Movie Masterpiece: There Will be Blood

Upon watching this film a 2nd time, I have decided that There Will be Blood, is without question a movie masterpiece. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, and starring Daniel Day Lewis, it was nominated for 8 Academy Awards in 2008. Daniel Day Lewis won the Oscar for his performance as Daniel Plainview, a ruthless oil tycoon set in the old west. I recently purchased this film at the store for 5 bucks, and am very happy that it is now a part of my collection.

Never have I seen a film, that captures the concept of oil so vividly, as this film does. Set in 1902 in the western deserts of California, Daniel Plainview begins his greedy quest for wealth. The opening of this film is genius, completely silent, depicting Plainview's determined ambition to mine for oil. He breaks his leg in a terrible fall, however eventually finds oil and starts his own business. However a bit later, one of his workers dies, and Plainview adopts the worker's son. He names the boy HW, and makes him his business partner.

The story then fast-forwards several years later, where Daniel has established himself as a respected oil-man, and his son HW has grown in age. The two arrive to a small town in California to make a pitch to drill for oil. This is the first time in the film, we finally hear Plainview speak, as a determined man who speaks quite plainly. He is later approached by a young man named Paul, who tells him about an oil deposit underneath his family's property. Plainview travels to the ranch to investigate the land, and offers the Sunday family, a handsome sum to buy the property. However Paul's twin brother, Eli, is a determined young pastor, who requests more money in order to fund his church. Plainview agrees and begins his project in the town of Little Boston, California.

The story is constantly driven by Daniel Plainview's blind ambition. He has a strong relationship with his son, HW, however one evening, a major explosion, causes his boy to go deaf. This eventually complicates their relationship. Another challenge to Plainview's oil prospects, is the town's young and ambitious pastor, Eli, played by Paul Dano. Eli is a constant nuisance to Plainview, always challenging his character. A third complication comes to Plainview, when his so-called lost brother arrives, to reunite with the rich business man. Plainview is hesitant and doubtful at first, yet eventually accepts him as his brother. Unable to communicate with his boy, he sends HW away to a special school in San Fransisco. He later finds out that his so-called brother, is nothing more than an impostor, trying to grab a piece of Plainview's wealth. Plainview kills the man, and buries the body. This causes Plainview much guilt, and finally he breaks down and admits his shame, within Eli's church. This is a very powerful scene of total humiliation, and incredible acting from Daniel Day Lewis.

The story finally fast-forwards to 1927, where Plainview is filthy rich, and is once again reunited with his grown-up son. HW now communicates through sign language, and has found love, with the daughter of the Sunday family. In a translated conversation, he tells his father, that he is moving with his wife to Mexico to start up his own oil business. Plainview is angered by this, and tells HW that he is an orphan and not his son.

In the final climatic scene of the film, Plainview is reunited with the pastor Eli, who comes to Plainview to beg for finances. Plainview is disgusted by Eli's hypocircy, and has him admit that he is a "false prophet". Once Eli completely humiliates himself and admits that he is a false prophet, Plainview informs him, that there is no business to be done, due to the fact that he has already drained out the oil from that property. Plainview then goes on a mad rage, about drainage, "I drink your milkshake!" he yells. He then chases Eli around the room, and eventually kills him with a bowling pin.

The story in this film is incredible, character-driven, and very multi-layered. It is centered around Daniel Plainview's character, who sees no good in people, and has a ruthless ambition for oil and wealth. The setting is incredible, the old west, and the drive of American capitalism. The soundtrack is also quite unique, capturing the intense drama of each scene. Finally the filming and cinematography, are masterful, with near perfect movement. The best moment in the film comes when the oil drill explodes, and the chaos that follows it. It is a sudden dramatic roller-coaster of powerful sound, music, acting, motion, and immense visualization! A true work of art!