Daniel Day-Lewis shines in an otherwise unexceptional period drama

Rating: 6/10 (25 July 2014)

It is mainly the ferocious and commanding performance of Daniel Day-Lewis that gives value to a film where themes of family, religion and greed intertwine in portraying the merciless nature of the turn of the century oil business. There Will Be Blood proves to be a fairly intriguing film and one that explores very complex ideas, with Day-Lewis's despicable and malicious character personifying the principle of the story, as he is propelled by an untamable and maddening thirst for wealth. However, despite having a very solid and captivating opening phase, the film then loses its strong momentum and later begins to feel rather empty and flat, with only Day-Lewis's impressive acting skills ultimately capturing one's attention and carrying the story forward. Although it cannot be argued that the cinematic visuals presented by director Paul Thomas Anderson are striking and that the film's soundtrack proves powerful, the narrative of There Will Be Blood seems fractured and is unimpressive, resulting in a film which is worth viewing for Daniel Day-Lewis's towering performance, but sadly not much else.