"THERE WILL BE BLOOD" (2007) Full Review

Hello, all! In writing for the first time in six days, I owe you all an explanation for my reckless absence.

Eh. Okay. Well, it's been a crazy week of finals and final papers at Marquette University up in Milwaukee for the majority of students here, and my personal academic life is certainly no exception. IN addition to all of the finals mayhem, I am preparing for a scholarship audition I have this upcoming January for the Kennedy Center (The national government's Performing Arts nucleus) in Washington, D.C. SO, all in all, it's been a busy time, but here I am, e-groveling before you, e-begging for forgiveness and full, unwavering attention to the upcoming girth of the blog: my full 'review' of "THERE WILL BE BLOOD" (2007).

Now, as I have mentioned in the most recent blogs I have posted, this comes as a portion of an English project I and others in my "Advanced Composition" class were tasked with completing. In essence, the project was to be a lengthy writing assignment, and the class was given independence in choosing topics. My choice, though not crystal clear to begin, became clearer as I spent more time thinking. A hobby growing up was, yes, watching film and television. I was overweight, but more than made up for this "deficiency" (depending on who it is you talk to!) by reciting every movie I was excited about to my friends and others who I came in contact with. The first film I remember truly being excited for and buying tickets months in advance for was "THE DARK KNIGHT" (2008), when I was entering my junior year of high school. Besides this, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" has been my default favorite television show since my sixth grade English class, when I was introduced to the "SuperFans" sketch with Chris Farley, Mike Myers, George Wendt, and, least of all, Michael Jordan. I instantly fell in love, and it is because of these aforementioned celluloid/tubular works of art that I have decided to pursue what I have and that I have chosen to develop the talents that I have.

With all of this being said, my topic became film, and as Roger Ebert (the famed American movie critic for over 50 years) is another professional in his perspective field that inspires me, I chose film reviews/character analyses of two performers I find most inspiring and muse-like: Peter Sellers (SEE blog posts from late November, 2012) and Daniel Day-Lewis (SEE blog post on December 4, 2012). WITH that, there's context. Now, onto "THERE WILL BE BLOOD." [SEE TRAILER DIRECTLY BELOW!]

"There Will Be Blood" (2007) Full Review
Director Paul Thomas Anderson found fame with sprawling, non-traditional, contemporary American epics such as "MAGNOLIA" (1999) and "BOOGIE NIGHTS" (1997), the latter of which he was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay. This was his second ever feature film. And, much like Daniel Day-Lewis, when Paul Thomas Anderson movies are slated for release, waves of anticipation follow, as his intermittent film making and utter commitment to each as unique pieces of art is second-to-none. This is why the marriage between Day-Lewis and Anderson was poetic: each has a unique vision for work they do, and if each does not feel 115% that a unique and artistic contribution can be made to the particular film, more often than not, the film is inherently hindered by each man's absence.

Well, luckily for the greater population of movie-goers, this was most definitely NOT the case in "THERE WILL BE BLOOD" (2007). Daniel Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, an early capitalist in late-19th century America in the sprawling, rich, and largely "un-tapped" Texas oil fields.

The film's screenplay and plot found basis in the epic-novel "Oil!" by Upton Sinclair, with much creative liberty taken by Anderson. I found this to be helpful to the overall plot of the film, but a wise choice by Anderson to give credit to a book that is world-renown for both brutal imagery and poetically convenient timing (the book was published a mere two years before the stock market crash of 1929).

Paul Thomas Anderson's take on this sprawling tale of deceit, treachery, and desire to thrive with any means necessary is brilliant for a few different reasons. First, and most important of all, the conflict between characters feels real. The principle antagonist, in a film filled with them, is Eli Sunday - played brilliantly and despicably by Paul Dano. He and Daniel Plainview have a hunter/hunted relationship. Eli is the "prophet" in the oil colony, and tediously throughout the film gains followers with an artificial charisma and demagoguery worthy of Joseph McCarthy. His "moral" principles largely conflict with Daniel's way of life, and there the conflict is born, with Eli using this as blackmail to gain monetarily by wishing to "partner" with Daniel. The conflict is cerebral and, because of Daniel's daunting reputation to competitors and buyers alike as a self-made oil genius, the only palpable one in the film. With this being said, however, the magnitude and stakes of this conflict exist at such a daunting magnitude that no other principle conflicts need exist (though many minor, "sub-plot"-like conflicts do, in fact, exist).

Daniel Day-Lewis doused in oil as "Daniel Plainview" in "There Will Be Blood"

The acting by all involved is the second principle reason for why this film is the masterpiece it is. Paul Dano, as mentioned previously, actually plays two characters: the twin brothers Eli and Paul. Paul is the brother who travels to tell Daniel of fruitful oil-grounds near to his home (and, because of this, another smaller, fraternal conflict is born more subtly between Paul & Eli). Dano plays Eli predominantly throughout the movie, and with a conviction similar to the portrayal of the evil emperor Commodus by Joaquin Phoenix in "GLADIATOR" (2000). He is truly cunning, and finds the line to straddle between fake and real charisma with seeming ease.

And then, there is Daniel Day-Lewis.

Paul Dano giving a sermon as Eli Sunday in "There Will Be Blood"

Daniel Day-Lewis is breathtakingly cold, and he plays Daniel Plainview with his characteristic conviction. His treachery & malicious disposition here are similar to Bill "The Butcher" in "GANGS OF NEW YORK" (2003), while remaining unique, and his sociopath-like behavior is again unparalleled. All of what I just said are fair descriptors for his character, and he is the "protagonist" of the film - or, more appropriately: the anti-hero. We somehow find ourselves rooting adamantly for him distinctly in two ways - there are points when we want him to succeed, and others when we desperately wish he would just fail, turn pale, and go to jail. ("Dr. Seuss Reviews 'THERE WILL BE BLOOD'!") His principle motivation is not only greed, however. His unconditional caring and love for his son is what redeems him, and this is one emotional character trait we - the audience - are allowed access to. And, as was the case with Paul Dano, Day-Lewis straddles an emotional line - one between being emotionally vacant and emotionally rich. He does this masterfully, and one is left to wonder: is he a sociopath who has learned to disregard others' feelings in order to prosper individually? Or does his character find enough redeeming quality in the love of his son to suggest there are emotional strings underneath the rough exterior? It is up to YOU!

The cinematography and score were integral to the progression of the plot, as well, as both lended an eerie, macabre sense of being in the barren Texas oil fields. In all, though, it was Paul Thomas Anderson's ability to direct this epic in his usual artistically-rich fashion that encompassed all of these other elements.

In all, I loved the film - as was hopefully abundantly clear as you read the "girth" of the post! It's a definite must-see for those who love the work of Paul Thomas Anderson and/or Daniel Day-Lewis.

A+, and four stars - much like the readers of "BirdieNumNuMilkshake" (IS that catchy enough to catch on?) - you guys!


What Comes Next?
I will tell you, humble audience! The next endeavor for "BirdieNumNuMilkshake" is to delve deeper into the career of Daniel Day-Lewis via brief "character analyses" of two of his more famous characters: Daniel Plainview from "There Will Be Blood" & Abraham Lincoln from "LINCOLN (2012). As always, despite what you might think, I do welcome comments down below!

Thank you again guys, as always, for reading, and I look forward to posting (hopefully) tomorrow on the two chosen characters.

And, Twitter: Chris_0Reilly

--Chris