Wow. I expected There Will Be Blood to be good, but ... wow. That was a stunning cinematic experience. There is an intensity to every single frame that holds you rapt for the entire 160-minute running time; you cannot turn away for even a second. Much of the film's power stems from Daniel Day-Lewis's enormous, towering performance of Texas oilman Daniel Plainview. It is further amplified by the haunting, dissonant score by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. This is the ultimate American parable on capitalism and competition, ambition and greed, success and vengeance. As Plainview goes from miner to prospector to millionaire, with it comes all the trappings of fame and wealth.
Daniel Day-Lewis's acting is simply unparalleled this year. His subtle mannerisms reveal his distorted thought processes while his wild ferocity showcase an awe-inspiring bravura. We empathize with him, though we do not understand him. We want him to succeed, though we do not like him. He grips us tight and pulls us close. On the other end is Paul Dano's Eli Sunday in an unexpected yet equally stellar performance. Though he contains just as much silent fury and displays of grandeur, we are repulsed by him. For the sole reason that he is Plainview's competitor, and therefore his enemy. The tension between these two vile creatures keeps us glued to the screen--their explosive clash at the climactic finale is unforgettable.
Despite this glowing praise, I also had some legitimate complaints. First, although I was engrossed for the whole movie, that was only because I had never seen it before. Looking back, I remember a lot of unnecessary scenes and excessively long takes--ones that would more likely than not bore me if I were to see this movie again. Thirty minutes could have been shaved off with smart editing. Second, it can be a bit confusing. Little is explained and much is left for the audience to infer; this is great for thematics but awful for key plot elements. Third, I found the acting by Dillon Freasier in the role of Plainview's adopted son to be dramatically bad. Maybe it was just in comparison to the rest of the performances, but I just didn't buy it. Fourth, several important shots were blurry, as if the camera operator didn't know how to focus. It was both distracting and angering. Though this movie has its flaws, it succeeds on a visceral and emotional level. There Will Be Blood has the ability to show us the power of cinema at its peak.IMDb link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0469494/