If excellent performances drive you nuts, I advice you to watch this right away

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2017)

Reviewed October 2011
Had put this off for a while now, and the wait was totally worth it. It's plot and screenplay were adjusted to comfortably pave way for the one man show and he didn't disappoint at all.
It's story follows the overly rated concept of American dream and one man dead set to achieve it no matter what. Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) hits an oil well independently with his expertise on engineering and determination which rouses the entrepreneur in him. During this encounter, one of his partner falls to death leaving behind his infant son who later goes under the care of Daniel who raises him as his own. He starts acquiring, collaborating or forcibly taking off oil wells across the area with his influence and wealth and so does his name starts getting a reputation. Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) approaches Daniel with information of an undiscovered oil well near his place for a little monetary price. Daniel goes to explore this place along with his son where he encounters Eli Sunday (also played by Paul Dano) who is a local preacher/healer. From here, it is just a step above ploys by both to take control of the people of the area.
Daniel Day-Lewis gives a chilling performance of a man obsessed with power and ego. This can well be expected of him. What comes as a surprise package is the performance of Paul Dano as the preacher with equal amount of ego as Daniel but always waiting for an opportunity to bring it out. Apart from the performances, I found nothing amusing in the movie as the plot and screenplay were pretty standard.
If excellent performances drive you nuts, I advice you to watch this right away.