There Will Be Blood (DVD Review)
A Reflection on Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-winning 2007 Film
Anchored by an undeniably powerful lead performance, Paul Thomas Anderson's epic film is by far his most ambitious and accomplished work to date.
There’s really no doubting the brilliance of Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance in There Will Be Blood, and he rightly took home the Oscar for it earlier this year. The film itself though, having received all the accolades, now comes with a lot of hype for those who have yet to experience it. While it’s very easy to make arguments for its excellence as a motion picture, There Will Be Blood is not a film for everybody, and the main reason behind this is the singular, uncompromising vision of its director.
Daniel Day-Lewis Heads a Powerful Cast
The epic, melodramatic sensibilities of Anderson’s earlier Boogie Nights and Magnolia are again at work with …Blood, but this is a far grittier, bleak story he is telling. The ascension of oil tycoon Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) is depicted in immense detail, and although the character remains compelling throughout, he is often difficult to empathize with and at times plainly detestable. It’s testament to Day-Lewis’ performance that such a morally-barren man can be so charismatic and compulsive to watch.
Other performances of note include Paul Dano as Eli, the budding young preacher who comes to clash against Plainview as they bid for control over the burgeoning town ripe with oil and faith. At times the young actor overplays the part during the more intense scenes, but given his youth and the formidable talent opposite him he impresses nonetheless. Also making an impression is Dillon Freasier, who play’s Plainview’s son, H.W. The child actor has a beautifully elegant face and voice, making his character’s plight all the more affecting.
Addressing Criticisms of There Will Be Blood
Much has been said about There Will Be Blood’s score, which was composed by Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood. The musician’s work is very prominent throughout the film, most notably in the extraordinary opening sequence. But it is ever present – a slithering, ominous and doom-laden score that creates an unrelenting atmosphere of suspense and dread. Criticized in some quarters for being too intrusive and attention-drawing, it is in actually one of the most original and effective parts of this film.
Another criticism leveled at …Blood is that the character of Daniel Plainview and his story do not warrant a three-hour film. Certainly, despite the time spent with the character, Anderson keeps him at a certain distance right up until the last frame. The monster within Plainview slowly comes into view as the film progresses, but the makings of that monster aren’t. Rather, Anderson has kept the back story of Daniel Plainview something of a mystery which may well frustrate, but also gives the character an unpredictability which really serves to heighten the tension in certain scenes.
A Milestone Film for Paul Thomas Anderson
Ultimately, Paul Thomas Anderson must be commended for his work on There Will Be Blood. The film has the dual qualities of stark originality on one hand, and on the other a spirit that evokes the sprawling epics of the fifties and sixties. Anderson is a daring, fiercely uncompromising filmmaker who no doubt polarizes audiences but has proven to be consistent in gaining strong reactions. There Will Be Blood is a challenging and at times draining piece of work to engage with, but in the end is a truly rewarding and memorable film experience.
