Review of There Will Be Blood (2007) by Matthew D — 29 May 2018

An oil empire rises among the fallen.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson crafts a harrowing tale of an oil baron building his life. It is massive in scope, but never forgets its heart. You get to watch a man manipulate, con, and steamroll his way to success. It is a character study of Daniel Plainview as much as it is an epic on the rise of capitalism. You bear witness to a father attempting to raise a boy, while prioritizing his business. There Will Be Blood is truly a monster. It's lengthy run time feels quite slow as I suspect most viewers will find its molasses pace to be too crawling. I assure you however, the pay off is well worth the wait. It is a brilliant story told in an incredible way.

Paul Thomas Anderson finds every interesting angle to showcase the acting performances, bleak environment, and dismal prospects. You will be astonished by There Will Be Blood's sights. I think the narrative alone is worth the price of admission. Anderson delivers a compelling tale based on Upton Sinclair's "Oil!".

Although, Anderson could edit down his films more, he gives you everything. The elongated shots, one takes, panning shots, and clever sequences all work to keep you enthralled to the madness on screen.

As I mentioned, the acting is top tier in There Will Be Blood. Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano play the most cruel, manipulative, self-absorbed monsters in cinema history. They portray men that care not for others and they play it beautifully. All their subtle movements and eye work reveal their deeper convictions. These are what powerhouse performances look like.

Musically, this movie lavishes itself in deep pondering silence. It is broken up by rushing themes that spark the imagination as to the sounds of industrialization. The score to There Will Be Blood is equally gripping and terrifying. The pounding sounds herein mirror the march of progress. From the slow thudding pulses of noise to the hectic insanity of big business. Composer Jonny Greenwood delivers a wholly original composition for you. I found it flows over you to push you into the air like one of Plainview's oil geysers.

I recommend There Will Be Blood for anyone that can stand weighty movies in run time and themes. There is a great story here if only Anderson had cut it down some. I still enjoyed the film and found it fascinating all the while. Give it a chance if you can stomach the blood promised in the title.