THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds, Kevin J. O'Connor, Dillon Freasier

Year: 2007

Rating: R

Daniel Day-Lewis' well-deserved Oscar for this portrait of one of the most evil, soulless of men to ever grace a movie screen is what makes the film There Will Be Blood the incredible achievement it is. Here he plays Daniel Plainview, a turn-of-the-century oil driller who travels around with his young son (Dillon Freasier) and basically makes his fortune (and reputation) ripping off other people, even as he only makes himself richer. Early on in the film, after he's already become a success, Daniel is approached by a young man named Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) who, for a hefty fee, informs Daniel of some land in Texas where he is positive there is oil. Paul's family's goat farm sits on that land, and Paul is sure Daniel can snap up the property and begin drilling. At first disbelieving the young man, Daniel eventually pays him - only to let him know that if he's lying, Daniel will find him and make him pay back more than the money - and then Daniel and his son, H.W., set off to find out if the claims are true.

They are, and even a disaster explosion and the ruination of one of his wells doesn't stop Daniel from becoming rich. If he has to use the local townspeople to do it, all the better, but it soon becomes apparent that Paul's twin brother Eli (also played by Paul Dano) is going to be a problem. He's a young preacher at the new Church of the Third Revelation, and has swapped his family's land in exchange for a $5,000 donation to the church; money Eli never sees, even as he tries hard to get the local people to see just what a monster Daniel Plainview really is.

The absolutely brilliant thing about this film - which, at 2 hours and 38 minutes, never EVER lags or becomes dull to watch - is Daniel Day-Lewis' creation of an utter villain who hasn't a shred of humanity or caring for his fellow man. It's an amazing achievement that Day-Lewis can be so completely convincing as such a monster, yet at the same time make you as the viewer not so much as sympathize with Daniel Plainview (although in a storyline related to his brother Henry, you do) ... as become fascinated at just watching what he's going to do next. It's an all-consuming, mind-blowing performance, and further proof of the actor's immense talent. I've been a huge fan of Day-Lewis for over twenty years, since My Beautiful Laundrette, and as perfect as he was in that film his craft as an actor has only grown to some pretty off-the-charts size; you need no further proof of it than this film.

Now granted, this isn't an uplifting, perky movie that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. On the other hand, it didn't leave me repulsed or angry, either. And the film does just sort of ... end, with little warning, with a truly violent act that proves just how over the edge Daniel Plainview's mind has indeed gone. But what I did feel, after watching There Will Be Blood, was an overwhelming sense of fascination with the character of Daniel Plainview. He's brutal, vicious, and without remorse. And you can't take your eyes off of him. ****1/2 - Reel Awesome-Reel Must-See