The latest film from PT Anderson tells the story of Daniel Plainview in the early part of the 20th century as he searches for oil, and particularly as he drills for oil in one area of California.The film has had great reviews and Daniel Day-Lewis gives a mesmeric performance in the lead role, for which he quite rightly won the Best Actor Oscar. Some parts of the film are excellent and the period is wonderfully evoked - the power of striking oil is wonderfully captured and put across on the screen.
However, as with No Country For Old Men, I just couldn't warm to the film overall. None of the characters are particularly likable and I'm not sure I care what happens to them - which is surely a major flaw in a film?
Yes it's better than 99% of the films currently on release, and yes there are some interesting subplots - the father/son relationship and the role of the local minister being two of them - but at the end I couldn't help thinking that I seen a cross between Citizen Kane and Dallas. Harsh? Undoubtedly - but honest.
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