Unpopular PTA opinions

[Drill]

Since I was probably derailing the HAIM thread too much and should leave those who enjoy them in peace, I thought maybe starting this thread would be more productive. Let's try to make it more than just "this film is overrated/underrated", etc. Of course, "unpopular" doesn't just mean negative.

I'll start with some (the first one I've voiced ad nauseam):

-Enough with the music videos, please. At least for a while.

-April Grace gives the best performance in Magnolia.

-I never really got the love for the Fiona Apple relationship and it's surprising that all these years later, people still put them on a pedestal.

-I wish he'd be willing to direct other people's scripts. I wonder if you told him in 1997 that in 2020 that he'd only have made 8 films what his response would be.

[wilberfan]

Not a terrible idea for a thread.  Although around these parts I wonder how popular the thread will be?

I'm trying to think if I have any unpopular PTA opinions.  The most obvious one was my initial butthurt with INHERENT VICE--definitely an unpopular opinion with most PTA fans--but that diminished to mere agnosticism with my 2nd viewing at the New Bev recently.   I'll have to think if I have any others.   

I go back and forth as to whether Julianne Moore's performance in MAGNOLIA is fine--or if it's too over the top--even for that film.

April was wonderful in that film--but I'm not sure I'd call it the movie's best?  I could easily see an argument for that, though.

I always rank HARD EIGHT higher than most people do, does that count?

My taste in other movies is definitely unpopular around here.  (See OUATIH, PARASITE, et al...)

[Robyn]

Over the years he has only gotten better and his output in the 10s is the best decade yet. Not sure if unpopular, tho.

[Drill]

It could be about anything regarding him, not just the films.

I'm fine with Moore in Magnolia except for when Linda hits Phil. That's the only scene where she kind of faltered and I think they should've gone for another take. Other than that, I think she's pretty fun in an Elizabeth Taylor kind of way.

- I never thought he was all that cocky in the BN/Magnolia days. I think if anything, these days he's too humble. I wish he talked with more confidence about his work. I remember his first interview for PT when he said something to the tune of "I guess we're going for the Rebecca thing, I'm sure we failed but...." . Come on man,  you're trying to get people to want to go see your movie.

[Drill]

Over the years he has only gotten better and his output in the 10s is the best decade yet. Not sure if unpopular, tho.

Not here I don't think but maybe to the general public. I think most would consider TWBB and BN his best.

[WorldForgot]

I think they should've gone for another take..

Lol!
Love this phrasing because it's not a problem with the edit but some fleeting production decision.

[kingfan011]

Here's one. Whatever you think of The Master or Phantom Thread I think those are exactly the films he intended to make. On the other hand I think he got totally lost in the weeds in Inherent Vice and lost control. I think its hysterical his only writing nomination this decade came from Inherent Vice.

[Rooty Poots]

I think I would’ve liked Inherent Vice much more as a tv show/miniseries. It felt too constrained by the limitations of film, for me, with the runtime to the arc. Giving it more space to breathe and tell the story might’ve resulted in a less flawed end product in my opinion.

[Jeremy Blackman]

I'm fine with Moore in Magnolia except for when Linda hits Phil. That's the only scene where she kind of faltered and I think they should've gone for another take. Other than that, I think she's pretty fun in an Elizabeth Taylor kind of way.

Magnolia is still my favorite movie, and it probably will be forever, but I think Julianne Moore is the clear weakness of the film. Like you're saying, some of the takes are just bad. She obviously shines in the pharmacy scene, but outside of that I think her performance could have used some work.

[Drill]

I still really like Inherent Vice as is but I do think he probably worried too much about staying faithful to the book and forgot to have fun with it. He sort of said as much. He seemed almost shocked during the Phantom Thread press tour whenever someone mentioned liking it.

[jenkins]

it’s known that he’s not in my overall top twenty and i am positive about liking only three of his movies

[trytotell]

I like IV, but I think Waterston was his biggest miscasting (not counting Kel O'Neill  ). I don't really like how she played the role and her scenes just didn't quite work. Why was she slurring her words like she was half-asleep? She's supposed to stand out more than any other woman in the film, but I think Joanna Newsom and Hong Chau "popped" way more than her. Phoenix also had clearly better chemistry with Witherspoon and I wish she had been in the film more. From what I remember, Penny is in the book almost as much as Shasta, but he clearly didn't care about Penny and was focused too much on Shasta. Not really a fan of Waterston in what else I've seen from her either.


This is more off-track, but I thought it sucked how little DDL did for PT on the press tour. I wonder what their current relationship is like and if they were covering some sort of falling out, but the vibes between them were off.

[eward]

Not necessarily unpopular, but opinions NEVERTHELESS

- There Will Be Blood is NOT his best film. Personally, I'd rank it second or third from the bottom.
- I've also always felt Julianne was the weak link in Magnolia, despite some effective moments. Also the Dixon rap scene is cringe-y.
- Inherent Vice goes down smoother if you pause it halfway through for 20-30 minutes (for me, just before the Bigfoot/Pancake scene).
- He does not look good with long hair, nor freshly shaven.
- He was hot back in the 90s (still handsome). He and Fiona were 90s hot together. Don't pretend this didn't contribute to your initial fandom.

- He should quit smoking.

[trytotell]

I thought of another one: I wish we knew more about his mom and their relationship. It's not our business of course, but I think she's the real key to everything in his work, it was never Ernie. Even the father/son trope was really about her. If we did know more about her, his films would seem less "obtuse" to a lot of people. The PT press tour was great but they really fumbled the perfect opportunity to really ask and press him about her. Instead, we always get the usual Ghoulardi mentions.

[Tdog]

This is more off-track, but I thought it sucked how little DDL did for PT on the press tour. I wonder what their current relationship is like and if they were covering some sort of falling out, but the vibes between them were off.

It definitely felt as though there were some weird vibes between PTA, DDL and Vicky Krieps at those live audience events.