"There Will Be Blood" (****)

I am only just beginning to understand the magnitude and unequivocal greatness of "There Will Be Blood." Even though the story may seem simple enough, the film is layered with complexities. This film not only deserves to be seen by everyone, but intricately studied. I am hesitant in writing this review because I feel like I need to see this movie a few more times before I even begin to comprehend the scope of what I have just witnessed. This review is an effort to help me deconstruct this film and get at its deeper meaning.

The film begins with an opening shot of desert landscape as composer Johnny Greenwood's wonderful, pounding score begins. The first fifteen minutes of the film pass with no dialogue. The viewer sees Daniel Plainview, at this time a silver prospector, during a usual day of work. Once Plainview discovers oil in one of his silver claims, his descent into madness begins.

One of his workers on the job, leaving behind a son. Plainview takes the kids as his own and uses him as a prop, trying to sell his newfound business as one that thinks highly of family. He uses his son as a tool to get people to accept his proposals. One thing that I could not completely determine from the film was if Plainview really felt anything for his son, H.W. Many critics would argue that Plainview merely saw H.W. as a means of achieving success faster, but I think he really cared for him.

When a kid approached Plainview about an "ocean" of oil in a town named Little Boston, a small religious community. Plainview travels to the town and sees his future laid out for him. The vast amount of oil occupying the land will make him one of the richest oil tycoons in existence. The only thing he cannot foresee is the effect religion will have on his greedy and ambitious nature, eventually destroying him.

Eli Sunday is the leader of the local church, a sort of prophet, who sees nothing good about Mr. Plainview. He sees him as the town's destruction. Eli tries to get Plainview to allow him to bless the oil well. Plainview, however, sidesteps him, and does not let this happen; Eli sees this as the omen that will lead to his downfall.

One of the following scenes, in my opinion, is one of the best of the year. One of the derricks erupts in a burst of steam and oil. H.W., who was near the explosion, is blown backwards and loses his hearing. All the while, the music is pounding, overwhelming the viewer and informing them to the sheer intensity of the situation. At first, Plainview rushes to the attention of his son, but once he figures out that there is nothing that he can do for him, he rushes out to control the damage that has been done. He would eventually ship his son off to live somewhere else because he does not know how to handle the situation (or did he just see it as a hindrance to business?).

The torment of losing his son profoundly affects Plainview. He considers selling Little Boston to Standard Oil, but when the man says he could use the money to take care of his son, Plainview reacts harshly, threatening to slit the man's throat. He even attacks Eli, the supposed prophet and healer, demanding why he did not help his son. Eventually, he would get his son back, but things would not be the same.

At the end of the film, Plainview is extremely wealthy but alienated from society (what he wanted anyways). The last scene (I'm not going into details) is awesomely done, but it may be called over-acting by some. Madness and greed has completely taken over Daniel.

Daniel Day-Lewis is the perfect person to portray Daniel Plainview. He gives a fiery, intense performance of a man driven by ambition and greed. He is a monster trapped in a human's body. A man that has progressed so far into darkness, he cannot be saved. Plainview is a man who hates people (he even says so), and all he wants to do is earn enough money to escape civilization. The only compassion he shows is for his son, who the viewer is not even sure if he loves or not. This is truly the tour-de-force performance of the decade.

Paul Dano is also good as Eli Sunday, but he seemed to be overacting at times. The role, however, called for some overacting. This is noticeable when he is giving his sermons and is acting as "healer." It is a good performance, but he cannot match Daniel Day-Lewis.

If I were an academy voter, this film would get my vote in the supporting actor category. I was moved by the performance of newcomer Dillon Freasier. He does not say much, but he doesn't have to. The viewer can often see him in the background looking around, taking everything in. Later in the film when he loses his hearing, it is heartbreaking to watch him sit down and snap his fingers near his ear, hoping to hear something. I found the scene in which he sees his father for the first time after he abandoned him to be very powerful as well.

Paul Thomas Anderson has made some really good films in his past ("Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia"). This, however, is his crowning achievement (at least for now). He lets the film develop slowly, focusing more on Plainview than anything else. It's risky opening the film with absolutely no dialogue for fifteen minutes, but for a film to truly standout among others, it needs to be different. Paul Thomas Anderson has made something so epic and different that it is hard to describe in words.

I think I have rambled enough about this film. Hopefully, my review isn't too incoherent. I may offer more thoughts on this film later (I forgot to add how it is relevant to corporate society today, but I cannot muster the energy to add it now.). It is a film that I definitely plan on seeing again to pick up on some things. Just go out and see this film. Not only watch it but let every film seep in and analyze it. This is a film that will be talked about for year's to come.