There Will Be Blood director-writer Paul Thomas Anderson called a couple of hours ago to chat about the film. We spoke for about 25 minutes. I threw out some half-decent questions and did what I could to keep my obsequious impulses in check. Anderson has a shy, circumspect way of putting things. It’s axiomatic that most first-rate directors will shy away from “selling” their film or trying to explain it in any kind of relentless detail. But it was exciting to get a word in and run it all down as much as possible.

Anderson and Blood stars Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano will discuss the film and their work following a special WGA theatre screening this evening. A reception will follow.