A story centered around the oil boom in the early days of the business and the greed and voilence that comes with it. A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.
The Truth
There Will Be Blood is 2.5 hours of anticipation, with 20 minutes of finalisation. Daniel Day-Lewis is incredible, a master of character, in a role very few could pull off. If nothing else, the movie is worth viewing just for his role of Daniel Plainview.
However, don’t go into this movie thinking its anything but a drama. It is not an action movie, not in the least. When I asked the girl at the video store what to expect, she gave me the impression the movie was an action/love story. Interesting what people take away from the movie.
So what is the movie really about? The movie is indeed a journey, through the life of an aspiring oil baron in the late 1800’s onward. His struggles, along with the struggles of his son are the basis of the film. Daniel Plainview’s many mental issues and struggles are brought forward throughout the film, for the audience to ponder.
Memorable Moments
- I loved it when Plainview discovers the truth about the man pretending to be his long lost brother, from another mother.
- Plainview taking his anger out on the self proclaimed priest Sunday. Dragging his body through the oil making him eat it, while he vents about the loss of hearing which occurs to his son… a cinematic moment I won’t soon forget.
OMG Moment
Two unforgetable moments for me in this film.
Daniel and Sunday’s interaction at the end of the film in the house, where Daniel Day-Lewis actually kills Eligh Sunday. After he makes Sunday proclaim he’s a fraud and renounce his faith, Plainview breaks the news that he already owns Eligh’s oil. Then, Plainview cracks him over the head with a bowling pin, killing him.
Plainview’s emotional destruction at the end of the film when his son confronts him about breaking away from the company and family business. Plainview informs his son he is a bastard from a basket, and was only kepts to help guilt people into doing business with him. OMG!!!!
The Verdict :
Daniel Plainview bothers me, he’ll bother you. You’ll remember this character for years to come, perhaps you even know someone like this ficitonal character. Perhpas we all do. I liked the movie very much, however not at the moment I watched it. It was the next day when I thought about everything the movie dealt with that I realized how powerful the messages were in this story. Thats when I realized There Will Be Blood was one of the best movies I’ve seen in years.
There Will Be Blood just sort of hits you like a brick the next day, I loved it.
Tags: April 08, Daniel Day-Lewis, Drama