Film Appreciation - Molly W.

There Will Be Blood      There Will Be Blood was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and released in 2007. It stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. The film focuses on Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) and the lengths that he’ll go to for money and power. Opposite him is Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a ‘pastor’ in charge of the local ‘church,’ which really appears to be more of a cult. Both Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano did a great job at playing two very unsettling characters.     One of the scenes I found most unsettling was when the oil well caught on fire. It was dark, and Daniel Plainview was covered in oil from head to toe. At first, he’s relatively easy to see, but as the lighting gradually gets darker, all but his face disappears. This in itself is enough to be off-putting, but his expression really sold it. Daniel Plainview was grinning— not just smiling, or smirking, but legitimately grinning. He almost seemed delighted by the fire. And although I can’t quit...

Batman (1989)      Batman , starring Michael Keaton , Jack Nicholson , and Kim Basinger , directed by Tim Burton , was released in 1989. It focuses on  the stories of Bruce Wayne, just starting out as the vigilante known as Batman, Jack Napier, who becomes the villain known as the Joker during the course of the film, and photographer Vicki Vale, who gets caught in the crossfire. Batman ’s color pallet is largely dark and gloomy, with an occasional pop of color, whether in Batman’s costume, or the Joker’s various outfits. There’s one color in particular I would like to focus on. In Batman , the color red appears to be linked with death.     I can’t say the color red is exclusive to death, because the opening of the film features a lot of red, though the family in danger survives. However, from the moment we meet Jack Napier, he is associated with the color red. It starts small, at first. His suit is a navy blue with creme and gray accents, yet his pocket squ...