Fantastic Adaptation

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2007)

There Will Be Blood is a masterful adaptation of Upton Sinclair's 1926 novel, Oil!.
The film was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, of Magnolia and Boogie Nights. Through actor Daniel Day-Lewis's spot-on representation of the ambitious oil tycoon created by Sinclair, one grows a respect for Daniel Plainview's enterprise, but the corruptive power of oil deteriorates the man's nobility, and along with it one's admiration for him.
Witnessing blow by blow the destruction of Plainview's good intentions is contrasted by an off-kilter score composed by Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood. From the opening scene, harsh, droning violins seem to foreshadow the troubles to come. As an unfortunate result of every business success, Daniel's personal problems multiply.
When Daniel and his son, H.W., move to the barren town of Little Boston to exploit a sea of oil beneath it, he becomes acquainted with Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a religious zealot who runs a popular church in town. Eli's presence is continually problematic for Daniel, as they are both overly ambitious in their own pursuits.
As business continues to grow, Daniel becomes increasingly angry and withdrawn from the few close to him. In an emotionally climactic final scene, There Will Be Blood encapsulates the humanity of greed, and the corruption of power.
In a land where the success of a movie is judged by how many times Adam Sandler can bring down the house by talking like a developmentally disabled 4-year-old, and accidentally sleeping with his grandmother, pet, boss, or self, There Will Be Blood will score no points. This is because There Will Be Blood is actually a phenomenally entertaining and intelligent film, showcasing two of the year's best acting performances. (Day-Lewis and Dano) If one thing is certain, it is that There Will Be Blood will be well noticed by people who actually appreciate good movies. So, when the Oscar goes to Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor, four people will know what movie host Jon Stewart is referring to. The rest of the award shows viewers will be left scratching their heads, asking themselves, There Will Be Blood? Is that the movie about the vampires in Alaska?