There Will Be Blood Praise
Anne Thompson on There Will Be Blood and how it paints America and the Americans.
In some ways the movie is a companion piece to Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine. Americans are a remarkably violent people. Our country breeds and foments violence. But the movie’s dark, grim, assaultive nature, and the finale that does not offer any light in the darkness, will drive many viewers away, especially women. It’s an art-house movie for smart people with strong stomachs. Cinephiles will revel in this. As a writer-director, PTA will earn the respect of critics and peers. But a wide-audience spectacle this is not.
PTA lacks that warm touch that can open a movie up to a broader swath of viewers–compare this to the Coens’ No Country for Old Men. That movie in its way also reveals the darkness in mens’ souls. But there are many people–like Tommy Lee Jones’ sheriff–fighting the good fight. Even if they lose, they are still fighting.
I think that should read “people are remarkably violent.”
they showed the trailer before NCFOM when I saw it as well. puts the crappy youtube one to shame.