Very Montrous Daniel Day Lewis

Rating: 7/10 (13 December 2007)

I just saw an advanced screening in Santa Monica. PT Anderson shows quite driven Lewis digging for gold. Years show 1896, 1903, 1911 and 1927. Day Lewis got richer next passing decade and he wasn't very nice getting there.
He works the work. He gets just as dirty as anyone else. Upton Sinclair was a socialist and though I haven't read his novel Oil I could feel his way of saying and seeing things throughout this picture.
It's almost a black and white movie. Black oil is definitely the color of the faces, the clothes and the demeanor of Lewis. We witness him commit murder. One who lied about being his brother and was willing to just walk away and disappear falls on deaf ears.
During one accidental explosion, Lewis's son goes deaf, never to fully regain it again. He beats up the minister of the Church of the Third Transfiguration for not being able to heal his son. He can hear but refuses to hear pleas from anybody.
Meanwhile he threatens, he cheats and he kills again and just gets away with it. This is worthy of Nicholson, Pacino or De Niro who have played quite demonic characters in their careers.
Anti-religion movie? It most certainly is and showing an oil man getting away with just about anything makes it a political one as well. Afterall, showing stories of the past is a great way to compare to the present and many other film makers have done this to make their points.
Tensions stays throughout. PT Anderson has made the darkest movie in his career.