Horrifying, hilarious, brutal and beautiful- a masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2008)

There Will Be Blood is an absurdist black comedy from Hell. It's a deranged, unhinged masterpiece the likes of which we've never, ever witnessed before. Forget all the Kubrick comparisons- the only thing Kubrickian is the score, and even that is only because of the obvious Penderecki comparisons. Kubrick never got this close, this dirty. Paul Thomas Anderson does not separate himself from these characters; he became these characters in writing it, namely Daniel Plainview, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in what has very quickly become my favorite screen performance of all time. This is Robert De Niro in Raging Bull quality we're talking about, and personally, I think he one ups De Niro with this film. I know, I know, heresy...but that's how much I responded to his performance. It seems that Anderson somehow found a "brother...from another mother.." in DDL, judging by recent appearances where they all but cuddle in front of the interviewer, and together they have crafted one of the most indelible screen characters of recent years. Daniel Plainview is a monster, no buts about it, but he's a recognizable monster. He's not some abstraction. In Plainview, we can see ourselves, and it frightens us, and that's part of this films brilliance. Plainview acts out upon feelings that we don't even like to admit that we are capable of. He's malicious and deviant, and yet charming and likable. It's scary stuff, and DDL's performance will be studied for years to come for the sheer dedication he gives to the characterization. Forgive me if my thoughts seem rambling, I've seen the film three times now and I'm still trying to process it. It's such an experience. I can't even begin to go on about Paul Dano as the equally despicable Eli Sunday. I'd love to talk about the scenes that play out like high comedy ran through oil and grit. There's a baptism scene that could have come out of a brilliant comedy, and many scenes go into bizarre, unexpected territory that you wouldn't see coming in a million years (an uncomfortably funny encounter in a restaurant comes to mind) The film is at moments heart-wrenching, horrifying, hilarious, brutal, poetic, over the top and brilliantly mad. PTA isn't afraid to let the audience decide how to feel; he's not going to hold your hand, and I think that's the problem a lot of people have with the ending. It's definitely the litmus test for the film- if you dislike the ending, then you obviously haven't been paying attention to the character of Daniel Plainview. If you enjoy the ending, then clearly you've followed the entire ride. My advice to people that hate the ending is the same thing I'd say to the people who hate No Country for Old Men's ending- watch it again, think about the ending throughout the entire film. It's the ONLY way the film can end. I think Roger Ebert put it best in his review "Only madness can supply a termination for this story." So, with that, I end my random, barely coherent thoughts on the one true masterpiece of 2007, and really of the last decade. It's already in my top 5 EVER, and you should take my word seriously...because I'm a genius. This is most DEFINITELY not a film for everyone- most I've talked to have either loved it or despised it with a fiery passion equally, and it's most certainly a one of a kind experience, but if you are willing, then you most certainly won't be disappointed. I'm finished.