Review of There Will Be Blood (2007) by Collin P — 31 Oct 2016

Up until this film, Anderson had been an extremely flashy director. Here he moves to a more restrained and classical style, letting this film be more about the actors and the characters than his usual style.

He's rewarded with some astonishing performances, especially Lewis's lead performance. I think the standard line on this film that portrays Plainview as a monster is an oversimplification of what's actually on screen.

Plainview is a deeply flawed man, but he is the protagonist of this film. The notion that he just uses his son H.W. as a puppet to sell himself isn't supported by what's in the film. Plainview does have human connections .

.. to his "son", his "brother", and to the people he does business with. That he loses them all due to his drive for success at all costs and ends up alone and mad marks the film as a genuine tragedy.

That his final confrontation with the film's true villain, Eli Sunday, erupts in violence and the titular blood marks it as a cold, ruthless satire too. This is a roaring monster of a film.