A monster doesn’t have to be a beast that rises out of the water causing death and destruction to millions of people. It can be a man, or men, who let greed and corruption take hold of their lives as seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood”.
Set around the turn of the twentieth century, “There Will Be Blood” is a story about family, greed, religion and oil. Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a prospector looking for oil. One day a man walks in proclaiming there is oil seeping from the ground of the Sunday Farm, his families land. Captivated by the offer, Daniel makes his way to the land out in California and hits a sea of Texas-T.
Daniel buys the entire city and county to dig up the oil, and in doing so, must overcome many obstacles, such as the local church of the third revelation and raising his son. What Daniel finds out is that prospecting, as life, is very profitable and exciting but in excess drains and kills the land.
Based on the novel by Upton Sinclair, “There Will Be Blood” is a provoking thought-inhibiting suspenseful masterpiece. Subtle string instrumental builds and delicate camera work make your blood boil with excitement and pleasure. You feel the hate resonating in the main character’s veins. Day-Lewis is once again on top of his game capturing the old west as a magnificent blood curtailing protagonist. He is the good guy, bad guy and the snot that dries in your nose when it’s cold outside.
Paul Dano, who plays Eli and Paul Sunday, creeps you out. His convincing, almost sadistic, attitude toward the third revelation church makes you want to vomit. He’s so sick to watch you wonder how he ever came to be so good after the teen movie “The Girl Next Door”.
The relentless passion that these two actors exude toward each other produces the monsters that reside in themselves. Each is alike that they are relentlessly propelled toward their goals stepping on anyone who gets in their way.
I won’t get into details surrounding the anti-capitalism and anti-religious aspects of the film as you should take them as you will. But I will say that if the church disapproves of “The Golden Compass” they should picket, sue and do everything in their power to not let any young people watch this film. But wait, this is rated R so no one under the age of seventeen will see this movie, oh please.
So if you’re up for a good flick that will keep your blood moving by all means go and see
“There Will Be Blood”. If not I’ve heard that the Veggie Tales Movie is pretty good.