Review of There Will Be Blood (2007) by Phil P — 03 Feb 2013

"I hate most people...there are times when I look at people and I see nothing worth liking.".

One of the films high up on my must see radar, a film released a good 6 years ago and iv'e only just watched it today - disgraceful. I should have watched it immediately because it's such a good film i'm finding it difficult to find fault at all.

Based on a called 'Oil!' it's a story of a mans ambition and need to progress by any means he deems fit. I found similarities in Flight with this - whilst it's not in the same manner or amount, 'Daniel' (Daniel Day Lewis) is self-destructive - through his ambition. All he cares about is his work and driving forward with his business he's someone not satisfied with what he has. Growth is everything. At first he seems a pleasant and thoughtful individual - meeting with clients and his son offering them something others cannot. But his true nature and intentions are shown slowly and come at full force when his son is deafened and sends him away. This is when we start to dislike him as a person and eventually hate him' 'P.T Anderson' masterfully toys with our feelings telling us when and how we feel about 'Daniel', he knows this and continues to crank it up as the film continues.

The second half of the film is better only because we know 'Daniel' and there's also some magnificent scenes particularly his drunk talk with his son at his house. 'Daniel Day Lewis' is quite frankly perfect as 'Daniel' not because of his name but he does such a convincing job and a well acted performance it's faultless. But 'Paul Dano' is also excellent - he's some way of Daniel Day Lewis but he's on fine form and probably should have won best supporting actor at the time.

'There Will Be Blood' is a powerful and thoroughly engrossing and dark film that i'm tempted to say is a masterpiece. 'Daniel Day-Lewis' at his best and delivers one of the greatest performances in movie history and 'Paul Dano' in fine form too. Widely regarded as the best film of the last decade and it's hard to argue.