Superbly-acted American epic

Rating: 9/10 (10 September 2013)

There aren't many films I consider as American epics. There are several Westerns and a few others that are uniquely American but they are rare. This is one such rare film.
There Will be Blood is an epic that spans the life of an oil driller from the early 1900's. The plot is a bit predictable and there is very little dialogue so this film appears to move slowly, yet keeps the viewer interested.
Superbly-acted, the characters are very realistic and recount the struggles faced by pioneers of that era. I can't recall too many other films where I felt empathy for a one with questionable ethics.
As some have suggested, the film is depiction of "true" capitalism, that built America over the last few centuries, with its inherent requirement of hard work ethic, ruthless pursuit of profit, and, at times, setting aside family values.
If you like art films and are interested in Americana, this is a film worth checking out.