Using serene landscapes, vital music and a knock-out performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood plays to its strengths and creates a film that is worthy of both its praise and its runtime.
Based on Upton Sinclair's historic classic 'Oil,' There Will Be Blood follows the life of fictional oil tycoon Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). Rising from the dust as a silver miner, Plainview uses a mysterious tip from an unlikely provider to find a town in the West where oil is literally oozing out of the ground. With his son H.W. by his side, Plainview sets out to acquire the land and all the profits that come with it. Upon arrival, Plainview discovers the town of Little Boston to be one of little excitement, the most coming from the local church of preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). With their expertise and tricky, the town is an easy take. But even when the beloved oil is found, and all the town's treasured dreams become a reality, nothing turns out as it was originally seen as every value and emotion is coerced and trampled by the presence of corruption, deception and the constant flow of oil.
It is not very often that you get to see Daniel Day-Lewis on the big screen, or any screen for that matter. In semi-retirement, Lewis picks his films very carefully, often taking many years off in between roles. In 2002 Lewis played the role of Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York, and now, five years later, the man is back as Daniel Plainview in this year's There Will Be Blood. But with taking off so long in-between roles, there are many risks involved. However, Lewis is able to quickly put those questions to rest as he presents a near flawless performance. There is something about his gestures, his movements and his ability to transform into any character that puts audience members in a state of awe, bringing them into the story like no other actor can do. His movements are so real, precise and authentic, creating a new character than ever seen before and making you feel as if you have known him for years.
But that isn't all. In addition to Lewis, Paul Dano (most know for his work in Little Miss Sunshine) holds his own as the enigmatic preacher Eli Sunday. Stealing the screen for moments at a time, Dano brings the ruthless preacher to life, creating a persona and a backbone on the screen. His movements were perfect and his exchanges with Lewis were memorable, helping to create an even balance between the two stars and thus allowing the film to carry a steady flow.
But luckily, this film goes much deeper than its cast. For one, the music is absolutely brilliant. Carring a tone and a persona of its own, each score delivers, thus creating another layer to the film's overall brilliance. In addition, director Paul Thomas Anderson did a fascinating job at catching the best side of his actors and presenting a film that really captured the stunning beauty of the time period. His shots were authentic, helping to bring a raw sense of the story to the screen.
However, the best part of the entire film was the first five minutes. In the very beginning, Anderson chose to use no dialogue; instead, he introduced the story through the acting talent of Lewis and the powerful usage of music. The move was a risk but paid off as the story leapt from the screen and into the minds of all watching.
But with all that said, I do want to harp on one thing"¦the story. Now don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and feel that it deserves most of the recognition that it has received, but for some reason, the story just didn't settling well with me. I don't know if was the pure over-hype of the film or just my mood or what, but for some reason, I felt that it could have moved quicker and ended faster.
Regardless, the film was a pure stroke of genius. Capturing the audience during the opening moments, There Will Be Blood rode its director and leading star to the finish line, never looking back as it left a memorable, must-see film in its wake.
