NICOLE ALBERTSON
Life Editor
Already taking home a Golden Globe award for Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of Daniel Plainview, “There Will Be Blood” is one of the most honest, complicated, heartfelt and disturbing films in theaters.
Directed by Paul Anderson, “There Will Be Blood” is based off the novel “Oil!” by Upton Sinclair. Only out with a limited release, “There Will Be Blood” is a stunning piece of work that showcases the outstanding talent of Day-Lewis.
Day-Lewis shines as the primary pull and motivation in “There Will Be Blood.” His talent and transformation conqueres the slightly slow and plain story line and becomes the main interest of the movie.
Set in the early 20th century, Day-Lewis becomes Plainview, a self-proclaimed “oil man” and a revolting, compassionate, vengeful, aggressive and innocent leading character. Day-Lewis successfully creates a character that is a complete contradiction. His ability to balance pure innocence and unbridled rage makes the character overwhelmingly and unconsciously relatable. His raw emotions, weather in love or hate, resonate with each pair of eyes mesmerized by screen.
Even though Plainview uses manipulation, bribery and murder to control deceptive situations, his compassion invites the audience to forget about his actions and understand his unconstitutional logic.
Plainview’s complicated character exhibits innocence and compassion as well as revenge and resentment.
When a colleague accidentally dies in an oil shaft, Plainview takes in an orphaned baby and raises him as his own. Plainview’s relationship between baby HW, played by newcomer Russell Harvard, is an exhibit of his compassion and true kindness. But as Plainview becomes bitter from deception and alcohol, his malicious behavior controls his actions and dominates his emotions.
“Little Miss Sunshine” star Paul Dano challenges Day-Lewis on screen as Eli Sunday, the local prophet from a small town in Texas, where the film takes place. His remarkable change from co-starring roles in the teen comedy “The Girl Next Door” and indie smash “Little Miss Sunshine” has catapulted Dano to the status of fellow young star James McEvoy (“Atonement”). His overwhelming purity and genuine compassion on screen creates a competitive and manipulative chemistry between himself and Lewis.
But despite Day-Lewis’ immeasurable talent, “There Will Be Blood” lacks a captivating story. Beginning with Plainview’s life as a struggling gold miner and then leading to his first big break when struck oil in the dusty and deserted Texas mountains, the slow developments are overall uneventful. Plainview’s rise to success is expected, as is his retreat into insanity. But the quiet plot leads way to Day-Lewis’ domination.
The original music – composed by Jonny Greenwood, a former member of Radiohead– becomes a revolutionary character on its own. The soundtrack takes two radically different turns between eerie and disturbing string instruments to triumphant and jubilant symphonies, each amplifying their own contradiction.
Branching out from stereotypical western music, “There Will Be Blood” magnifies its emotional rollercoaster with chilling violins striking minor cords. The film opens on a sunbathed plain, yet it is accompanied by shrieking violins striking awkward notes to create mystery and intrigue. The violins continue throughout the film as a reminder of Plainview’s twisted mind. But in times of violence and sorrow, Greenwood creates upbeat and fast paced classical symphony music. The contracting themes running against their counterparts amplifies the contradiction and confusion within the film.
Despite the lack of plot and slow story line, “There Will Be Blood” is a remarkable showcase of Day-Lewis and his ability to captivate audience members and transform into a malicious yet endearing person. Definitely worth seeing.
01-17-2008
