There Will Be Blood
By Cory Peynado, Blockbuster.co.uk
“I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people”
Award winner Daniel Day Lewis puts in another incredibly powerful performance in the Oscar winning drama ‘There Will be Blood’. An early 19th century story about a man raising his son, whilst trying to maintain dominance in the oil business. Consuming, captivating and emotional, this is a drama of the highest quality.
Written and Directed by
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood explores the natures and motivations of some of the more powerful forces in society during this period. Already garnering similarities to the much acclaimed ‘Citizen Kane’ this is a story of greed and power and the lack of humanity that is required to take what you want from other people.
Loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s ‘Oil’, this is a film that is largely driven by the main protagonist. Daniel Plainview (
Daniel Day-Lewis) fancies himself an oilman, quite accurately, as he has built himself a vast fortune by building skeletal edifices in the Californian desert sucking the barren Earth of oil.
Plainview gets a tip from a young man named Paul Sunday (
Paul Dano) about a mass of oil on Sunday's family's land in Little Boston, California. Plainview explores this land, finds oil, and buys as much land as he can; he also builds up the town, gaining the goodwill of the townsfolk. His biggest nemesis there is Eli Sunday (also played by
Paul Dano), the creator and revivalist preacher of the Church of the Third Revelation.
Things become continually uncomfortable for Eli, as Plainview’s wealth grows to an almost monopolising level and his donations to the church are no longer providing him sustenance. In his desperation, Eli chooses to confront Plainview but as he will learn, Daniel is not a man that likes to be challenged in business.
It was the cast that won me over for this film, in fact I’ll be even more specific and say it was the man who won me over. Well known for his obsessive and meticulous research process, Lewis gives us a clear and true depiction of the sometimes abhorrent nature that his character holds within and the trails that are to be endured for men in his position.
I would just have easily believed this piece to be a documentary. Very rarely do we see an actor so consumed within his character and his job that it’s difficult to separate factual from the fictitious. Also deserving of a mention is the immensely talented
Paul Dano who does a sterling job as the preacher and proves to be a worthy on-screen presence alongside this year Oscar winner.
Few movies released this year will be able capture as much essence and realism than this piece of work. I’m now only let down by the fact that we wont see another Lewis performance until late next year. Beautifully shot and amazingly realised, this one will stay with you for years to come.
Also available on Blu-ray