Cinema is Dope

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I’m starting to wonder how many more publicity stills there are out there for this film. Every time I think I’ve posted the last one, someone sends me another. I’ll gladly keep posting stills from this film even if it’s just a picture of a grasshopper and an oil derrick. In all seriousness these close up stills (including these last two I posted recently) are so iconic and works of art onto themselves. I can certainly see any of these working framed in an art show featuring still after still from this film.

Related Coverage:
::: Movie Wallpaper (Cinema is Dope)
::: My report from Marfa Film Festival Screening on the set of Little Boston – Twitch

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My last visit with There Will Be Blood was literally on its hollowed ground where it was made. Back in May I visited the Marfa Film Festival which had a special Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow on its set of Little Boston (report of this visit that I filed on Twitch). It seems fitting on the verge of Fantastic Fest 2008 that I came across these two stills I hadn’t previously seen. Since the last festival in September of 2007, I traveled the world to many film festivals and the profile of the festival based on having the world premiere of There Will Be Blood was considerably raised. Many people didn’t necessarily know the name of the festival, as they called it, “that festival that first screened There Will Be Blood!” It still seems unbelievable that we screened it first and still revel in its magical screening and atmosphere… I just don’t know if I’ve ever had as good of a film going experience.

And so now we turn our gaze and attention to Fantastic Fest 2008 and many wondering if we can equal or top last year. Which the simple answer is some film screenings are just priceless and will never be equaled or repeated. Each film and its related screening carries its own magic and ambiance… it’s own place in our hearts and minds that feels timeless. As such we can still carry on this legacy with new nights and screenings with new cinema magic. It’s not so much about trying to recreate what has come as expanding upon it and continuing to seek out new ways to celebrate cinema. To that end, 2008 will be no exception as Fantastic Fest has once again pulled out all the stops and now it’s almost time again to bask in cinema glory for 10 days in the movie capital of the world – Austin, Texas!

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Official statements from Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis that were just issued from Paramount Vantage on the 8 Oscar nominations for There Will Be Blood (see earlier announcement):

Paul Thomas Anderson
“I’m delighted that “There Will Be Blood” has been recognized by the Academy. These nominations are a testament to the cast and crew, who I am deeply grateful to, for their talent and collaboration. I am also very appreciative of the continued support from both John Lesher and Daniel Battsek and their staff. It’s a thrill to be in this.”

Daniel Day-Lewis
“YOU PUT ME SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH A GROUP OF FINE ACTORS. I’M PROUD TO BE IN THEIR COMPANY AND TO HAVE THE BROADER RECOGNITION FOR THE FILM IS A LOVELY THING. I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER FOR PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON TO WHOM WE OWE EVERYTHING.”

Oscar nominations are in and “There Will Be Blood” has gotten 8 Oscar nominations! I can’t tell how great it is to see this film which debuted at Fantastic Fest rack up all these nominations, as well as be nominated for best picture! There is gonna be some Oscar magic!

Best motion picture of the year
A JoAnne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production
JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi, Producers

Achievement in directing
Paul Thomas Anderson

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Daniel Day-Lewis

Achievement in film editing
Dylan Tichenor

Achievement in cinematography
Robert Elswit

Achievement in art direction
Art Direction: Jack Fisk
Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Achievement in sound editing
Matthew Wood

Adapted screenplay
Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson

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Congratulations to There Will Be Blood for winning the National Society of Film Critics pick as best picture of 2007 (read more).

“It’s a privilege to work with Daniel Day-Lewis and few directors have had that privilege. I had to work up the courage to ask him, but I always knew there was only one man for the job.”

- Paul Thomas Anderson on Daniel Day-Lewis

“He blew my mind consistently. I would say daily. ‘I don’t know where the stuff that comes out of him comes from, but it’s an amazing mystery.”

- Paul Dano on working with Daniel Day-Lewis

Caption:
Paul Thomas Anderson (right) with Daniel Day-Lewis on the set of “There Will Be Blood“.

Related Coverage:
::: Complete Cinema is Dope There Will Be Blood Coverage
::: There Will Be Blood Review (Twitch – Peter Martin)
::: There Will Be Blood Review (Twitch – Michael Guillen)
::: There Will Be Blood Review (Twitch – Todd Brown)

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Go over to Cinematical where Peter Martin has some great news on the early box office numbers for Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood! I know most of the midnight screenings sold out from what I’ve heard in addition to that and can’t wait to be out in Berlin rooting for it to win the Golden Lion!

::: Indie Weekend Box Office: ‘There Will Be Blood’ Best of the Year