Henry Plainview (Pt. III)

Possibly the most astounding performance in an interconnected series of scenes that I have ever witnessed in the history of motion pictures occurs during the 'swimming-in-ocean->girls-in-bar->campfire-confrontation' scenes late in TWBB.
(SPOILER ALERT)
At this point in the film, DDL has "abandoned" his son, met with the Standard Oil representatives and rebuked their offer with a threat ("One day I'm going to come to you in your home, wherever you're sleeping, and I'm going to cut your throat"). The trio of scenes which display DDL's true magnificence begins when DDL and Henry are swimming in the ocean after meeting with Union Oil. The intrinsic differences between the two are quite evident, even down to their reaction after jumping into the cold water (Daniel remains completely quiet and wades in the water whereas Henry starts yelping and splashes around).
When DDL's quip that the two should, "Get 'em (some women) liquored-up and take 'em to the Peach-Tree Dance," goes unaddressed by Henry, and Henry lays his head in his lap (depression? or just another detail displaying his differing personality), PTA zooms in on DDL's expression...

This is when DDL realizes that he is ultimately alone in the world and that Henry is probably not his brother... his face cycles through 7-8 emotions before PTA cuts to the last two that Daniel will ever feel for Henry- disdain and suspicion...

Henry Plainview (Pt. II)

TWBB opens with "Henry Plainview". The mood that PTA creates in this opening- playing "H.P." against the visual of a desolate, unforgiving mountainous backdrop leading into a claustrophobic silver mining hole- is truly one of pure terror and isolation. When I first saw this unforgettable opening, I recall turning to my brother (Al) and giving him a nervous look which suggested, "Oh, heavens... what the hell have we just gotten ourselves into?" It is truly one of the most nerve-racking, anxiety-filled openers in cinematic history and only prefaces the mad and tragic events that will unfold in the next 2+ hours.

Jonny Greenwood's "Henry Plainview" (Pt. 1)

Radiohead guitarist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood wrote the score for There Will Be Blood. His eery, beautiful and unsettling work rivals some of the greatest film scores of it's kind from such greats as Bernard Hermann, Danny Elfman, Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, and James Newton Howard.

One song in particular, "Henry Plainview", splendidly mirrors the distrust, psychosis and tragically isolated nature of Daniel Plainview's soul. It is a piece that I will never be able to listen to again without thinking of the dangerously devastating performance that DDL gives while the song is playing.

(MORE TO COME)

Film Review: "In The Name of The Father"

Daniel Day can do anything.  

Pete Postlethwaite is versatile and incredibly moving.

Director Jim Sheridan proves that he's an amazing director, even though he apparently directed "Get Rich or Die Tryin'"... (He also directed My Left Foot and In America, so we can't hold it against him).

Tom Wilkinson has a small role as well!

Basically, this is both a tear-jerker and a feel-good story.  Daniel Day-Lewis masters different hair styles and varying levels of fury and intensity.  I would recommend this flick to anyone and everyone.

DDL is my BFF (not).

A View of THIRD

Ms. Emily Gunyou Halaas and Mr. Tony Clarno share a moment in the Guthrie Theatre production of "Third".  This scene finely displays the amazing talent of these two young actors.

theatre review: "THIRD"

My review of the play "THIRD"

by Wendy Wasserstein

directed by Casey Stengl

cast: Raye Birk, Tony Clarno, Emily Gunyou Halaas, Angela Timberman, Sally Wingert

NOW--> March 30th, 2008

I only went to see THIRD because Emily Gunyou Halaas was featured in it... however, I was pleasantly surprised with the entire cast.  All of the leads service their characters with an honest intensity that does justice to Wasserstein's air-tight script.  I was initially worried that relative newcomer Tony Clarno was playing Woodson Bull III (AKA "THIRD") with too much of a careless and innocent flair, until I realized that his character is coming from such a place in his development.  "Third" is a hard worker and a good guy until he's accused of plagiarizing a Shakespeare paper by his high-minded, glass-ceiling-breaking, liberal-ista college professor.  Wingert emotes all of the presuppositions of this character in each of her lines and somehow manages to come off as both the play's heroine and antagonist.  Additionally, she brings out all of the sharp witticisms and liberal humor entrenched in Wasserstein's script with a striking ease.... as if this role was written just for her.  Watch for the moment when (just before intermission), Wingert screams out a defiant statement that we earlier heard from her father (Raye Birk)... another example displaying the deep and honest nature of the script.

Not much to say about EMILY GUNYOU HALAAS except for the fact that she's perfect in this role and nails it!  I look forward to many more years of seeing Mrs. Halaas' wonderful characterizations on stage!

Angela Timberman contributes the most emotional portion of the play, as Wingert's colleague at the University.  Long story short, Timberman's character has a resurgence of the breast cancer that she had been battling AND is forced to side with Third at the Academic probation hearing (which he wins)... look for some intense convos between Timberman and Wingert that resonated so deeply with me that tears were shed.

Bottom Line?...

Everyone in this play is amazing and YOU ALL should go see it now.

(word up to Mrs. Halaas!)