There Will Be Blood
The Observer's Interview With Oscar-Winner Daniel Day-Lewis
In December, The Observer interviewed last night's Best Actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis about his performance. Here is Sara Vilkomerson's account of her afternoon with the real-life Daniel Plainview.
“For the most part I try to hear the voice, which is one of the most deep and personal ways we present our very selves. It’s like a fingerprint of the soul,” said Daniel Day-Lewis. Last week, the 50-year-old actor was discussing his character, Daniel Plainview, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, There Will Be Blood, based upon Upton Sinclair’s turn-of-the-century novel Oil! “Little by little a voice started to talk in my head, and then the problem becomes how to make those sounds—to get it out of your head.” read more »
Year of the Click-Clack? Rudin Rues What Could Have Been
New York producer—and the city's worst boss, according to Gawker—has two—count 'em!—two films nomimated for the best picture Oscar, There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. And what's he have to say to the Guardian about it? "Is there any outrage in England that Jonny Greenwood wasn't nominated?" Modest, eh? Greenwood, a member of Radiohead and a composer in residence for BBC, composed the haunting soundtrack for Blood, which was ruled ineligible due to the use of previously released material. Meanwhile, scores for Atonement, The Kite Runner, Michael Clayton, Ratatouille and 3:10 to Yuma were considered sufficiently original and nominated. Incidentally, both Dario Marianelli's "Briony," the opening track of Atonement, and Greenwood's "Proven Lands" use a similar click-clack motif. Take a listen ... read more »
Manhattan Weekend Box Office: There Will Be ... More Laughs! The Juno Juggernaut
Movies in their fifth week are not supposed to post their best numbers to date, but that is precisely what Juno (No. 1) has done, averaging an astonishing $31,500 on eight screens. (According to Variety, Fox Searchlight is gleefully pointing out that Juno is outperforming Little Miss Sunshine, last year’s Academy Award nominee for best picture.) It is clear that this movie about an illegitimate fetus is quickening into a legitimate contender—if only there were an awards show for it to compete in.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood (No. 2) expanded into five theaters over the weekend and nearly doubled its tally, averaging an impressive $48,000 per theater. And this was before it garnered the best picture nod from the National Society of Film Critics over No Country for Old Men (No. 9). Just for good measure, Mr. Anderson picked up best director. (After working with Adam Sandler, how do you think it felt to direct Daniel Day-Lewis, like driving an Aston Martin after a mint green 1972 Volvo station wagon? Thought so.) read more »
National Society of Film Critics Draws Blood
Forty-one New York and Los Angeles movie critics from Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker and Salon.com gathered at Sardi's Restaurant in Times Square Saturday night to vote on the top films of the year.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s much-touted There Will Be Blood took four prizes, including best picture, at the 42nd annual National Society of Film Critics Awards. Daniel Day-Lewis drew actor kudos, while Mr. Anderson won for director and Robert Elswit for cinematography.
After the jump, Day-Lewis talks to The Observer about life with Anderson, and the complete list of winners. read more »
