There Will Be Blood

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⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

A rewatch after Prisoners, since it felt like I needed to see unhinged Paul Dano again. This movie feels like it was made with the intention of being the best movie of all time, and many would say it comes pretty close. It is a masterclass in atmosphere, from the setting to the score to the performances. Something evil is bubbling under the surface, much like the slick blood of the earth that the main character is harvesting for massive personal gain, and at any cost.

A key part of this is the score, and when the movie starts you would be convinced its going to be a horror movie. And maybe it is, in some way, but the tension created from the music feels disconnected to what you are watching but also perfect.

Daniel Day Lewis is the real winner from this movie, turning in an iconic performance as this unhinged oil man. We learn so much about who he is in the first 10 minutes with zero dialog, and we are never truly shocked by anything he does, since we recognize him as a relentlessly driven man.

The relationship between religion and capitalism is at the core of the movie, and the religious imagery Plainview has while pillaging the Earth's resources is pretty eerie. A little bit of man of faith vs man of science, like in Lost. Paul Dano's Eli is a great pairing with Plainview, as both men are exploiting others for personal gain, but Eli can claim a holy mission. Their little war games are the main conflict, but Plainview has complete disregard for Eli, while Eli is leeching off the success of Plainview. Just great stuff.

Finally, this movie looks incredible. When I say this movie is aiming to be the best of all time that is clear in the staging and shot, with long takes and artistic framing. This was my second viewing and I felt like I had a crystal clear memory of every single scene because of how stunning and deliberate they are.

I can't say this is my favourite movie of all time, but there is no denying its accomplishment. Shoutout to the epic oil rig fire scene, and of course the heartbreaking then insane final 15 minutes.

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