It isn't his son. It was one of his workers son that got killed early in the movie. Yes he gave Paul $10000.
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There will be blood is sooooooo boring
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It isn't his son. It was one of his workers son that got killed early in the movie. Yes he gave Paul $10000.
OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather
Member
Is this a parody post?
lmao!
I guess I always presumed that the dude tending to the baby and the film's beginning was just someone he had taking care of the kid, and he doesn't want to pay the child any mind until his babysitter is dead.
Where is the Paul thing confirmed in the movie? I thought he just took $500 and left.
Miles Quaritch
Member
Pretty sure it's never confirmed. It sounded like a slight variation of the spiel he uses throughout the opening part of the movie where he's trying to convince people to let him work/exploit their discoveries.
SirButterstick
Banned
I agree with the OP. As an 'experience' it's fine, but as a story holy shit PTA, can you be more plodding? I found it good, but not great by any means.
And 'Come and See' is my favorite film, so please spare me from this condescending ADD talk.
And 'Come and See' is my favorite film, so please spare me from this condescending ADD talk.
FrostuTheNinja
Member
I figured Paul was the sinner and Eli the saint. Two halves to a phony whole.
Edit:
But I do think Plainview made Eli renounce his faith just so he had the opportunity to send him to "hell".
Edit:
But I do think Plainview made Eli renounce his faith just so he had the opportunity to send him to "hell".
The One Who Knocks
Member
I'm quite sure it's meant to be assumed to be a lie. Paul asks for five hundred initially, Plainview states he'll give him one hundred now and -(at this point he's interrupted), Paul then asks for six hundred. and Plainview finally offers him five hundred dollars and mentions that if Paul says something worth hearing, the money is his (which he does and promptly leaves). Later, while talking to Eli (as has been mentioned), he claims to have given Paul ten thousand, cash-in-hand. The initial line regarding the Paul being a blatant lie, in addition to everything that precedes that topic, makes the probability of him being sincere about Paul almost non-existent, designed to further twist the knife into Eli by emphasising his failure; particularly when there has never been any indication that he (Plainview) had any concern into Paul (and likewise, Eli having sought, and been unable to acquire $5,000 from Plainview). I'm surprised there seems to be some doubt surrouding the validity of the claim; I guess it's possible that Paul owns a prosperous company but the only fact regarding the situation we have is that Plainview initially lies about Paul, there's no reason to believe he's telling the truth following that initial lie.
paparazzo
Member
Even if you liked the movie, you still can't get the two hours back. That's not how time works.
Well, duh. Isn't that what the saying kind of implies? If someone says they wish they could get the time back after watching something they found unenjoyable, they're expressing how lacking they found the film. You don't hear people saying "that movie was awesome! But I wish I could get those two hours back."
Great... Great film. Greeaattt film.
I see this movie the same as I do MGS4. Loved it but it's not something I'd recommend and I'll probably never see it again. This movie really isn't for everybody's so I can see where the OP is coming from. I just disagree with him about the first hour being boring. That was the most interesting part for me. But overall I felt this movie was really solid.
I rather like dialogue heavy films. I'm the guy that actually enjoyed mission to mars and contact so I can take a lot of "nothing" happening. I find "nothing" interesting sometimes. I never really thought the movie felt boring because every scene mattered and gave you further insight into the character. That's why at even half way through the film I took issue with someone saying that DDL was the only good part of the film. Well he was the film. I read the IMDB Trivia page and learned that there are only two scenes he's not in. Wedding scene (which was like 20 seconds long) and the scene where Eli berates his father. That's a huge deal for a movie that's over two hours long. Huuuuuge deal.
I didn't particularity love the casting of Eli though. He never really came off as a threat. That's why the last scene fell a little flat for me. He got one over on him and won but my reaction was "...over him?". It didn't seem like that big of a deal big he was never that big of a deal to begin with.
The twin thing was also a little meh. I wasn't surprised to hear it was kind of thrown in.
I see this movie the same as I do MGS4. Loved it but it's not something I'd recommend and I'll probably never see it again. This movie really isn't for everybody's so I can see where the OP is coming from. I just disagree with him about the first hour being boring. That was the most interesting part for me. But overall I felt this movie was really solid.
I rather like dialogue heavy films. I'm the guy that actually enjoyed mission to mars and contact so I can take a lot of "nothing" happening. I find "nothing" interesting sometimes. I never really thought the movie felt boring because every scene mattered and gave you further insight into the character. That's why at even half way through the film I took issue with someone saying that DDL was the only good part of the film. Well he was the film. I read the IMDB Trivia page and learned that there are only two scenes he's not in. Wedding scene (which was like 20 seconds long) and the scene where Eli berates his father. That's a huge deal for a movie that's over two hours long. Huuuuuge deal.
I didn't particularity love the casting of Eli though. He never really came off as a threat. That's why the last scene fell a little flat for me. He got one over on him and won but my reaction was "...over him?". It didn't seem like that big of a deal big he was never that big of a deal to begin with.
The twin thing was also a little meh. I wasn't surprised to hear it was kind of thrown in.
D
Deleted member 13876
Unconfirmed Member
Do you erase your memory of it each time after watching it?
Bobby Roberts
Banned
I was goofing on a stupid saying for the hell of it. I wasn't really going after you or anything.
The saying "There's two hours I can't get back" has always been dumb, that's all
What makes you think that people who don't like this movie need stuff "spoon fed" to them? That's quite a leap of logic. In essence, you're saying people who don't like this movie are uneducated. Don't you think that is an enormous generalization and insulting?
Do you have any idea how much I'd love to have that power? If I could watch the end of Avengers anew every time I'd be the happiest person on earth.
Eli was never a threat to be overcome. In killing him, Daniel took the final step of his journey into hell. Daniel didn't win. At the end, he is a broken and damned man with nothing left.
See I didn't get that during the scene. Daniel was clearly gloating when he spoke of the milkshake. In a very "I got you" kind of way. There was nothing in that scene that told me that Daniel didn't see him as something he overcame or got one over on.
Daniel saw him as a personal threat to his ego. Eli was a self-professed man of God and Daniel is shown to be opposed to religion throughout the film. In the very last scene, though, when Daniel achieves his "victory," it's clear that he's a tired and broken down old man. He doesn't relish what he's just done. He collapses onto the floor and proclaims "I'm finished!" to no one but an empty mansion and his butler. The last scene is the only part of the film where Daniel realizes his situation and that he is beyond salvation. But then it's too late.
Wow a lot of butthurt people up in here that can't handle different opinions. And lack of education because I people dont like this boring as hell movie? LOL But i think I understand why people are so angry because they think by liking this 3 hour POS they are somehow smarter or more sophisticated than other.
Get over it the movie is not for everyone.
Edit: Also just noticed someone said I was a closet pedo for not liking this movie... LMAO
Get over it the movie is not for everyone.
Edit: Also just noticed someone said I was a closet pedo for not liking this movie... LMAO
Reading your post and then looking at your avatar makes this a lot funnier.
I think it's a bit overrated. Which isn't to say it's not a good movie, because it is, but dramatically, it is lopsided. DDL just completely destroys Dano, and the last 30 minutes or so is pretty underwhelming compared to what came before it. It's a very pretty film though, a fun, enjoyable ride that's a little less than the sum of its parts.
The One and Done™
Member
I agree. Fucking borefest
Ok great. Just saying that the guy who played that role didn't feel like someone who would be a threat to Daniel. Whether it be his ego or other such things. I just couldn't see it. It wasn't good casting choice for me. Not convincing.
polyh3dron
Banned
Yeah maybe you should be doing something else with your life instead of watching movies. They apparently aren't your thing.
You could even say he was finished.
One of my favorite movies of the last decade, but it is a slow burner for sure. I think the combination of acting, cinematography, music, and general interest in the time period all contributed to my enjoyment of the movie.
I would never call it boring, but I can see why someone would.
I would never call it boring, but I can see why someone would.
therealminime
Member
ViewtifulJC
Banned
I don't get it either
he's an asshole in the beginning, and at the end he's just an even bigger asshole
there's like no character development bro
he's an asshole in the beginning, and at the end he's just an even bigger asshole
there's like no character development bro
polyh3dron
Banned
Seriously it's about a dude who wants to find oil, gets the oil and then the money and he's still not even happy.
How fucking lame is that.
I don't think he's supposed to be a convincing threat from the audience's perspective. You're meant to see Daniel as completely delusional.
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
It's a movie where a crazed millionaire oil salesman beats to death a religious snake oil salesman with a bowling pin from his private alley - a symbol of his own largess.
It was an important film in my own life, as - before it - I had stuck mainly to blockbusters and Hollywood stuff. It was a bridge to the kind of movies that inspired it - Citizen Kane, Treasure of the Sierra Madre - which were, in turn, what led me to foreign and arthouse cinema, which is primarily what interests me today.
It has a place in my heart, for that. It is not, however, a particularly daring nor artistically accomplished movie, for the kind of over-the-top obviousness and ham-fisted silliness described at the beginning of the post. Had it continued along in the spirit of its silent opening - which WAS daring, and accomplished - it might have been everything its champions (among whom used to be me, if you look at my post history) claimed.
"I'm finished!" is a good final line, however - one wasted on this particular film.
It was an important film in my own life, as - before it - I had stuck mainly to blockbusters and Hollywood stuff. It was a bridge to the kind of movies that inspired it - Citizen Kane, Treasure of the Sierra Madre - which were, in turn, what led me to foreign and arthouse cinema, which is primarily what interests me today.
It has a place in my heart, for that. It is not, however, a particularly daring nor artistically accomplished movie, for the kind of over-the-top obviousness and ham-fisted silliness described at the beginning of the post. Had it continued along in the spirit of its silent opening - which WAS daring, and accomplished - it might have been everything its champions (among whom used to be me, if you look at my post history) claimed.
"I'm finished!" is a good final line, however - one wasted on this particular film.
brandonh83
Banned
It more or less had my attention and I thought it was very well made, but I don't think I'd watch it again. Fucking LOVED the ending scene thought, holy shit. Holy shit. Leaving the theater, my friends and I just quoted and reinacted that last scene for like a week. That was good shit.
MWS Natural
Member
Worst date movie ever, actually cost me some ass.
MidnightCowboy
Member
Saw it in 2008 when I was 15, it's been one of my favorites ever since.
I am trying to articulate an idea that Eli is a projection of Daniel's conscience. Still seems muddy but works out for me. Will have to rewatch when i get time.
Early On...
Moving Forward..
Downward Slope..
Finish Him...
Some other thoughts relating to / supporting this:
Eli has extremely little dialogue with anyone except Daniel.
The notion of Eli taking that trip to California to expand his church is synonymous with Daniel basically throwing his yin side down the drain during the years between the pipeline being finalized and the final scenes.
My 2 cents. Movie is a rock for the ages.
Early On...
Daniel is always about having money and power, his mechanism is oil. His veil is the benefit to the towns that he drills in.
Eli is about power through being a preacher. A man of god in a town that size at that time period is as important a figurehead as a mayor or sheriff. Look at how is was revealed later on the extent of control he influences over his direct family when Eli lashes out at his own father.
Eli is about power through being a preacher. A man of god in a town that size at that time period is as important a figurehead as a mayor or sheriff. Look at how is was revealed later on the extent of control he influences over his direct family when Eli lashes out at his own father.
Moving Forward..
There is this peak or high point where we might see both Daniel and Eli embracing their altruism. Eli really does bring the town together with his new church and Daniel does really accept his adopted son when he goes deaf.
For Daniel he basically begins the slide down the hill to the end when the little arc on his false half brother concludes and Eli on the tail end of that gets power drunk when he finally is able to hold the pipeline rights over Daniels head to make him return to church.
Both Daniel and Eli essentially get power drunk. Daniel is shooting shit inside his mega house when we catch up with after the time jump, and Eli reveals he has squandered all his money and more attempting to create a larger cult following in California.
Both Daniel and Eli essentially get power drunk. Daniel is shooting shit inside his mega house when we catch up with after the time jump, and Eli reveals he has squandered all his money and more attempting to create a larger cult following in California.
Finish Him...
Finally Daniel severs his familial ties and pulls back any kind of veil hiding his true self. Embodied by his conversation with his son and the translator about his intentions for adoption and finally when Daniel kills off that vestigial part of himself in the bowling alley.
Some other thoughts relating to / supporting this:
Eli has extremely little dialogue with anyone except Daniel.
The notion of Eli taking that trip to California to expand his church is synonymous with Daniel basically throwing his yin side down the drain during the years between the pipeline being finalized and the final scenes.
My 2 cents. Movie is a rock for the ages.
DDL's performance was devilish to say the least...There are rarely any performances in world cinema that undergo such masterful transformation.The entire movie is so deliberately well made ,dark and atmospheric..Its thematically powerful too.
The Master is also similar in many ways and its bolstered by three amazing performances.Doubt is also a similar sort of movie.
you probably wouldn't like most of them.
The Master is also similar in many ways and its bolstered by three amazing performances.Doubt is also a similar sort of movie.
you probably wouldn't like most of them.
General Patton
Banned
There's nothing wrong with not enjoying the film, but your attitude and method of expression gives the impression that you're a dullard.
For instance, I fell asleep about 25 minutes in to Inception. Was bored beyond belief and already tired, so it was just asinine to me on the night. The whole premise and plot of the movie was too abstract for my tastes. In saying that, I'd never start a thread about how 'bad' Inception was because I'm able to appreciate that it was a very well made film which didn't appeal to me whatsoever. I only wish you possessed the same perspective and humility.
For instance, I fell asleep about 25 minutes in to Inception. Was bored beyond belief and already tired, so it was just asinine to me on the night. The whole premise and plot of the movie was too abstract for my tastes. In saying that, I'd never start a thread about how 'bad' Inception was because I'm able to appreciate that it was a very well made film which didn't appeal to me whatsoever. I only wish you possessed the same perspective and humility.
ThisWreckage
Banned
Don't get halfway through a movie, stop it, and then rush to your internet message board of choice to declare it boring. That's premature, childish, and your opinion won't be taken seriously by a lot of people. "Boring" is also the most cliche critique of a movie ever. You'll often find that people who say such things have no idea how to watch a film or made the stupid mistake of having expectations before they go into something. If you set yourself up for disappointment, do not blame the film.
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
I'll take your Blood and raise you Synecdoche New York.
Ebert may like it, but I still think it sucked and my favorite movies don't have explosions. Shocking.
Ebert may like it, but I still think it sucked and my favorite movies don't have explosions. Shocking.
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
I remember you from past TWBB discussions...... You traitorous swine
Hey, man, what can I say? It still has sentimental value, for me, but I can't just ignore the fact that it's basically just a bunch of oft-explored ideas and aesthetics tossed into a Kubrickian blender. I thought The Master was worse, but the one thing I'll give it is it didn't so blatantly rip off any particular directorial style.
Edit: Synecdoche's another one where my admiration of it was pretty dependent on my ignorance of works that probe those same kinds of waters with more subtlety, nuance, and grace.
ThLunarian
Member
I made the mistake of playing this movie last week when I had a date come over. Fortunately we had good enough chemistry that we eventually just gave up on the movie and went at each other instead.
Really, the first hour is just incredibly boring. There is very little conflict; it's all tedious set-up. More things happen after that, but by then the movie had already left a sour taste in my mouth.
And maybe I am a dullard, but I didn't see much of a character transformation in the main character at all. I could tell from the first scene he was in that he was a menacing, bad apple. His "downward slide" was barely noticeable; he had murder in his heart from the very beginning. If after first meeting him, someone had spoiled me by saying "He's going to murder a man in cold blood later", I would have believed it without question, and the only surprise would be that it doesn't happen until the very end.
The other major issue is a lack of real conflict. No one in the movie is a serious threat to the main character or his ambitions. Maybe he was delusional and perceived there to be a bigger threat, but that doesn't make it so for the audience. To me, all I saw was a fake-ass bully metaphorically (and sometimes physically) beating on people who had no defense against him. There were no stakes at all.
Really, the first hour is just incredibly boring. There is very little conflict; it's all tedious set-up. More things happen after that, but by then the movie had already left a sour taste in my mouth.
And maybe I am a dullard, but I didn't see much of a character transformation in the main character at all. I could tell from the first scene he was in that he was a menacing, bad apple. His "downward slide" was barely noticeable; he had murder in his heart from the very beginning. If after first meeting him, someone had spoiled me by saying "He's going to murder a man in cold blood later", I would have believed it without question, and the only surprise would be that it doesn't happen until the very end.
The other major issue is a lack of real conflict. No one in the movie is a serious threat to the main character or his ambitions. Maybe he was delusional and perceived there to be a bigger threat, but that doesn't make it so for the audience. To me, all I saw was a fake-ass bully metaphorically (and sometimes physically) beating on people who had no defense against him. There were no stakes at all.
SkoomaSuckinSwit
Member
Synecdoche New York demands multiple watches. The first time I saw it I felt about the same as you did. But the more I've read about it and the 2 times I've rewatched has really, really changed my opinion on it. Now I think It's pretty close to a masterpiece.
Can Crusher
Banned
Nothing boring about it unless you truly belong to the ADD generation.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Seriously though, unless you're 50+ this phrase has almost zero meaning.
Haha, of course this is a horrible date movie.
But seriously, this movie just has so much atmosphere. Not every movie needs a standard Hollywood plot.
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