Member review

In cinemas across the UK, the works of director Paul Thomas Anderson have been celebrated to mark the release of his much-anticipated film ‘The Phantom Thread’, later this year. I had the opportunity to attend a screening of probably one of Anderson’s most famous films, ‘There Will Be Blood’, starring Daniel Day Lewis. I’ve never seen a Paul Thomas Anderson film before, so I went into the screening with literally no idea about what I was in for. When I took my seat, I couldn’t help but feel this sense of excitement and buzz in the room. I was surrounded by people enthusiastically comparing notes about the film and how many times they’d seen it. Regardless of how many times people had seen it, to the point they could quote the whole film, the prospect of seeing it on the big screen excited people and brought them to the GFT that night. The performances in the film were brilliant! Lead by Daniel Day Lewis, the cast delivers intense and honest performances, and skilfully bring an incredible amount of energy and life to the film’s soulless and bland setting of the Californian Desert. It was a really unusual film in terms of style, from the strange and somewhat disturbing use of sound to the peculiar aesthetic made up of long lasting wide shots. These aspects of the style could be experienced at their best in the cinema. I felt totally engulfed by the visuals and sound, and often overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of it all, but I loved how this made me feel; excited, intimidated, uncomfortable, and tense. Without a doubt, I would love to watch another Paul Thomas Anderson film to experience once again his ability to play with your feelings and often challenge you as a viewer.