I'm going to try something a bit different for a bit, posting small thoughts since the longer, more thoroughly planned out posts take too much time and don't seem quite worth the wait anyway.
I just got back from seeing There Will Be Blood with a friend. And, um... huh. I'm not quite sure what to think. It was certainly a brilliantly made movie, both the direction (including cinematography, etc.) and acting were superb, and I even liked the quirky music. I'm just not sure that I "got" it. As my friend said as we were leaving "I'm not quite sure where it was trying to take me".
As I said, we both thought it was masterfully made, just a bit confusing in what it was trying to say. I may have to see it again when it's released on DVD.
Personally, I'm still pulling for No Country For Old Men for Best Picture. It was equally as well made and performed, equally as atmospheric and shocking, but it also had a solid plot. Both movies invite you to reflect on what you are seeing, to think about it for yourself as they give you their minimalist vision, but No Country seemed to be a bit more solid underneath. I've only seen each one once though.
I would, however, back Daniel Day Lewis for Best Actor, without hesitation.
Oh, and while I'm at it, Cloverfield was brilliant for what it was (I'm giving it the achievement in special effects award for 2008 right now, wow), Mr. Brooks is a crafty and unusual thriller (I told you Kevin Costner could be great in the right movie), and Once is a beautiful slice of life film that fans of "singer/songwriter" music shouldn't miss (just be ready for the sometimes indecipherable Irish and Czech accents).
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I wrote a review of Mr. Brooks for DEN (http://www.dignews.com/review.php?story_id=26434) and feel the same as you - Costner can be great.
Cloverfield - fantastic movie, though the shaky cam got real old.
No Country for Old Men was a great movie, too, though I'm not sure "where it was trying to take me," as your friend said about the other one.
I'd be curious about your opinions on Juno, should you get the opportunity to see it.
I've tried to see Juno a couple of times, but it hasn't worked out yet. I'll probably try again this weekend.
I agree with your review of Mr. Brooks, though I didn't know they were planning any sequels. Fine by me, I'll go just to see Costner and Hurt playing off each other. That was a great bit of casting, putting those two together.
And I'm not really sure what to say about No Country. It's a movie about many things, and I'm not sure I've gotten them all.
**minor spoiler warning**
There's the theme of dealing with the consequences of your actions, but that's a bit stronger in the book than the movie. There's also the fact that an act of kindness gets the main character into trouble, and also allows a bad guy to survive in the end. And, of course, more than anything else it's a comment on society's increasing acceptance of violence and lack of compassion, personified by Javier Bardem's character (the irony being that they made a coldly violent movie to make that point).
I think the Brooks sequels were planned, but who knows if they'll happen... You know how it goes :)
The thing I took from No Country was the relentlessness of evil, and Tommy Lee's realization that the world has changed, and he's not so sure he wants any part of it.
It was one of those "It's great, but I'm not sure why" movies for me.
Fair enough. That's a good description of my feelings about There Will Be Blood, actually.
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