There Will Be Blood

What a pleasure it is that there are still directors like Paul Thomas Anderson making film today.  He is the kind of director that does not settles for the norm and boldly goes for something new.  This film is a prime example of his visionary and exciting talent.  There Will Be Blood is a sprawling and daring film that pushes the limits of film and Anderson makes a very striking film.

The story of the film hovers around the oil industry in the American west around the early twentieth century.  The film centers around the fascinating character Daniel Plainview, a ruthless and cold oil man.  The film itself is not so much standard plot.  It is not driven by just one main conflict but instead several different conflict, both internal and external.  There Will Be Blood is also a film that does not rely on a intricate plotting.  The film is more an observation of its main characters and their world, then a strong plot driven film.  There Will Be Blood appears to focus more on ideas and themes then plot really.  The film focuses on the price of greed, religion, and the possible negatives of capitalism.  These themes are what drive the film.

What is really remarkable in this film is just how breathtaking and mesmerizing Daniel Day-Lewis is in this film.  He plays the lead, Daniel Plainview, and makes a character that is like few others.  Day-Lewis sucks the air out of every scene he is in and has a kind of power that few actors can reach.  As Plainview he is a truly exciting as there was never a moment when I knew what he would do.  The role is not a realistic one but Day-Lewis plays him in hyperrealistic way.  It is the kind of performance that maybe only a few actors can play as it is so intense and charismatic. 

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the finest actors of all time.  He usually gives a great performance and then disappears for a few years.  So every performance he does give should be cherished, and I know that I always look forward to him in a film.  In There Will Be Blood he gives one of his best performances and once again reminds me of his talent.  When watching him in this film I could not look away.  If he does not win the Oscar this year for this film as best actor then there is no justice.

There Will Be Blood is a film that is also lucky enough to have a great soundtrack.  The soundtrack of the film was created by Radiohead band member Johny Greenwood.  It is a little different from most film scores but it is very effective.  The score of the film elevates the mood of the film considerably and is more effective then most.  It has an eerie sound to it and is very memorable.

Paul Thomas Anderson is the real genius behind this film.  Anderson makes a film that dares to be different and extends the norms of film.   The film has a very different pacing and plot outline then the common film, and also has a weird side to it.  There Will Be Blood has strange touches all over it and it is refreshing to see something so fresh.  Visually Anderson creates some great images and uses some effecting shots.  The looks of this film is really gorgeous.  

This film may not be for a casual film viewer but I think if you love film, then you will enjoy this film.  It is a strange masterpiece and a film that I think will be hard to forget.  This bold epic is bound to evoke something from the viewer.  A please all the way.

4/4 Stars

*Side Note*

This film was in very limited release until recently and so I was not able to see it.  Because of this I did not put it on my best of the year list and now that I have seen it, I would put it on my ten best list for sure.  It would easily make it in the top three films of the year for me.