Fantastic Moral Drama

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 2009)

This is my first Paul Thomas Anderson film that I have seen, but I am aware that he is a critically acclaimed director. After see There Will Be Blood I see why he is the darling of the Art-House scene.
The film is loosely based on the Upton Sinclair novel Oil. The film focuses on Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis). He is a silver miner in 1898 who finds land that has gold and silver. He buys the claims and discovers oil. He quickly moves into the oil drilling business and becomes successful, and goes around California buying oil claims. One day a worker dies and Daniel takes care of the child, raising him as his own. One day a young man Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) tells Daniel of a possible claim in a town called Little Boston. Little Boston is poor community in a dry landscape. Daniel buys the land for a cheap price, and a part of the deal is he gives $5,000 to Eli Sunday (Paul Dano, again) for his church. Daniel offers to invest in the community and build up the church, a school and farming. However, Daniel and Eli come into conflict. Eli offers to give the derrick a blessing. Daniel seems to agree, but snubs Eli in public, blessing the well himself. After that event one of Daniel workers die in an accident. Daniel goes to Eli's church for the funeral arrangements and discovers he is a faith healer. Eli blames Daniel for the accident because Eli didn't get to do the blessing. Another accident happens at the derrick and Daniel's son H.W. (Dillon Freasier) becomes deaf. Eli is unable to heal the child and he picks the worst time to ask for his money. Daniel struggles to deal with H.W.'s new disability. He ends up sending his son to San Francisco by himself. Daniel focuses all his efforts on his business, trying to make as much money as possible and signing a lucrative deal with Union Oil to make a pipeline to the ocean. As well both Daniel and Eli try to humiliate each other and brings the other one down.
The main theme of the film is the corrupting effects, and Daniel looses all his sense of morality and would destroy anyone who gets in his way. Other elements of the story is the efforts of religion as a uniting force and the father/son relationship. There Will Be Blood also similar to a western, there American spirit to look for land and wealth, but takes it from an new angle. It could be possible also to think of the film as a criticism of the oil industry and American government, only showing interest in areas and communities if the offer something in return. They is also the willingness of businessmen to bride local communities to get their own way and make sure they give people the worst possible deal.
They is a strong script. Paul Thomas Anderson is a skilled director, showing some look shots of the harsh area, but makes you feel a part of the action with little tricks like the splash of oil on the camera. He tackled the issues really well and you care for the character, especially unlikeable characters. PTA also gets the details of period just right. I will be looking out for more PTA films. The acting is excellent. Paul Dano was good as Eli who played him as a zeal but very weak character. Daniel Day Lewis deserved his Oscar and he played his role with real relish. You could actually be interested in him and what he does.
There Will Be Blood reminded me of the HBO programme Deadwood, especially because Daniel Plainview seemed like Al Swearengen if Swearengen was a legitimate businessman. The other element being that both There Will Be Blood and Deadwood are historical drama and revisionist westerns. There Will Be Blood also reminded me of Citizen Kane because they look at a similar theme, the moral destruction of the character.
There Will Be Blood is a fantastic film.