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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “More than just a story of corruption and greed, it's a tale of a young heir to the oil company his father built on his own and the battles he faces with corporate greed, religious fanaticism, class separation, and loving another person. |
Didn’t Like It “Oil! is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“borring...”
Amarelis M wrote this review Monday, September 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very dense, but Sinclair is my early 20th century education! If you want a crash course in Soviet sympathizers, Oil money, the crooked politics of WW1, you should check this out.”
Andrew K wrote this review Wednesday, September 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The first 6 or 7 chapters (The part that There Will Be Blood is based off of) were by far the best. I would give that section 5 stars. However, as Upton usually does, he starts talking about socialism, and everything gets very, very boring. Occasionally, it picks up, but not enough. Very informative and borderline interesting, but still, a drag to read. All I have to say is, "I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!" if that part was in the book, it would instantly win my affection.
Captain Trips wrote this review Monday, August 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
"I'm FINISHED!"”
“I could piece of Socolist literature. Not as uplifting as The Jungle's ending and it is rather long but very good. Nothing to do with the movie.”
Megan the movie freak wrote this review Saturday, June 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“So far so good. Sinclairs biases are clearly laid out -- no sneaky politics to fend off. I'm finding it a surprisingly quick read. Being in the oil business and knowing the lingo makes me feel like an insider, but I don't think NOT knowing the lingo would hinder a reader at all.
Marin U wrote this review Wednesday, June 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Update when I'm finished.”“Oil! is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book.”
Evan wrote this review Saturday, December 27 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“"There Will Be Blood" was a famous film from 2007. It became specially renowned when it helped win the best actor for Daniel Day Lewis. The director said the story was drawn from this book.
Jamie B wrote this review Sunday, November 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In response to the directors comments, I would say that it focuses mainly on the first third of this book, because while the film focuses on the story of a father who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, the book focuses more on the growth of the son. As the son matures he becomes his own person, so when he is young (as he is in the first third of the book), we see more of the father, because the son is more dependant on him at a young age.
The story also isn't about the growth of an oil firm at the hands of a maniacal of a father (as it seems to be in the film). For while we see the firm grow, Sinclair, the author, was more interested in portraying real life, and how employees are treated by big business at the time.
Had the film been made this year, I'd argue that the film would have a very different focus. Instead of focusing on one mad individual, it could have been a damning indictment of coporate greed and the way it treats its employees, which is something more like what the book is like I think.
In short, if the director had made the book, it would be a lot more challenging for big business to defend the actions of the central characters here, and so it is fair to say that this book is not "There Will Be Blood"”
“This novel is as relevant today as it was when it was written 80 years ago. It is a fascinating take on the oil industry in America.”
Hahtoolah wrote this review Thursday, November 6 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“More than just a story of corruption and greed, it's a tale of a young heir to the oil company his father built on his own and the battles he faces with corporate greed, religious fanaticism, class separation, and loving another person.
Richard wrote this review Sunday, August 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Sinclair does veer off the dirt path on tangents; creating moments as ordinary as the working-class people in this book. Bunny, the protagonist, is such a fascinating character, plagued from the beginning not having to work a day in his life and yet struggles and yearns to understand labor and capital, and the driving forces behind each.
If you like social commentary, you'll like this. ”
