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There Will Be Blood
Johnny C:
I dunno if it would detract from the potency of the ending. The only reason they look the same, though, is because Dano was cast as Paul before he was Eli. Anderson tried to shoot the film in sequence as much as possible and the actor playing Eli dropped out a couple of weeks in, so the Paul scenes were already shot but the Eli scenes had to be reshot. Rather than recast it, Anderson just took an actor that he felt should have had a larger role and gave him one. Still, it's neat to speculate, isn't it?
Since Eli would be the dominant personality, hearing that he was the "afterbirth" and that Paul was his parents' real son would be utterly crushing. Same with the idea that Paul has multiple oil wells - it would read as a glimpse of the life Eli could have led as Paul.
Narr:
Just got back from one of the few theaters in the city showing it, and I have to say it was pretty spectacular.
Brilliant film.
I wonder what it was Daniel told Eli after the whole spiritual baptism sinner repentance scene dealy. Eli looked rather uncomfortable, and only started to smile after Daniel went to sit down. He hushed up the crowd early, too, which seemed atypical for him by then.
Also, the way I saw the ending was more Daniel taking out his hate for his own life on the figure that stood for God. Despite pretenses of power, he realized his life wasn't where he wanted it to be. Drunk with the power of his physical wealth and empire, and drunk literally, he couldn't resist the temptation to kill God.
SevenPinkerton:
That's an interesting interpretation. I have a hard time seeing it that way because Daniel knew all along that Eli was false and not for God at all but his own fame and wealth. Maybe that is how Daniel sees God...
I loved that Daniel never really had a goal besides making money and like many old rich guys, he learned that as soon as he halted his mad pursuit of wealth he realized he never really had anything but the pursuit and the wealth really did him nothing. One of my favorite scenes at the end was when he shouted at his son, only to regret it in a rare moment of guilt. I took it as a stubborn refusal to admit that he wanted companionship, love, etc, rather than simply wealth. One of my favorite things about Daniel is that he is so real in that aspect. He's stubborn and selfish to the point of lying to himself rather than a hollywood figure that comes to realize he wants his son's love in the end. The image of him making a mess in one room of a giant house in which he is completely alone is just too perfect.
I can't rave about this movie enough. I just simply loved it.
Johnny C:
The montage of his son near the end was one of only two glimpses of remorse in that character.
MusicScribbles:
I just saw this last night, and I have to say that this movie had an excellent soundtrack. I'm not sure if that was pointed out yet, but I felt I should say something about it.
Anyway, SPOILERS
The ending of the movie couldn't have been better. I loved the ending so much.
Not only were the last words spoken "I'm finished.", but the shot didn't go to the credits for another ten seconds. This movie had excellent cinematography.
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