Rating of
3.5/4
"There Will Be Blood" by Amanda
symp4thedevil - wrote on 10/08/12
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel-Day Lewis this was my choice "Best Picture" winner at the Academy Awards and easily one of my favorite films of 2007.
Paul Thomas Anderson's style in this particular film has often been compared to Francois Truffaut, known for his unique character dramas, camera techniques, combined with an underlying message the viewer may not be ready for. It is a masterful combination that most films and flicks lack. Usually it is all flash and spectacle in Hollywood, a slow paced slow forming character drama, a political propaganda piece, etc.
Paul Thomas Anderson, in this rare instance, deserves to be compared to one of the founders of French New Wave because of his spectacular character study that celebrates classic cinema technique with modern acting and a superb score that emobodies Daniel-Day Lewis' performance.
The scene that I believe the film will be remembered for years to come is the sudden explosion that ignites the oil, destroying the operation, causing his son deafness, and proving that the oil rich land was his road to success. In one scene, the film was defined. Simple camera technique, simple yet powerful musical accompaniment, and a changing direction for Daniel-Day Lewis which begins the final chapter in the film.
The surface of this film is an epic period character drama, celebrating the American dream. Underneath is something much deeper, personal, and much darker at its core. Celebrating silent cinema with a majestic score and camera angles and imagery, Francois Truffaut style character drama, with a John Huston-like setting...an unforgettable film with nothing new, just an interesting classic meets modern storytelling combination. This style is what will make this film a classic years to come. It is Anderson's masterpiece.
