An overview of the movie ‘There Will Be Blood’

There Will Be blood is compelling symphony of evilness in US talking about people bloodily fight for oil, fame and money. Source: Pixabay. under Creative Commons.

There Will Blood (2007)

Genre: Drama

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds

In search for the black gold in the land of opportunities … US the paradise of ambitious souls yearning for oceans of wealth, unlimited success, immense fame, incalculable properties…where the spirits of human can turn into an insatiable demon craving for assets infinitely. Nevertheless, that is not the whole story. On the other side of coin there are ordinary folks victims of the selfishness of the greediness, losing their lands, family and lives to pave the way for the capitalist entrepreneurs.

Anderson (left) applying the language of cinematography, searches to discover the relations of human selfishness and capitalism in a part of the US history. Source: Paul Thomas Anderson Daniel Day Lewis, by Jürgen Fauth, Flickr user: muckster. Under Creative Commons

There will be blood a fascinating film by Paul Thomas Anderson, masterfully depicts the monstrous innate of capitalism. The dazzling performance of Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview the entrepreneur of oil believably embodies the desire of human to get as much as possible, in the expense of everything possible. So, not only morality and honesty are of absolutely no importance for Plainview in multiplying his oil well and money, but also love and family are just the means to compile benefit as much as possible.

The story takes place in California in the early 1900s. Daniel Plainview a skinny tall outspoken man explores oil in the barren lands owned by a group of poor farmers. To take over bids of these lands from the hands of their devotedly christian possessors, Plainview establishes and fosters an unwritten collaboration with a Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) the frantic priest of the the town to deceive people for selling their properties. Eli hungers after fame and respect in the town and Plainview strongly desires power and money. No astonish that they find each other soon and plot together to further their aims. Here Anderson finely indicates the role puritan church to strength and support the accumulation of capital. The both institutions (capital and religion) interact implicitly and explicitly to boost of one another’s aspirations. The priest often times in the church and among the sermons remarks that the town needs a bigger church and it will come true only if people sell their lands to Plainview for extracting oil. Whilst, Plainview supports preaches of the priest by his rousing promises to build new church building for the devotees who intend to worship god in a more decent ambient.

Brilliant performance of Daniel Day-Lewis as the cruel oil entrepreneur Plainview, takes breaths of audiences in plenty of this movie’s scenes. Source: Daniel Day Lewis by Chloe, Flickr.

At some point in the movie, Plainview and the priest appear to be the gods of the town. Latter enchants people by his claimed spiritual/supernatural commands as opposed to the former how demonstrates his superiority to the town settlers through his ambitious oil plans.

This cinematographic examination of Anderson about the US’ history and society delve into more micro arena as well. All over the movie, Plainview’s son companies him; from the high level meetings Plainview has with CEOs of the rival oil companies to the emotional talks he often times organizes with the religious families to convince them selling their lands to him. His son aids him to express image of a father who wants nothing but the good for his family. Here the equation of Anderson about the US’ history is completed. Alongside the capital and religion, family is the third element in this pattern. These three institutions have been working together as the motors of American dreams. Depends on the historical needs, sometimes they have justified each other and sometimes facilitates the process of capital accumulation for one another.

Aside the insightful historical/sociological layers of this film, its cinematic qualities offer a well-made work of art with breathtaking scenes enriched with outstanding act of Daniel Day-Lewis. Would not be a surprise he won the Academy Awards of Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for this masterpiece in 2008.