Review of There Will Be Blood (2007) by Spencer S — 02 Feb 2014

No other film more aptly deserves the title of modern classic than this whirlwind historical drama. Director Paul Thomas Anderson absolutely left his comfort zone of the eccentric lives of Los Angelenos in order to make a film that takes place at the offset of the oil reign.

Anderson writes and directs this film about the beginning of the oil boom in California at the beginning of the 20th century. Very loosely based on Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil!" and much more on historical figures and testimony from the Teapot Dome Scandal, Anderson creates an enigma, a man who is murderous and power hungry yet untruthful about his intent.

This creates a literal powder keg, as the prospector does anything and everything in order to gain his fortunes, even if that means letting go of his son, and having the bond between them severed irrevocably.

Of course, besides Anderson creating the character of Daniel Plainview so beautifully, it is acted by the incomparable Daniel Day-Lewis. Day-Lewis is Plainview, embodying the character so well that without him this film would never have even touched on what it became.

Day-Lewis is cold, conniving, principled and yet heartless, and does anything and everything for money. He isn't only driven by money though, but the stability his son needs, the familiar ties he thinks he wants even after all these years, and power over his oppressors.

His performance includes a brash voice, a cocky attitude, and several moments that will remain iconic in film forever more. Besides his own ambitions he has to have the town understand him and give him license to take what he needs.

He comes up against the town preacher, played by Paul Dano, and their feud begins. Paul Dano gives the best performance of his career thus far and does so under the guise of a man with his own ambitions, using moral superiority, cunning and empirical thinking to get himself a cut of Daniel's profits for himself, all in the name of religion.

It's this vendetta between the two, enacted in violence and callous accusations, that remains pivotal to the film and drives it forward time and again. Even in the end there isn't any true resolution, only an end to the madness each has decided to enact.

Very impressive was the choice in composer as well, as the score remains out of place and yet so tense and perfect. The score is done by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, who has composed some impressive films as of late, and who remains one to watch.

Between the performances, music, setting, and contextual use of dialogue and historical content this film has become an instant classic, and its gradual move towards power grabbing will keep you rooted to your seat the entire way through.