Paul Thomas Anderson

Films: There Will Be Blood The Master Punch Drunk Love Boogie Nights Magnolia

American director Paul Thomas Anderson is a man whos retrospective of films and award record is one of the finest in modern history. Hes won in total 51awards and has been nominated 73 times. This is clearly a testament to his talent as a writer and a director; a man undoubtedly one of the best to have ever lived. Stylistically, Anderson is exceptionally unique. His productions are predominantly shot using an anamorphic lens, giving that trademark wide angle/high ratio, which allows him to capture landscape incredibly effectively. The use of anamorphic lenses are evident throughout his retrospective, where landscape is both symbolically significant as well graphically stunning. One of Andersons best, and for me most respectable traits is his use of film over digital. To get the grained yet very sharp visuals, Anderson uses the film process; time consuming and financially costly, yet for its quality, worth every penny. The amount of directors using the film process is declining, however Andersons love for this style is one which I both admire, and appreciate, as it produces some truly beautiful cinema. Another Anderson trademark techniques is the use of extended shot lengths. British director Steve McQueen has taken a similar influence evident in Shame and Hunger. This is more predominant in his latter works, for example The Master and There Will Blood over Boogie Nights. I find this technique to be very effective at creating a sense of discomfort in the audience. Anderson extends the shot further than a regular shot time, thus producing unease, like an awkward silence. Anderson also uses a lack of dialogue, especially in establishing landscapes or characters, letting them speak with their eyes over their words. With this his aims to create a sense of tension and unease in that which seems to be normal. This is one of Andersons greatest achievements as a director, the ability to challenge normality and cinematically diverge from the norm. In his writing, Andersons plot focus lies within reality and human nature. His social examinations are one of his finest writing achievements. In all of Andersons work, the social links between people are key. His writing, like his cinematic approach is very unique, and warrants him credit for his multi layered cinematic talents. Anderson is also very focused on dialogue, and his extensive dialogues sequences are at times, highly effective. In Punch Drunk Love, some of the best moments are where Anderson creates conversation in single, extensive shots. His use of extensive shots are unique to Anderson, and are prominent across his entire body of work.

Through his entire retrospective, one film stands above the others, and that was 2007s modern masterpiece There Will Be Blood. Its a study of man, religion, greed, corruption, family; essentially, human nature. Its depth and symbolism is an art form in itself. Andersons portrayal of mankinds sinister nature has never been created in quite the same way. Its brutal, its raw, and its incredibly powerful. In There Will Be Blood, the greatest aspects cinematically are in both the D.O.P, and the costume designer, who creates one of the most incredible period productions ever created. This, and of course, Daniel Day Lewis. Somehow, Anderson manages to produce Oscar winning performances from all of his actors, and through, it produces one of the most powerful pictures in modern film history. Having only been in the business for just over 15 years, Andersons contribution has been timeless. He has produced numerous modern classics, exploring some of the most unique concepts and cinematic techniques available. His next picture, Inherent Vice, has already gained mass excitement, and from his previous work, this is definitely justified. He is one of my personal favourite modern directors, and I believe that his work will continue to impress for years to come.