There is a lot of
drama to be pumped out of the oil rush, pardon the pun, but add in the
direction of P.T Anderson and the usual method performance of Daniel Day-Lewis
and you’ve got yourself a winner. There
Will Be Blood (2007) is somewhat of an odd beast, with razor sharp music by
Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead, scenery chewing performances, and themes about
greed and religion. On paper the story and historical setting might seem a tad
dull for some people, but the end result is surprisingly entertaining in large
part thanks to Anderson’s screenplay that provides one of the best quotes of
the last ten years: “I drink your milkshake!”
This was actually
one of my first Daniel Day-Lewis movies, despite the fact he has delivered
plenty of award-winning performances throughout his career. Upon hearing one of
his many great monologues in the trailer I was immediately hooked. Who was this
guy and how was he speaking like that? He came off part psychopath, part
businessman. How odd how that these two characteristics can sometimes overlap.
The movie came out late in 2007 when I was studying at the University of
Sherbrooke and I remember other students complaining the title was misleading
since there actually isn’t that much blood spilled. True, but that is a literal
approach to the title. I believe the meaning is, there will be violence and
madness all because of greed. In other words, business as usual with
capitalism.
Initially
Day-Lewis’ character, Daniel Plainview, seems to be a decent enough person.
After a fellow worker dies in an oil well in 1902 California he adopts the
man’s son, H.W, and introduces him as his partner in business meetings. With
his actual grown-up partner Fletcher (Ciaran Hinds) Daniel does well for
himself amid the oil boom, but then gets enticed to take his business to the
next level when Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) tells him of a potentially large oil
deposit below his family’s farm in Little Boston. Before leaving Paul asks
Daniel if he is religious, since this will be important when dealing with his
twin brother Eli (also Dano) the local pastor.
It turns out Eli
is not only religious, but just as savvy as Daniel when it comes to money. When
he discovers there is indeed a fortune in oil beneath the ground on the Sunday
property Daniel tries to buy it cheap, but Eli asks for more money, which he
says is for his church. Thus the first shot is fired in the war between the oilman
and the churchman, each vying for as much power and money as they can get once
Little Boston begins to expand thanks to the oil industry. More oil means more
money, more money means more employees, which means more buildings.
It also means
more risks, leading to a spectacular accident as an oil well erupts and is
caught on fire, creating what looks like a mini-volcano on the California
plains. The accident renders H.W permanently deaf, but Daniel seems more preoccupied
with the ocean of oil he has uncovered. The richer he becomes, the more
unhinged and violent he becomes, to the point he threatens to slash the throat
of a competitor when he questions his parenting skills.
While Daniel’s
power resides in the money he accumulates, Eli’s resides in the religion he
uses to sway people his way. During one of his sermons he says he is physically
grabbing the devil and throwing it right out the door, wildly gesticulating as
though he was in direct contact with the almighty. Yet Daniel sees right
through him and after the sermon tells him “that was one hell of a show.” A
show indeed. Given both these characters are hypocrites, Daniel for claiming to
be a family man, and Eli for claiming to be a man of God; you cannot root for
either of them. However given the choice, I am going to root for the oilman to
kick the false prophet’s ass to the ground.
The movie’s final
ten minutes almost feel like a mini-movie as Daniel and Eli have their final
confrontation in Daniel’s huge mansion bought by his ever growing fortune. It
is then that both actors give it everything they’ve got, with Day-Lewis
starting off slow and defeated, but then finding new energy and delivering that
great milkshake line. It is tough to be as good as Day-Lewis, but the younger Dano
does his best to keep up. It may not be a bloody fight as the title seemingly advertised,
but damn is it ever entertaining.
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