Classic from the Vault
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
By Alex Watson
The films of P.T Anderson are among the most celebrated of modern cinema. From the daring Boogie Nights, to the twisty story-line of Magnolia, to the under-rated Punch, Drunk, Love he has always found new ways to draw the viewers in. When it was announced that he would be undertaking a loose adaptation of Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil, many wondered where he would take it. What we got was one of the most beautiful, and striking films of the new millennium, his film, There Will Be Blood.
Set in the oil boom era of the 1920’s, the story features a silver prospector- turned- oil baron, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) who continually seeks to buy up drilling land. He is successful, but in the industry is still a minor presence. His luck turns however, when he is approached by Paul Sunday (Paul Dano), to buy information about a large stretch of land in a town called Little Boston. Unknown to the owners there is an ocean of oil underneath! Plainview and his adopted son H.W (Dillon Freasier) travel to Little Boston to swindle the land from the Sunday family. While there, he comes into contact with Eli Sunday (Also Paul Dano), an ambitious preacher and faith healer. Soon a battle of wills ensures as each man fights his own battle for land!
There Will Be Blood is a modern, dark American tail. As Plainview breaks away the earth to make way for his next fortune, we feel that the towns money is being drained dry. Anderson paints a very bleak picture of the old times. In his film we see an America which is owned by Capitalist culture, where each man fought his own territorial battle. Anderson shows this by the battle between Plainview and Eli. There is also a very alpha male feel to the story line. Both main characters feel threatened at the presence of another and throughout the film both men work to squash the power the other has.
The main theme of the movie is corruption. In There Will Be Blood both Plainview and Sunday represent both capitalist and religious corruption. Plainview on the surface plays a well meaning fellow. In his interactions with others, he presents himself as a family businessman, and compels to their nature. Soon they are manipulated ruthlessly! The man is truly, rotten to the core and will step over anyone in order to obtain the land he desires! Eli’s religious corruption is demonstrated in his speeches to his church. Through these, we observe his shrieking and fiery type of faith and feel his strong hold over them. Eli bullies his flock in accepting his seemingly, unquestionable faith. His desire for a better life is driven by greed, not the faith that he preaches. While Plainview is forthcoming in his greed, Eli hides behind a wall of hypocrisy and is seems unable to accept there is another presence that may make his flock stray!
In this piece, the real driving force is a stunning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. The man is one of this centuries true greats, and is one of modern cinema’s most memorable turns. Plainview holds the screen with such force that it is impossible to take our eyes off him! It’s a chilling portrait of a dangerous man, and we learn there is no depth he will sink to. His characterisation is fascinating; does Plainview truly lack any feeling towards others? Or is it all strictly business?
Paul Dano also rings in a commanding supporting role. Eli is a complex character, a man who appears devoted to his cause but in reality seeks the same riches as Plainview. At moments he is a frightening presence, but he is even more fascinating in his quieter moments. In these moments it seems as if Eli is working to win Plainview’s soul! The final scene between Dano and Day Lewis’ is a legend of cinema as the tensions all boil into a climatic showdown! It also brought us the oft quoted line “I… DRINK YOUR…. MILSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP!”
Paul Thomas Anderson proves that he is still one of the most skilled directors of our time. Although his work is infrequent, we always anticipate it highly. There Will Be Blood does nothing to dent our expectations, and we are rewarded with a fascinating piece of American cinema! I longingly await his next film and I can only hope it brings us a performance as strong as Day Lewis’!
Closer to the Edge 