Oscars 2

THERE WILL BE BLOOD

25-02-2008

Daniel Day-Lewis picked up the Best Actor gong at the Oscars for his performance in “There Will be Blood” and the same film also won the Cinematography award. Dr David Nicholl checks out whether it hangs together as a movie.

“There Will Be Blood” is truly epic, and deserving of its critical praise.

The director, Paul Thomas Anderson, has made a remarkably brave film - there is a staggering 11 minutes and 33 seconds until the first line of dialogue, yet the tension is immense from the start, due to a combination of the music, the harsh landscape and the events in the mine shaft (which I won’t spoil for you!).

The film is a portrait of obsession - of the obsession of one man, Daniel Plainview, in his pursuit of his own greed. Plainview, like Dr Faustus, will not let anyone or anything get in his way in his pursuit of oil and wealth.

The film is also a tale of an actor’s obsession. Daniel Day-Lewis took a year to prepare for the role.

Upton Sinclair’s book ‘Oil’ provides the inspiration for the movie and marks out the development of the Californian goldrush at the start of the 20th century.

This is not a lightweight entertaining story, but one that enthralls by looking at the dark side of human nature, Plainview is a man who will stop at nothing to get his goal of absolute control of all those around him.

Day-Lewis’ performance is awesome and he dominates the film, but the performances of the supporting cast are worthy of note - Paul Dano who plays the evangelical preacher, Eli Sunday, who acts as the spiritual counterpoint to Plainview’s uber-capitalist, is breathtaking as the minister determined to put some fire and brimstone down the mine.

Dillon Freasier, the 10 year old unknown, who plays Plainview’s adopted son has a haunting expression which complements his domineering father.

The tension builds throughout the film, and I found myself asking how it would end, as Plainview stooped to yet further depths to expand his empire. There was no doubt there would be blood, the only question was whose blood was going to spill in the climax.

A cracking tale.

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