Oil.Obsession.Power.Cruetly.Daniel Day-Lewis...Brilliant !!!

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2008)

Every rage inside should be released before it gets too unstable to be controlled. This movie is a piece of a one theatrical scene of great values of life and virtues yet not dared to be played. Greed, vengeance, blood, lie, murder, and hate are posted with biblical proportions. This is a "Godfather" comeback in an age of "Bullet time" cinematography, and it is a very pleasant feeling to see that such movies are made in the days of ours. Set in the early 20th century, the film follows the rise to power of Daniel Plainview, a charismatic and ruthless oil prospector, driven to succeed by his intense hatred of others and psychological need to see any and all competitors fail. When he learns of oil-rich land in California that can be bought cheaply, he moves his operation there and begins manipulating and exploiting the local landowners into selling him their property. Using his young adopted son H.W. to project the image of a caring family man, Plainview gains the cooperation of almost all the locals with lofty promises to build schools and cultivate the land to make their community flourish. Over time, Plainview's gradual accumulation of wealth and power causes his true self to surface, and he begins to slowly alienate himself from everyone in his life.