Movie Review: There Will be Blood

When my ears hear the words "there will be blood," the first thing that comes to mind is the Saw franchise. That phrase has played a prominent part in their advertising since it first hit the big screen in 2004. It was as if they were reminding us horror aficionados that horror films could still have blood in them, even in this age of sanitized PG-13 fare. There, you see? That's what happens when I here that particular combination of words. What doesn't, or rather, didn't prior to seeing Paul Thomas Anderson's latest creation. Now, those words bring to mind fields of oil, charismatic young preachers, and an electrifying performance from Daniel Day Lewis. You see, Anderson has reclaimed those words from the horror genre and given them back to world. Words once appropriated for diabolical purposes have now been freed for use among all of society, rather than a bloodthirsty subset. But this is not why we are here, we are here to take a look at a rather extraordinary film that caught me off guard by its excellence, as well as by the way it kept me at a distance.

As I left the theater, I was struck by the simple complexity of the narrative at work within this film. At the same time, I wondered if it was possible to truly love a film and not feel particularly invested in what was going on. Weird thing to think about, but can you honestly say that you understood, or felt as if personally spoken to in every movie that you like?

There Will Be Blood is an electrifying, captivating tale that held me at attention for its entire running time. The fantastic score, searing performances, breathtaking cinematography, and the intriguing tale held me at attention. However, at not point in the movie did I ever feel connected with them. There was no emotional investment, at least for me. I did not care what would become of Daniel Plainview or Eli Sunday, or anyone for that matter. The film felt cold and clinical at times, not unlike some of Stanley Kubrick's work.

This all left me wondering why did I like it? Why do I consider it one of the best films of 2007? How can I like it if I cared not for the characters it contained? I tell you, it is a weird feeling. I have felt it before, although the film titles escape my grasp.

As this thought played around in my mind, I have come to the conclusion that the answer is simple. A story does not need to connect with its audience, sure it helps but it is not an absolute. What the story needs to be is well written. A good story will make itself evident, and strong writing will find its audience, regardless of its level of involvement. Those who respect the craft will respond to quality writing. I am sure that there is much that I missed within the subtext of There Will Be Blood, but that is just another sign of quality writing. If a film makes you realize that there is more than what the surface implies and inspires the desire to experience it multiple times, then it has done the heavy lifting that is required for a story to succeed.

Paul Thomas Anderson, working from Upton Sinclair's novel Oil! as his source, has crafted a tale that is simultaneously epic and personal. It is a powerful work that allows the actors to shine as they dig into their roles with reckless abandon. It functions on two levels, achieving a near perfect balancing act as both play towards the conclusion. It is a story spanning somewhere in the vicinity of twenty-five years (I do not recall all of the title cards to say for sure). During the time covered we are given a look inside the early years of the oil business and what was involved in staking a claim, finding the substance, getting it out of the ground, and transporting it to its destination. To that end, we have a protagonist who is a cluster of contradictions buried behind a facade of charm; however, there is always an air of menace hiding just below the surface.

I cannot claim to be a big Anderson fan, having only seen two of his other movies (the excellent Punch Drunk Love and Boogie Nights that I saw many years ago before my film infatuation kicked into gear). That said, this is a highly accomplished work and has a different feel than the others I have seen. There Will Be Blood exists outside the mainstream, in the realm where film is not co-directed by focus groups and studio suits. This film breathes and grows with a life of its own, where a personal story, such as the one told here, can grow and follow its own path in an organic manner, rather than being forced to fit the conventions of mainstream cinema. The result is a film that has a slow and gradual pace that allows the story to be told on its terms, forcing the viewer to go along with that, whether or not it meets their preconceived notions of what it is going to be.

There Will Be Blood stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainfield. Plainfield begins his career looking for silver, but finding oil. From the moment of this discovery through the final shot, has the man constantly seeking ways to make money, cheat people out of money, and eliminate the competition so he can get more money. Despite that single-minded goal, he is built in contradictory terms. There are moments of hate (plenty of them), moments of love, touches of faith at odds with his usual contempt for the conceit. Through all of his menacing moments, Daniel Day-Lewis shines. He is on camera for almost every scene, and there is no way that you can take your eyes of of him. His performance is riveting. Day-Lewis delivers a charismatic performance of a man who is carried by his charisma.

The other primary character is Eli Sunday, played by Paul Dano. Elis is a (another) charismatic indivudual who is at odds with Plainview. It is clear that the two will never get along as they vie for control over the area where the wells are. Dano gives a performance that is elevated by Day-Lewis' presence. Paul Dano is a bright young actor, last seen in Little Miss Sunshine.

Now, as I alluded to earlier, There Will Be Blood is more than the script, story, or characters. There is a lot more to like than you would think. Firstly, the cinematography from Robert Elswit, this film is absolutely gorgeous to watch unfold. There is always something to look at and it is beautifully shot. Combine the looks with Jonny Greenwood's (member of the band Radiohead) score. It is beautifully haunting; it has a very personal and sorrowful feel that feeds the epic look of the film. I know that sounds weird, but this score is perfect for the film and stands as one of the finest works of the past year.

Bottomline. In conclusion, this is a masterful film that has plenty to offer and will take multiple viewings to uncover all of its facets. It may not have grabbed me emotionally, but there is more to a story than emotional involvement. This is definitely a film that needs to be experienced.

Highly Recommended.