There Will Be Blood

Looking at my last post, it has been awhile since I reviewed a movie, my excuse is that it’s been crazy busy and I was still a little woozy from Cloverfield. Anyway, I was finally able to see the last best picture contender in There Will Be Blood. I’ve heard and read all the reviews and this latest offering from Paul Thomas Anderson matched all the hoopla that has surrounded this dark picture centered on oil and religion.

Daniel Day-Lewis is an acting god! He is truly one of the great actors of this and any generation. He is the one you can watch in order to study true character development. While I enjoyed his work in My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father, I was simply blown away by Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York. It was the first time, I concentrated on a character’s breathing pattern. I think it’s utterly fascinating that this brilliant actor takes longs breaks between projects and then comes out swinging in new fresh roles that challenge every actor around him. The reason to watch There Will Be Blood is to see Daniel Day-Lewis take on the role of Daniel Plainview, a greedy oil tycoon. The way he caters to his public, the way he shows his son his true priorities, the way he demeans the local pastor is nothing short of inspired. The ‘baptism’ scene in the church is pure Oscar gold. If Daniel Day-Lewis doesn’t win the Best Actor trophy, I will be spending days trying to pick my jaw up off the floor. I’ve been correct with some of my nominations (George Clooney, Javier Bardem) and some have been surprisingly overlooked (Christian Bale, Denzel Washington), but Day-Lewis is a definite win in his category.

My only complaint against Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance in There Will Be Blood is the fact that his mere presence overshadows the rest of the film. The story still works, the plot is intriguing, but I found myself just waiting to hear the next line come out of Plainview’s mouth. “Bastard in a Basket” “Drainage” “I drink your milkshake” I can still here the cadence and intensity surrounding these phrases. The milkshake line is absurd yet Day-Lewis pulls it off brilliantly. See, I was going to talk about the plot and here I am praising Daniel Day-Lewis again. I guess some credit can go to director PT Anderson who has a remarkable resume with films like Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love. There Will Be Blood does run a bit long but just like American Gangster, it doesn’t wear out its welcome because the final scenes in the bowling alley are some of the best scene work found in the film. In fact, all three memorable phrases come from those last twenty minutes. Of course, Daniel Day-Lewis needs someone to play off of and I think some more credit needs to be given to Paul Dano.

It’s hard to believe this fiery, yet scared, preacher is played by the same actor who remained silent for much of Little Miss Sunshine last year. I think Paul Dano was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor nomination this year. Dano plays with fire and brimstone energy then is able to subtly show his hurt at Plainview’s mockery of his calling. And while Dano is able to hold his own with Day-Lewis in some key scenes, it seems fitting to watch his character crumble against the sheer madness and magnitude of the slick oil man. It seems unfair. Give that kid some credit.

So should you see There Will Be Blood in the theatres? Well, if you want to watch the five Oscar nominated films, you kinda have to. The basic elements are there, but nothing to write home about. The cinematography is well done but not too artistic, the story is engaging but drags at times, the original music, in my opinion, is God-awful and annoying with its unnecessary striking tones. Maybe the best way to view this film is as an actor’s handbook. Just watch Daniel Day-Lewis do his stuff and marvel at his brilliance. This film is a must-see for any aspiring actor. The rest should wait for DVD.

Upcoming Blogs: My Oscar Picks (this Wednesday)