Brilliant Character Study - Who is the most fanatical?

Rating: 10/10 (18 February 2008)

**May contain spoilers**
This is a brilliant Character Study. I have read many comments that Daniel Plainview has no redeeming qualities but I disagree. I think there is a little of Daniel Plainview in all of us, I see some of him in me. He obviously loves his Son. In the scene where they are reunited when laying the pipeline this is clear. He is dammed for sending his son away to school but if he had not done this his son would not have learnt sign language the way he did so in hindsight this was also an act of love. Yet at the end when he tells his son of his real past he seems to hate his son, but again have we not sometimes hated the ones we love and in moments of real unhappiness said things deliberately to hurt them? No I think the study of Plainview could be a study of any ambitious and successful man who dedicates himself to his profession.
The real evil in this film, like the real evil in the world today is the religious fanaticism of Eliah and his church of the 3rd revelation.
I would much rather spend an evening out with Daniel than Eliah, wouldn't you? I think at the end Daniel does just not care any more, again like any ruthless business man he has all his riches but no one to share them with.
This is a brilliant piece of Acting by Daniel-Day Lewis, watch out for just the way he uses his eyes to express his feelings. I would highly recommend this film.