Daniel Day Bleeds Oscar Gold

There Will be Blood revolves completely around the larger than life landscape scenes and the larger than life performance of Daniel Day Lewis.

Lewis portrays Daniel Plainview, a self-proclaimed oilman. His drive knows no limitations, as he overcomes physical injury and sheds emotional attachments to achieve the level of wealth he desires. Daniel Plainview may seem like a complicated character, what with his relationship with his son (Dillon Freasier), his battles with town preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), his charming façade, and the inner demons that he reveals to a man masquerading as his half-brother (Kevin O’Connor), but it his drive that is his sole motivation in life.

It is hard to quantify what Lewis brings to the film, but the mere fact that Director Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia; Boogie Nights) didn’t plan on making the film without Lewis begins to address his importance.

Blood is a rollercoaster of emotions as you go from the highest of highs, as Daniel and his adopted son and partner H.W. accidentally strike oil, to the lowest of lows, as Daniel abandons his son. But the film is not without laughs, such as when Plainview, an atheist, accepts initiation into the Church of the Third Revelation. Even the end of the film, which is deeply disturbing, left me stifling chuckles.

Every member of the cast shines when placed in a scene with Lewis. Lewis’ immersion into his character makes every other character more believable and real. Watching this movie I never thought, “Wow, this is great dialogue,” because it never felt like I was watching something scripted.

A lot of good things can be said about the rest of the cast, but the breakout performance belongs to Dano. Dano, who played the brooding youth of Little Miss Sunshine, excels as Eli Sunday, the thorn in Plainview’s side. The relationship between Eli and Plainview is by far the most entertaining aspect of Blood.

The only part of Blood that isn’t in keeping with the quality of the whole package is the movie’s score. The score is all over the place, coming at you with pseudo intensity when you least expect it and serving only to make the viewer wonder if there’s something going on during an empty desert scene that they’re missing.

The ending of the film, which takes place sixteen after a majority of the action, feels a little out of place, but the film ends with such a bang that it’s worth it. This is a movie that needs to be scene in theaters, and I’d strongly recommend finding a theater that has the self-respect to air this commercial failure.

Oscar Watch: Lewis is the front runner for Best Actor. Blood will be a top contender for Best Picture, Director, and Cinematography along side of No Country for Old Men.