I'm also pleased to see This Is England up there. I haven't seen anything else by Shane Meadows but now I will have to track down his stuff. It actually reminded me of hanging out in high school at some real shady houses where some real fuck ups would wonder in an out. I remember one time a friend of mind had a gun pulled on him in the most casual manner. Weird shit.

Anyway, I loved how pitch perfect Combo is. The two scenes where he tells a racist story just to insult the group's Jamaican friend and then the next day turns around and accuses the group of not helping their friend is exactly how these leaders break people down so they'll fall in line. His "I'm not a racist" rhetoric is also pitch perfect. He goes on about how he's not a racist and then says immigrants (even legal ones) are taking jobs away is exactly the kind of language I've heard from bigots a million times over but for some reason this is the first time I've heard that shit in a movie. Plus, great fucking soundtrack, which seems to go hand in hand with British films for some reason.

That record was all he had to hold onto. And he's not exactly a kid anymore. How would you respond if someone, a stranger out of nowhere, tried to take your legacy away from you?

Excellent movie by the way, although incredibly one-sided.

I cant wait to see There will be blood...it gets released here in a few weeks and if its half the film of No Country im in for a treat...

Of course I was rooting for Weibe, but at the same time I could see Billy Mitchell's side. Same reason I didn't consider Plainview a "villain" in TWBB.

On a side note, you have to admit it was pretty cunning of him to have a million point score on tape but not tell anyone about it. No one came close to his 800,000 so he didn't let it be known he had already broken a million. He was just waiting for someone to beat his score by a little bit...then he brings out his "big gun secret weapon" so to speak. Tactic-wise, that's pretty genius.

But there's a few scenes in the extras that show his "normal" side. Internet Thug: he was playing a character. I agree. But when Weibe comes along and challenges everything Mitchell believes to be true (he was the videogame god, hot shit, etc.) all he did was fight back the only way he knew how. Spolied? Yes. Arrogant? Yes. But he wasn't gonna take it sitting down.

Either way, what a great fucking film. And BTW Kloipy, the only scene I thought surpassed the "TIE" scene was the one at the end, when Sanders was talking his respect of Weibe and Mitchell was looking at him like, "you motherfucker".

(now just don't throw any of this revisionist Deckard=replicant shit at me)

What a great great year for animated features! I remember a time when the thought of an animated feature that adults could enjoy was a pipe dream, and a candidate would come around every few years at best (Wizards? Heavy Metal? echh)

We are living in the golden age of animation. Appreciate how lucky we are, because there's always a chance it won't last. And watch Paprika.

As far as talkback goes, I still think you just don't get it. You're not allowed to think X-Men 3 was a good movie. Think about that. Yet I am accused of being a troll, or trying to stir shit up. All I have is a strong informed opinion, which is more than most people, and why it wrankles some of you so. Get over it.

at any rate, your review of ONCE has made me put it on my Netflix queue. like you, i'm sick to death of everyone praising something that sounds really twee.

Thanks for another great year, AICN and to all it's contributors. Thanks to the talbackers for making me laugh and be disgusted all at the same time. The Lost TB was amazing and I'm sorry I couldn't hang in there - The White Screen of Doom made me it's bitch once too many times. H

rb

And Industry Killer...Plainview wasn't destroyed. He was "happy" living in his big mansion all by himself. He "won", in his mind at least.

There you go. That should do it.

Sorry. Had to get that out.

Nice try.

***SPOILERS***Was Plainview really bullshitting himself though? I mean, he wanted to come out on top and he did. He WAS the top dog which is what he wanted to be all along. I don't think he was bullshitting himself.

I try to separate the art from the artist, unless the artist refuses to separate it themselves....

There were other ways as well. The point is that they chose nearly the worst method possible. I'm not saying the film isn't great (especially if you end it before the airport sequence), but it is NOT the film it could have been.

And IndustryKiller, I really do think Plainview loved that boy. I had a conversation with my GF afterwards and we were convinced he did. He showed his love, he declared it, but in the end he felt betrayed. And this is not a man who takes betrayal lightly. And I think his lashing out at Eli at the end was emotionally connected to his estrangement from his son. Here is a man who knows his actions are unredemptive, and who shuns the idea of redemption. So it's natural for him to view Eli with nothing but contempt because he's a con man who makes false promises of redemption.

Much kudos from The Knight!

Now I'm not saying TWBB can possibly compare to that literary masterpiece, but as a film, especially a film made today, it is easily a masterpiece in its own right. With layers of meaning, surely an allegorical story of the birth of modern America with respect to oil and evangelism - both forces that continue to drive our nation. Anyone just calling it a boring story about a mean oil man would just as likely view Ulysses in a similarly dim light.

It appears his insanity isn't merely confined to politics but has infected his film perception as well.

Nothing he says can or should be taken seriously in any measure.

Problem is, at the end of the day, with the exception of Daniel Day Lewis, you have a solid, but not great film.

I'd watch Ratatouille 50 times before I watch There Will Be Blood again.

Assassination of Jesse James was the best film of the year, by far. TWBB doesn't even shine the shoes of Assassination, much less come close to it in terms of direction, photography, and certainly not acting. Assassination was a complex film, TWBB was a simple film parading around like it was complex. Dano doesn't age, Day Lewis drinks for decades and only gets some gray stubble. God what a lazy fucking film. NO ONE will be talking about TWBB in five years time. It's just not a very good movie.

Garbageman33 - Do you know who John Huston was? Do you know what he sounded like? Doesn't seem to be the case. Cause if you can't see Day Lewis doing a mere impersonation then you're out of it. But I wouldn't expect someone still in high school to know anything about film. Day Lewis' last great perf was in Age of Innocence. Why? Cause it was the last time he gave a shit. I agree with Vern, Viggo's performance was so much better, so much more nuanced in a lot of ways. Day Lewis ACTS! Which is the worst. Viggo acts, which is the way it should be.

Brokentusk - Brad Pitt of all people took the film away from Dominik and re-edited it himself. Pitt was one of the producers after all. I think Pitt's cut is great, but would like to see Dominik's cut which focuses less on Pitt and kills him earlier in the film, well, not earlier, but there is a lot more with Ford after the assassination than there was in the theatrical. And unless Criterion gets their hands on it, we will never see any other cut of the film. Warners has no interest in the film whatsoever.

One more thing, the jealousy from some of you in here is alarming. Most of you will remain here, working your shitty jobs once you graduate high school or college, wondering how someone like yourself, with such a vast array of knowledge of film, wastes away at some menial job, while a fool like me actually gets to work in the industry. Well, that's not entirely true, I used to work in the industry, work in news now, but still have lots of friends in high places. Most of you will never taste it. What a pity. Here's a hint, you need connections. No connections, no career in Hollywood. It would seem self evident, but you'd be surprised how many people think they can make it without connections and just on ther "immense" talent. You're all legends in your own minds.

Also, I am a rare creature, in that I actualy entertain most of you fools with little knowledge of what you speak. Most people I know in the industry make fun of me to no end for coming on here and arguing with "morons who are clueless about Hollywood and filmmaking" as they say. But I still have optimism and think you dolts will see the light of day. I think my friends may be right.

Being made fun of by 16 year olds and fat Internet "critics" brings me great pleasure. You guys need to feel above SOMEONE in this damn world. Glad I can make you feel superior for 3 seconds of your miserable day.

TomBodet - I don't need to prove shit. If you follow where I post, you'll see hints here and there that should clue you in. Again, and this is just to those of you who think you know everything and think I know nothing, the truth exists whether you want to believe it or not. Ah, the teenage years. Such a halcyon time! You wouldn't believe the crap I used to think was good when I was an idiot like some of you. I had my Departed and TWBBs, but don't worry, you'll grow out of it at some point and look back, embarrassed at how foolish you were. Such intellects on this board. My mind simply hurts from the consistent quotidinal brilliance uttered from your mouths. Seriously, thanks for the entertainment. I suffer fools quite gladly!

If the syllogism is right that humility is the sign of a true and decent human being, then, ergo, you are not a decent human being. I hope you change my mind, though, but I doubt that will ever happen.

As soon as he screams I abandoned my child, he stops talking like he was and uses a completely different voice. It's hard to maintain an impersonation when you're used to it only being one way. As far as that being some emotional catharsis, or some other such nonsense, please, are you fucking kidding me? PLAINVIEW IS PLAYING ALL OF THEM FOR FOOLS! He is not revealing anything. Just proving he is as good a showman as he said Eli was earlier. The film is HOLLOW and EMPTY. PTA even knocks you over the head with it by having Plainview voice it! Kubrick-ian my ass. I think Magnolia is going to be PTA's high point. He is just way too derivative and empty as a person to ever make anything great. I know this to be true.

I've only come across a few posters who ever say anything with any kind of intelligence or grace or thought. Most people here can't even put a decent sentence together.

You kids came up in the "nice" era where if anyone challenges your position in a somewhat aggressive style they are considered mean and cruel and stupid and just jealous of you! Fuck you and your fake self esteem. Engage in a fucking argument for once. Get your fucking hands dirty without taking everything so personal. Is anyone capable of that?

By the way, saying one is humble kind of defeats the purpose of humility.

I personally consider you mean and cruel because of your unchecked ego and technically have nothing against your radical beliefs. They are yours to have, and I'll defend your right to have them. It's the manner in which you express things that reaches this sort of rarely tapped zenith of rudeness and general misunderstanding of decent human behavior that all we have left, in the end, is to either ignore you or cry foul. You can't go through life being an asshole. Believe me, it isn't fun.

*Shudder* I can't believe I just said that.

And to answer the question, why do I keep coming back? Entertainment. You losers are nothing if not entertaining. Now dance!

with his best posts.

NO WAIT!

ANIMALSTRUCTURE,if you read this,please do me an favor:

Post the "TEN Commandments of AnimalStructure" in regards to moviemaking.

That will make a great T-shirt.

Thank you in advance AnimalStructure.

Other infamous quotes by this evil goon are:

1) "Milosevic got a bad rap. He was just trying to defend his country from Muslim invaders."

2) "There is no such thing as a right-wing dictatorship."

3) "George W Bush is a liberal."

4) "I have it on good authority that George Clooney is gay".

5) "McCarthy was a true patriot."

6) "Clinton and the war criminal Wesley Clark invaded a sovereign Christian nation to save a bunch of terrorist sympathizing Muslims."

7) "I do not support the war in Iraq(for it is a Liberal war)"

8) "Srebenica, Srebenica, Srebenica, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs."

www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi ?id=22198

Cormac's book is like a first draft? What, may I ask, are you smoking, sir? Maybe you should confine your opinions to film, as you clearly have no ability to discern literary quality. BTW The book isn't aspiting to BE a screenplay; it's a fucking novel, and a damn good one.

Maybe you feel cheated, like many others on the TB, that there wasn't a big shoot out scene between Chigur and Moss? If so, I think if you watch the movie again (or better yet read the book) you'll see that that a big confrontation/climax wasn't necessary on screen. Narratively, Llewellyn's death was a foregone conclusion from the moment he decided to take the money. His story was secondary to the sherrif's story, just giving Ed Thom more perspective on the world. Moss's death (and his wife's) just gave Bell one more hideous example of how bad violence and lawlessness have become. And the incident, as you know, is what convinces him to retire from law enforcement. There endeth the story.

http://tinyurl.com/2dukb v

1) What was the purpose of the child beating father? ... To expose the hypocrisy of these so-called Christians and show how much contempt Plainview has for that hypocrisy. He showed the girl affection as he did his own son. By doing so he showed the girl's father how little a man he really is.

2) What was the purpose of showing us Eli's healing sermon in such an over-the-top fashion? ... Have you seen these ridiculously theatrical televangelists? Have you watched Jesus Camp? It's not PTA who's over the top, he's accurately portraying real-life preachers who use circus acts to bewitch their flocks.

3) Why does Daniel start suddenly beating on Eli in the mud in front of everyone? ... Because he wandered into his territory, and Plainview showed him who's in charge. The two of them are caught in a power struggle. I mean, look at Goodfellas - why have two scenes where Tommy makes Spider dance, and then kills him? Did that advance the main story? No. It's a revealing scene that shows his character. Same with this one.

You say you have seen, and know, great filmmaking, and TWBB is not it. I'll bet that with whatever examples of great filmmaking you put forth, anyone here can find fault with them too. It's all a matter of opinion.

There was a review out there that presumed that Plainview may have molested the girl, but that's (IMO) patently false. There's really no basis to it. I believe he showed the girl some kindness, affection and generosity as a parent figure would, in part to show her father what scum he is for beating her.

"I'm going on rules of universal artistic harmony laid down by such folks as Aristotle and Anton Chekov. Opinion has some measure of validity, but if all art is simply open to one's own opinion, then art is dead."

These were, as I'm sure you're aware, theories made when we were often unaware of the raw power of art, and represent two very different thoughts centuries apart. But to treat them as the be all and end all is to negate their very purpose. The fun part of art is that we are constantly making up new rules, saying to hell with tradition and restrictions and what have you. If we're going to listen to Aristotle, then we'd have nothing but the most basic of drama and comedy. Don't get me wrong--I read "Poetics" whenever I'm down on my own writing prowess and it picks me back up, because it reminds me of what I can accomplish.

Sigh. I can't win tonight.

Though I could be wrong here. Still processing the film, actually.

I would easily recommend this way over Attonement. (which unjustly had garnered so much praise.)At least you gave nods to This is England. And what's funny is that the Skinhead culture originated from Reggae music SKA and Oye, only to have white racists adapt said culture for thier own twisted beliefs. Nice list but Knocked up is some overrated shit and you'll never catch me watching a CGI cartoon movie about mice in a fucking restaurant.

I'll hold out for the CGI Resident Evil Movie instead.

As for the Plainview as molestor angle ... you guys are projecting way too much into it and over-analyzing. He had one scene with that girl, and there was no progression shown beyond that that could even suggest any such tendencies. I think your views are a product of our times, where children have become way too sexualized and predators even have their own TV show (Chris Hanson's). Plainview had no feelings towards that girl except to show her some mercy and teach her father a lesson on parenting.

And I think ZODIAC deserves a special shoutout as well. Great film.

I think I've seen more films in the theater this past year than I have in quite some time. I think we've finally had some really interesting stories put to celluloid that are worth seeing on the big screen.

YOU DRINK IT UP!

If you deny this you are deluded- there's even a thread in there called something like "for when the horrid tb's get too much for us sensitive zoners, WAAAAAAH"

Fuck you, pussies, I want's my full fat abuse fest experience.

It really is much more fun.

Regarding the girl, I do believe there is one other crucial moment between her and Plainview which takes place immediately following the baptism - is that not her that wraps her arms around him when he sits back down amongst the church members? After humiliating her father, I had little doubt that she looked to Plainview as a friend and savior.

In my view, Plainview was a near-textbook misanthrope. However, he was not above the notion of family and fighting for or befriending those he felt were just and deserving. I think the idea of betrayal was always on his mind and it shaped his conflicted nature. (I couldn't help but think that his final scene with HW was a combination of him feeling betrayed by his son's decision as well as him understanding it and then handing out a hefty dose of tough love.)

Just call me a cunt. Honestly, you'll feel better once you've got your hands dirty.

Why was Mirajeff whining at you? he should have offered you out, or maybe the collective verbal seeing to he took has stopped that from happening.

If he can't see what's sad about offering to fight someone in a TB then he really should just give up.

Also I think we must be of a similar age and like you I have a wee 3 year old boy and just had a new baby girl and I don't know if it's fatherhood that's doing it to me or age but i'm entering a new phase in my movieholic existance as I see the joy movies bring to my kids faces and the amazing amount of imagination and magic they inspire in them.

Anyway love this site, and the variety of writing styles and opinions never ceases to amaze and amuse in equal measure even though it does get a bit venomous in the talkbacks from time to time I guess it's a sign that we all have a strong passion for such an amazing artform. Long may it continue.

Talkback is the Mordor to The Zone's Rivendell, and as Cumpston put it, and we all know, that's like being interminably stuck in a candle shop.

You stupid piece of shit.

Thing is, he was never banned as Thunderballs either. He only switches between usernames when he gets beaten so severely that he can't show his face without getting piled on, as when he went from Thunderballs to Animalstructure. What's slightly odd is that he hasn't been banned as the latter either, yet shows up with a new name in the same talkback. What's up with that tactic?

Well, who can calculate what "thoughts" roil in the dank recesses of a genocidal loon's hampered brain?

You fail once again, Animalstructure.

Apparently, Hitler liked dogs too. What a guy.

And for the millionth fucking time- Communism is left, fascism is right. It isn't that hard

But it's been a long time since I studied history.

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