There Will Be Blood ****
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier, Ciarán Hinds, Kevin J. O'Connor
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Running Length: 2:38
MPAA Classification: R

In 1898, Daniel Plainview (Lewis) is digging in the ground, searching for a gold. Instead, he finds oil. Years later, he has a team working for him to pump the oil. When one of that team is killed in an accident, Daniel takes the man’s son as his own. By 1912, Daniel is a well-known oil man. He follows up a lead in California, only to find himself at odds with the evangelist preacher Eli Sunday (Dano). Sunday wants $10,000 for the church before he sells the land. After a contract is signed, Daniel reneges on the deal, and the church is left without the money. An enemy is formed. As Daniel continues his rise in the oil industry, the more corrupt he becomes.

“There Will Be Blood” is a fascinating character study. Daniel is many things: friendly, ruthless, kind, violent, manipulative, and charismatic. He knows how to get what he wants, and rises from nothing into a wealthy businessman. Daniel Day Lewis is excellent in this part and is the film’s biggest selling point. He makes a long movie pass quickly. The film itself is fascinating, showing the rise and fall of an oil tycoon. The ending may turn some off, but I find it appropriate given what has gone before it. I highly recomment “There Will Be Blood”. It is easy to see why this is an Oscar favorite.