There Will Be Blood

Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier, Ciarán Hinds, Kevin J. O'Connor

Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Scr. Paul Thomas Anderson (based on the novel “Oil” by Upton Sinclair)

The title of this film didn’t lie – there certainly was blood. Literal blood of man and figurative blood of Jesus. Blood spilled accidentally and not so accidentally. Misfortune. Murder. Revenge. Cruelty. And then there was Day-Lewis, who gave such a phenomenal performance that you found yourself rooting for perhaps one of the most unlikeable and ruthless characters to ever appear on screen. There Will Be Blood is a crazy, emotionally draining, brilliant film – a film that may alienate and disturb as many people as it will engage.

There Will Be Blood follows the journey of Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis), from humble beginnings in the oil business, to absolute fortune and success. Lured to the small community of Little Boston by the promise of an ocean of oil, Plainview goes about setting up shop and buying as much land as possible. Along the way to making his fortune, he develops an extremely odd relationship with the local preacher, has tragedy strike his young son, and encounters his long, lost brother from another mother. Among other things. There Will Be Blood is a story of family, of ego, of revenge, of hatred. And, of course, that ocean of oil.

It’s been a while since we’ve been treated to a film by Paul Thomas Anderson. And what an interesting list of films he has to his name. The only word I can think of to link There Will Be Blood, Punch-Drunk Love, Magnolia and Boogie Nights – arguably his most well known endeavours – is, well, different. Anderson’s work has not universally been greeted with acclaim – Punch-Drunk Love, for instance, was bagged by many (a little unfairly, in my opinion). But it’s clear he has a unique vision and There Will Be Blood is perhaps his finest and most original work to date.

The best decision Anderson made on this film was to cast Day-Lewis in the lead. Day-Lewis hasn’t been seen for a while either – Gangs of New York in 2002 was his last major role. There’s no doubt that we’re used to seeing Day-Lewis give memorable and powerful performances, but his turn in this film will blow you away. Day-Lewis’s Plainview is a truly ruthless and despicable man. He is a man consumed by hatred for, well, pretty much everyone. He is a man who just cannot handle being told, by anyone, what he should or should not do. He is greedy and cruel. And yet, by the end of the film, you will find yourself on his side. You will be delighted by his victories. And why is this? Well, I’m not entirely sure. Day-Lewis is so very compelling to watch, and perhaps that is part of the reason. But it must also have something to do with the ruthlessness inside each of us. It must be because we also like to win. All I know is that every time I thought Plainview was going to redeem himself, was going to finally do the right thing, he didn’t – why is it that we assume there is goodness in everyone? Plainview chose the evil option at every turn and this made him completely unlikeable. I found this man and his journey so utterly disturbing, and yet so incredibly intriguing.

The supporting cast in There Will Be Blood is very good indeed. Dillon Freasier, as Plainview’s son, gives a very mature and nuanced performance for such a young actor. I hope he’s not allowed to watch the movie he was in! Kevin J. O'Connor’s snivelling performance as Plainview’s brother, Henry, is excellent. Much, much credit must go to Paul Dano who plays preacher Eli Sunday – in many ways a character just as disturbed and disturbing as Plainview. The scenes between Dano and Day-Lewis are undoubtedly the highlights of the film. I first saw Dano give a brilliant performance in Little Miss Sunshine and continue to be impressed by this young actor. I hope the good roles keep heading his way.

There Will Be Blood won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I think it’s strange pace may bore some. I think the madness may confuse others. But, please, try and stick with it. This is one of the most original and compelling movies I have seen in a long time. You won’t necessary like it – I’m not sure “enjoyment” is a word that springs to mind – but you will find yourself drawn into an engaging and disturbing tale of the worst in us all.

----------------------------------------

Daniel Plainview: Drainage! Drainage, Eli! Drained dry, you boy! If you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and I have a straw and my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake. I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!