Michael Reuben
Senior HTF Member
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- Feb 12, 1998
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- Michael Reuben
The film is just starting to expand after its initial Oscar-qualifying release. I'm sure there'll be more comments shortly.
I like a lot of things about the film, but I have a lot of problems with it too. The lead performance by Day-Lewis is extraordinary, maybe the best he's ever done (which is saying something). The visuals, the creation of this entire historical world, are so complete and compelling that the film easily stands comparison to a Days of Heaven or a Barry Lyndon.
But to me the narrative seemed to go slack in the last hour of the film, and I agree with A.O. Scott's point, as a guest critic on Ebert and Roeper, that the film's perspective shrinks when it should be expanding.
I was also troubled by the decision to have Paul Dano play both brothers, Paul and Eli Sunday. A lot of reviewers refer to them as "twin" brothers, but no one ever says that, and in fact it's been widely reported that another actor was originally cast as Eli. Introducing two characters played by the same actor with no explanation and no significant change in appearance creates narrative confusion at a point in the film when the plot is still getting established, and I think it was a mistake. (Which is not to say that casting Dano was a mistake; he nails the role.)
Still, for all my problems with it, it's a true original, unlike anything I've seen before, from Anderson or anyone else. Those don't come along often.
M.
I like a lot of things about the film, but I have a lot of problems with it too. The lead performance by Day-Lewis is extraordinary, maybe the best he's ever done (which is saying something). The visuals, the creation of this entire historical world, are so complete and compelling that the film easily stands comparison to a Days of Heaven or a Barry Lyndon.
But to me the narrative seemed to go slack in the last hour of the film, and I agree with A.O. Scott's point, as a guest critic on Ebert and Roeper, that the film's perspective shrinks when it should be expanding.
I was also troubled by the decision to have Paul Dano play both brothers, Paul and Eli Sunday. A lot of reviewers refer to them as "twin" brothers, but no one ever says that, and in fact it's been widely reported that another actor was originally cast as Eli. Introducing two characters played by the same actor with no explanation and no significant change in appearance creates narrative confusion at a point in the film when the plot is still getting established, and I think it was a mistake. (Which is not to say that casting Dano was a mistake; he nails the role.)
Still, for all my problems with it, it's a true original, unlike anything I've seen before, from Anderson or anyone else. Those don't come along often.
M.