won't be for everyone.

Sussudio · 11-09-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cravnsn

OK, my wife & I watched the film. Great acting all around, particularly by Daniel Day Lewis. Costuming, photography, locations…everything was good.

But, what the hell was the point of the movie? Over 2 hours, and no pay off. We watch a lot of movies, and neither of us could come up with a point. Are we missing something?

everyone will have a different take on this, but my interpretation is:

(MINOR SPOILERS)
it's a very citizen kane-esque film, in that it deals with a man's rise to power and subsequent fall. by the end of the film, he owns one of the largest oil companies in the country, but he has become an alcoholic and alienated himself from everything and everyone, including his adopted son. he has achieved his fortune and now has nothing else left, denoted by the final line in the film "im finished!"

like i said, someone else might view the film differently, but that's my take.

dperrone · 11-09-2008, 11:39 PM

Same here, we watched it and I didn't think the movie was great, in fact, getting ready to throw it on ebay. Acting was great, but overall, movie wasn't my cup of tea, IMO

mrgreed202 · 11-09-2008, 11:43 PM

you see thats what makes the film good. Its point or "theme" has nothing to do with what is there, it has to do with the point of view of the person watching it. One person will always think of it differently than someone else. When a film throws out a specific viewpoint, thats all you get, that viewpoint...and thats no fun.

My_Two_Cents · 11-09-2008, 11:57 PM

Well, it's good to see I wasn't the only one who was scratching his head at the end of this one. I watched it with my 17 y.o. son last weekend, and (naturally) he thought it sucked. I wouldn't go that far. The acting was was very good, but the story was just....sad. When it was over, I was like "that's it?" You don't typically see movies that end that way. At least I haven't. Anyway, Oscar-worthy performance by DDL, but I didn't care for the story.

Jack Torrance · 11-09-2008, 11:52 PM

'tis all about faith and corruption. And how each of us is corruptable... there are numerous interpretations... the end result is ultimately the same, but there are many roads there. I've had some great and enlightning discussions with friends about this movie. More so than any movie this past few years. I've seen it several times now and each time come away with another take on the story.

I am not a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson, but I have to say this one won me over.

"DRAAAAIIIIINNNNAGE!!!!!!!"

Jack Torrance · 11-09-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dperrone

Same here, we watched it and I didn't think the movie was great, in fact, getting ready to throw it on ebay. Acting was great, but overall, movie wasn't my cup of tea, IMO

How much you asking for your copy?

stockstar1138 · 11-10-2008, 01:17 PM

I thought it was an awesome movie.

You saw a corrupt business man and a corrupt religious leader, each one of them wanted control of the community and you watched them fight over power. Back in those days (and still today) Money = Power; Religion = Power and only one can truly have control.

What was so powerful was that you had a man who loved Christ and in the end he bent over for money and denied Gods existance for it, TWBB showed how money can make a man very corrupt in both the cases of Eli and Daniel.

cravnsn · 11-10-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

I thought it was an awesome movie.

You saw a corrupt business man and a corrupt religious leader, each one of them wanted control of the community and you watched them fight over power. Back in those days (and still today) Money = Power; Religion = Power and only one can truly have control.

What was so powerful was that you had a man who loved Christ and in the end he bent over for money and denied Gods existance for it, TWBB showed how money can make a man very corrupt in both the cases of Eli and Daniel.

Which is what I took away from it too, but it still left me wanting more. Oh well, there have been several movies I’ve had to watch more than once to appreciate, so I’m sure I’ll rent it again in the future. Hopefully I’ll have a fresh perspective and appreciate it more.

DavePS3 · 11-10-2008, 02:44 PM

I thought it was well done, well acted but the film did nothing for me at all. Guy discovers oil, rips off everyone, hates everyone, shoots a guy and beats a preacher kid's head in with a bowling pin. That about sums it up for me. I'd never watch it again. ...but Lewis did a great acting job. Always does.

broganreynik · 11-10-2008, 03:11 PM

This was a great character piece with Daniel Plainview. I was so enthralled with how mean this guy was and how it progressed. This guy let greed and corruption get the best of him and he ended up a miser basically. But I'll tell you something, if you want to read the book to try to get a better idea of the story, don't. It's not even the same story at all. The main character in the book is H.W. but almost all the names are changed and it's basically some Socialist propoganda. Heck, in the book it is specifically said the character that Daniel Plainview was based on never wore a hat. One of the few times I would say that the movie was head and shoulders above the book.

Riff Magnum · 11-10-2008, 03:17 PM

What's the point of the movie "Transformers?" What's the point of any movie? I think the point of any movie is for you to go into a dark room for 2 hours and lose yourself. Yes you lost 2 hours of your life. I'm sure you'll find a way to soldier on and find ways to waste more of your precious time.
There are tons of "themes" in TWBB and lots of meat on those bones if you wanna pick at 'em all night. Fake brothers, half brothers, half sons, fake sons, fake dads. Who knows? All i know is when i watch the movie, I am in the movie. I'm there in that time and place for the duration and i never once leave or feel like i'm "watching" a movie. It just washes over you. One bonus is that it turns into a comedy once you watch it a couple times.

11-09-2008, 11:13 PM	#1
cravnsn Banned Member since:Aug 2008	There Will Be Blood – what am I missing? OK, my wife & I watched the film. Great acting all around, particularly by Daniel Day Lewis. Costuming, photography, locations…everything was good. But, what the hell was the point of the movie? Over 2 hours, and no pay off. We watch a lot of movies, and neither of us could come up with a point. Are we missing something?

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11-09-2008, 11:29 PM	#2
Red Hood Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2008 Blu-ray collection:33	greed at the turn of the century in two major things that drove america, religion and industry and how to men very far apart were also the same. I dunno

11-09-2008, 11:30 PM	#3
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	I'll tell you what you're missing.... DRAINAGE!!!! DRAINAGE ELI!!!!

11-10-2008, 02:49 AM	#6
jadedeath Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007	There was supposed to be a point? Logan

11-10-2008, 02:58 AM	#7
assydingo Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2008 Blu-ray collection:483 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:3	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hXJMFW25nY I enjoyed the movie. The pacing won't be for everyone.

11-09-2008, 11:39 PM	#9
dperrone Senior Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Orlando, Florida Blu-ray collection:49	Same here, we watched it and I didn't think the movie was great, in fact, getting ready to throw it on ebay. Acting was great, but overall, movie wasn't my cup of tea, IMO

11-09-2008, 11:43 PM	#10
mrgreed202 Senior Member Member since:Apr 2008 Blu-ray collection:138	you see thats what makes the film good. Its point or "theme" has nothing to do with what is there, it has to do with the point of view of the person watching it. One person will always think of it differently than someone else. When a film throws out a specific viewpoint, thats all you get, that viewpoint...and thats no fun.

11-09-2008, 11:57 PM	#11
My_Two_Cents Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Wherever I may roam.... Home Theater Gallery:40 4K collection:35 Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:19 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:4	Well, it's good to see I wasn't the only one who was scratching his head at the end of this one. I watched it with my 17 y.o. son last weekend, and (naturally) he thought it sucked. I wouldn't go that far. The acting was was very good, but the story was just....sad. When it was over, I was like "that's it?" You don't typically see movies that end that way. At least I haven't. Anyway, Oscar-worthy performance by DDL, but I didn't care for the story.

11-09-2008, 11:52 PM	#12
Jack Torrance Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Overlook Hotel Blu-ray reviews:1	'tis all about faith and corruption. And how each of us is corruptable... there are numerous interpretations... the end result is ultimately the same, but there are many roads there. I've had some great and enlightning discussions with friends about this movie. More so than any movie this past few years. I've seen it several times now and each time come away with another take on the story. I am not a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson, but I have to say this one won me over. "DRAAAAIIIIINNNNAGE!!!!!!!"

11-10-2008, 01:17 PM	#14
stockstar1138 Banned Member since:Apr 2007	I thought it was an awesome movie. You saw a corrupt business man and a corrupt religious leader, each one of them wanted control of the community and you watched them fight over power. Back in those days (and still today) Money = Power; Religion = Power and only one can truly have control. What was so powerful was that you had a man who loved Christ and in the end he bent over for money and denied Gods existance for it, TWBB showed how money can make a man very corrupt in both the cases of Eli and Daniel.

11-10-2008, 02:44 PM	#16
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I thought it was well done, well acted but the film did nothing for me at all. Guy discovers oil, rips off everyone, hates everyone, shoots a guy and beats a preacher kid's head in with a bowling pin. That about sums it up for me. I'd never watch it again. ...but Lewis did a great acting job. Always does.

11-10-2008, 03:11 PM	#17
broganreynik Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Nebraska Home Theater Gallery:60 4K collection:124 Blu-ray collection:2113 DVD collection:111 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:46	This was a great character piece with Daniel Plainview. I was so enthralled with how mean this guy was and how it progressed. This guy let greed and corruption get the best of him and he ended up a miser basically. But I'll tell you something, if you want to read the book to try to get a better idea of the story, don't. It's not even the same story at all. The main character in the book is H.W. but almost all the names are changed and it's basically some Socialist propoganda. Heck, in the book it is specifically said the character that Daniel Plainview was based on never wore a hat. One of the few times I would say that the movie was head and shoulders above the book.

11-10-2008, 03:17 PM	#18
Riff Magnum Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2008 Location:The Island Blu-ray collection:149	What's the point of the movie "Transformers?" What's the point of any movie? I think the point of any movie is for you to go into a dark room for 2 hours and lose yourself. Yes you lost 2 hours of your life. I'm sure you'll find a way to soldier on and find ways to waste more of your precious time. There are tons of "themes" in TWBB and lots of meat on those bones if you wanna pick at 'em all night. Fake brothers, half brothers, half sons, fake sons, fake dads. Who knows? All i know is when i watch the movie, I am in the movie. I'm there in that time and place for the duration and i never once leave or feel like i'm "watching" a movie. It just washes over you. One bonus is that it turns into a comedy once you watch it a couple times.

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