intriguing dialogue, a carefully-selected cast, a brilliant score, and a dark plot that makes the viewer think.

Rating: 10/10 (6 October 2016)

There Will Be Blood Film Review
In There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson showcases his skills as a director and screenplay writer in this twisted tale of a man's ultimate downfall. The film is critically acclaimed and finished second for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2008, only behind No Country for Old Men, respectively. Anderson is able to display his talent through intriguing dialogue, a carefully-selected cast, a brilliant score, and a dark plot that makes the viewer think.
The film takes place mostly in Southern California beginning in the late 1800's but eventually goes well into the early 20th century. A young silver miner named Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day- Lewis) strikes oil while hunting for silver in New Mexico. While raising his son, H.W. (Dillon Freasier), Plainview becomes rich and is considered "the oil man" throughout California. One night, a young man finds Daniel and informs him of land bountiful with oil near the town of Little Boston. Daniel hurries to the small town with his son in search of the sought-after land. When he strikes oil there, Daniel becomes even wealthier and his "family business" thrives. However, as Daniel's wealth soars, his life begins to change for the worst and he spirals down until he becomes the corrupted, hateful man he is by the end of the film.
While making the film, Anderson had to be careful when it came to choosing who would play Daniel Plainview and Eli Sunday, the two main characters, but he makes a seemingly flawless decision by selecting Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. Day-Lewis returns the favor by giving one of the best performances of the 2000's and creating a character that is not only believable, but also relatable to the audience. He brings intensity and passion to an opening twenty minutes of no dialogue that otherwise, would not be nearly as interesting. Audiences see the evolution of Plainview from beginning to end due to Day- Lewis simply owning his role throughout the film's entirety. Anderson is considered as above most screenplay writers and directors when it comes to delivering a solid script and it is easy to see why in the film. By avoiding dialogue in the first twenty minutes, the viewer is able to immediately connect with Plainview's physically grueling lifestyle. This is a bold move by Anderson but it ends up paying off in a big way. Throughout the rest of There Will Be Blood, the characters' dialogue is provoking and helps drive the plot by creating conflict between Plainview and the people involved in his life. To make the film more intense, a score, by Jonny Greenwood, and several cues are used to create a sense of heavy tension between Daniel and life itself while also providing foreshadowing. Some critics consider music to be a tool that can be used correctly or incorrectly in film. It can make a movie boom or bust. Greenwood's score is key to the success of the film and its strong influence on viewers. Anderson also touches on several key themes in the movie that almost everyone can identify with in one way or another. Audiences are able to see the struggle for power and wealth and what its consequences can be. Religion and its positive or negative influence on a man's life is also prevalent in both Daniel and Eli. Both men fight one another to become "God" in their own sense. Anderson's dark tale of a man's downfall reigns in critical acclaim and for good reason. The film is strong in many categories. However, one issue that was made apparent was the pacing. At times, certain scenes felt drawn out and overdone. One scene, in particular, where Daniel and his "brother" are in a bar late at night, offers little to drive the plot and could arguably be removed from the film. This and other small instances could lead to some audience members becoming bored or disinterested especially considering the fairly long length of the film itself. Nonetheless, this small issue certainly does not outweigh the many positives the movie offers from a filmmaking standpoint. Paul Thomas Anderson's film is certainly not for everyone. The film has limited action sequences while also containing dialogue that actually makes viewers think. Many will certainly not like the cold, abrupt ending. However, by looking at the movie critically, one can see the many strengths the movie contains from both a filmmaking standpoint and as a lesson on life. People that can catch on to key themes and also enjoy tragedies or quests will love this movie. There Will Be Blood is a hit and is worthy of a 9 out of 10 rating.