There Will Be Blood [DVD] [2007]

You should watch this film for Daniel Day Lewis's incredible performance as the terrifying main character if nothing else - as a study in human disintegration he is mesmerizing. Paul Dano is good to but Lewis defines the movie. It's strengths are many - beautifully shot and a convincing picture of the driven men behind the early roots of the oil business in America it offers a critique of Capitalism and how the single minded pursuit of money impoverishes the soul. Its weakness lies in self indulgent editing - could have been better if it had been shorter - and a lack of credibility about the characters motivations - what are the roots of his total isolation and inability to love - at one point he talks of how he hates people - this certainly helps him in his climb to financial success but its origins are not explored or hinted at so the film becomes a almost as one dimensional as its protagonist. Brilliant though.

I bought this dvd like 10 years ago, and I did not watch it completely.The reason was that I found it too long, two and half hours, with not much interesting scenes and dialogues.But somehow, Daniel character clung on my head.And in recent years my interest in Psychology grow huge.Then I wanted to re-watch it.And that was a perfect judgement.The reason for that is that Daniel character represents the modern personality sickness in a so subtle form.- He wants to be rich more than anyone around him, and he does not want to deal with anybody.- He does not give a damn about people. They are just tools, means for him to reach his own goals.- He hates everyone.- He is angry inside.- He is envious inside.- He believes everyone can be manipulated.- He does not have a faith, but he can be Christian, can be Muslim, or a Jew at a finger snap, no problem.- Same goes in politics, he can be leftist, rightist, feminist, environmentalist, communist, BLMist, racist.. you name it..Bottom line is that whatever he choose to be should be serving his grandiosity among others.- But in the mean time he wants to love people, and to be loved. Deep inside he is empty, longing for all those feelings.He wants to fill his emptiness with a normal human being, but that is something he can not do it.That is not his nature, so he is in a continues suffering state.Another great sphere of the movie is that you hardly notice these personality traits on Daniel for the first half of the movie.And this is exactly about these psychos in reality; deception.In the first half of the movie, Daniel appears like a poor countryman man striving to be a self made millionaire.But his dialogues, his facial gestures, his body language are so subtle in presenting the modern psychopath I described above.Daniel starts his own oil drilling adventures in late 19th century in New Mexico.One of his workers dies in an accident. And he adapts his son, H. W.Daniel is also single.Viewer feels the oddness of this adaptation because Daniel is not type of man who has empathy, care for anyone.I think this is one of the best part of the story, because viewer is always kept in a suspicion on true character of Daniel.And answer to this adaptation comes at the end of the movie, may be in the best scene, and dialogue of the movie.It is the best articulation of the Daniel's psychopath.Movie goes on with Daniels rising about his Oil business together H. W. by buying some poor and religious farmers' land in California.Although movie concentrated on Daniel, in my view, it takes a twist after half of it concentrating on preacher of the village church, Eli.Eli is the son of the farmer from whom Daniel bought the land.Eli asks for money for the church, he wants to have a bigger, better church.Though Daniel hates Eli's money ripping of him for Church, he still does all those payments.Even in in his dealings with Christian farmers, he comes to a point he gets baptised and confesses his sins.Deception is his normal part of life.But movie, portrays the Eli no less deceptive and sick than Daniel.This Paradoxical appearance of sick minds of Daniel, and the Preacher is so captivating..It is a social paradox between "good" and "evil".And both are suffering inside themselves, their paradoxical sick personalities.Both characters of Daniel, and Eli dominates the movie.Daniel Day-Lewis, and Paul Dano casting these characters are magnificent.

"I have a competition in me."Gripping from start to finish.I purchased this DVD having first watched the movie at the cinema a few years ago.There Will Be Blood is an incredibly compelling character drama.The film is loosely based on the Upton Sinclair novel Oil!, the story follows an oil prospector named Daniel Plainview who attempts to buy up a small California town and build a pipeline to the coast.Daniel Day-Lewis gives an amazingly captivating performance that makes the film.

I'm 60. I've watched a lot of films. This is the first one I just couldn't endure because of its music. It grated so badly, and seemed so often at odds with the narrative I actually looked it up afterwards. I am told it is remarkable and some kind of musical landmark. As music it may well be. But in this film it's as pleasing as a brillo pad in soup.

Ever since I read Lonesome Dove by Larry Mc Murtry, I have loved books and films about America's history, especially history of those wide open spaces as opposed to those of the cities. There Will Be B!old was no exception. The characters came to life and setting was as harsh and unforgiving as I imagine real life was - right up my street!

Towering performances by Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano. Especially from Lewis who seems to relish every word of a fine script. He wastes not a word or a movement and is one of those great actors who can say something without uttering a single word. Loved the soundtrack. Loved the cinematography. One for my top 50 great movies

Daniel-D-L as always is terrific , without giving the plot away, suffice it to say it's a rollercoaster of unpleasant happenings interjected with bits of pleasantness. Left me feeling a bit down, as the brutality of the time wears on the sole a bit as you watch things unfold. Watch for the line "Well you would be my competitor then", & other nastiness ...

The bees knees, that’s what it is. I watched this with a lot of apprehension as I don’t like to go by critical opinion.I can’t stop coming back to this film, it truly is captivating. Every time I watch it I am thoroughly entertained, it’s potentially a perfect film. It looks how it feels, something is brewing throughout and how PTA manifests this within the film is amazing.I would recommend this film highly.