Didn't live up to the hype

I was expecting a lot from this movie given all of the critical acclaim it had received. Unfortunately, it didn't really deliver for me.

The main issue I had with the film was its pacing. Much of the first two thirds of the film could have been done away with. Extended periods of uninspiring dialogue and very little in the way of actual plot or character development fill the spaces between the more gripping and shocking moments of the film. In fact, the first 15 minutes of the film features almost no dialogue at all and adds very little other than 'setting the scene'. Granted, the cinematography is not bad at all, but given that the movie is long enough as it is, I couldn't help feel that this was unnecessary and actually detrimental to the film's success.

When the pace does finally start to pick up with some of the few shining moments in the film such as Daniel and H. W. in the restaurant together, Paul Thomas Anderson decides to ignore the tension he has built and allows the film to lapse back into comatose.

I have to say that Day-Lewis is deserving of most of his praise. He provides a powerful performance and is maybe the single saving grace of this film.

Honestly, I can't recommend this film to anyone. If it was an hour shorter, then maybe, but 2 hours of mostly uninteresting, unintelligent scenes will likely send you to sleep before the dramatic conclusion of the film.