Packs a punch, but not much more.

Rating: 5/10 (17 August 2008)

There Will Be Blood is undeniably a fascinating film, but while it entices the palate with a barrage of unexpected flavors, it offers little in the way of fulfilling sustenance.
Jonny Greenwood deserves a lot of the credit for making this film as gripping as it is--his score provides a menacing, off-kilter tone for much of the film. As much of the credit belongs to Day-Lewis, however, who keeps us on edge with a fury barely contained by his well-spoken demeanor.
Where the film falls flat is in both characterization and ill-wrought social commentary. While Day-Lewis' Plainview character remains interesting throughout the film, he is never likable and rarely sympathetic. The couple of somewhat sympathetic characters get a small share of the screen time.
The problem is not that the main character is also the villain of the piece. Most recently, The Dark Knight has demonstrated that this can work very well indeed. The problem is that the only characters attempting to fight Plainview's sick ambition are just as evil or misguided as he is.
The worst thing I can say about There Will Be Blood, though, is that it professes to treat with both capitalism and religion, and does neither with anything approaching a careful hand, much less an even one.
Director Paul Anderson can't seem to decide whether the religious are insane or phony, but he seems certain that they are one of the two. It's a broad brush that attempts no understanding and falls totally flat.
Capitalism, on the other hand, is only touched upon; It is not demonized as horribly as religion is, but neither is it discussed in any meaningful way. Anderson seems to want to say something about it, but there is little insight to be found here.
The world of There Will Be Blood is populated by despicable people, and I could never bring myself to care about their goals or desires. I kept watching, because the story was presented in an edgy, different way, but I was never rewarded for my commitment.
There Will Be Blood is an ambitious movie that professes to greatness but achieves only edginess. It is ultimately an empty, unsatisfying experience that leaves you wanting something more--something the film never provides.