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Home > Archive > Feb 14, 2008

Dark Indie Film, Light-hearted Flick
“There Will Be Blood”
Nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Director, “There Will Be Blood” is a somber R-rated drama that will appeal to serious movie buffs or to followers of the elusive Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis (“My Left Foot,” “Last of the Mohicans,” “Gangs of New York”).
This man is one of the most incredible actors of our day. He keeps out of the public eye and accepts very few roles. He does detailed research that consumes him to the point of needing lots of recovery time between jobs.
When he appears on screen you never think of who the actor is because he is immediately hidden in character. He is absolute brilliance!
“There Will Be Blood” is the very dark look at a rough and obsessive man who only lives to find oil at the turn of the century. Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) starts on his own out in the middle of nowhere digging and blasting until he finds the black gold deep in the ground.
He adds on a small crew that includes a baby boy named H.W., and it grows into a big oil operation that becomes successful in bringing up the thick dark stuff but fails in every other way.
The story behind Plainview’s relationship with the baby is muddy, but the tot survives the physical and emotional elements to become his father’s partner when he is only a young boy. An accident changes H.W.’s life and he thankfully finds clarity as an adult.
Plainview’s craziness is matched by a young preacher named Eli (up-and-coming actor Paul Dano from “Little Miss Sunshine”). The congregation is controlled by Eli’s religious style, but Plainview’s dealings with Eli are based on striking a deal to get the oil from Eli’s family property.
They detest each other and play the game necessary to get what they want. There is only one moment that Plainview’s solid emotional walls crack just a smudge when Eli forces him to convert. For a split second Plainview shows real emotion about his son, but it quickly dissipates when he gets permission to run a pipeline to transport the oil himself to avoid dealing with corporate oil deals.
Plainview offends every single person in his life. He admits in an alcohol-induced confession to a man who claims to be his half brother that he really does hate everybody. All he wants is to be alone. 
Does this paint a dark picture for you? It should because that is what this movie is. I am not saying that it isn’t good, but it is different and you need to be prepared.
There is very little dialog. The story flows with an unusual instrumental musical score co-written by Jonny Greenwood, a member of the alternative rock group Radiohead.
There is some violence that goes along with this hostile and angry man. I did not leave the theater skipping with a smile on my face. But I did have good conversation about what it takes to be a pioneer in a hard business during a tough time period of staking claims and trying to survive.
It doesn’t validate Plainview’s behavior, and we don’t know what happened in his earlier life that may have shaped his path. The bottom line is that this is an Oscar-worthy performance once again by Mr. Daniel Day-Lewis, who by the way admitted he was shocked by the attention this film is getting because it is not mainstream. Isn’t that what the golden statue likes? For those indie film fans, I give it a “B.”
“Fool’s Gold”
It is always nice to have a variety at the theaters depending on your mood. Life is hard enough and if we didn’t have some light-hearted silliness to life our spirits we would be a sad group indeed! “Fool’s Gold,” rated PG-13, is just that: silly.
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson reunite after the successful “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.” With hopes of recreating their magical chemistry, these two made it to No. 1 at the box office this past weekend, but it could be foolish to think that it will hold for long. I don’t really care because I adore Ms. Hudson and enjoy Mr. Shirtless.
Kate and Matthew play newly divorced Ben and Tess. He is a beach bum; she is a derailed PhD student who was swept away by Ben years earlier on spring break. They share two things in common, lust for each other and the interest in historical hidden treasures.
They talk about their chemistry but it is not we all hoped for. These two generate enough of their own light they I am still entertained by watching them.
Tess takes a job with a billionaire yacht owner, played by Donald Sutherland. He must be smart to be so successful, but he is stupid when it comes to his “Paris Hilton-like” daughter.
Other dumb characters are the thugs that work for a hip hop mogul that controls the island that holds the prize, other treasure “experts,” and the list goes on.
Tess and Ben “miraculously” end up on the yacht together and enlist the help of Southerland and his crew. They are in a race to find the old Spanish loot hidden in the gorgeous ocean.
The whole thing is supposed to take us on a “National Treasure” type of ride, but it doesn’t quite make the trip. I loved the scenery and the chance to look at warm sands and clear water during our chilly winter. I tolerated the script, but felt frustrated that the real treasure, two happy sunny stars, was wasted.
Adding and subtracting it all together I give it a “C+.” Until next time … Save me a seat!
Ann Staples is a St. George resident who has reviewed movies for KCSG, KONY 99.9 FM, and KDXU 890 AM. She is the former host of local lifestyle and entertainment TV shows "KCSG Today" and "So Utah." Ann is married to dentist Larry Staples and has three children, four step-children, and 11 grandchildren.

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