Oscar Review: There Will Be Blood

Loosely based off of Oil! by American author Upton Sinclair, There Will Be Blood is the second Best Picture nominee on my list. This film is not for the casual film viewer and if you are looking for a ‘feel good’ movie, look elsewhere.

There Will Be Blood tells the story of a prospector, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day Lewis, The Ballad of Jack and Rose), in the early 1900s. He begins his business and with his son, H.W., and they build an oil business based out of land leased in New Mexico. The plot thickens when a young man by the name of Paul (Paul Dano, Little Miss Sunshine), visits Plainview in order to turn him onto some land where there may be some heavy oil prospects. Once Plainview investigates this hunch, he begins to con the small community in order to buy the tracts of land needed to achieve his goals.

This was a difficult movie to watch. I found myself feeling uncomfortable and depressed while I sat in the darkened theater. However, I realized that was the general mood of the main character. In that respect, the filmmakers succeeded into drawing me into the life of Daniel Plainview. Artistically, it’s beautiful and extremely well-made. The acting is phenomenal and as I mentioned before, the writing draws you into a dark, dreary, oily world.

One thing I think will really be overlooked in this film is the musical score. I am always of the opinion that music drives movies, but that is especially true with There Will Be Blood. The score is another character in the film. It plays its own role and has a definitive mood throughout the picture.

OSCAR NOTES: Towards the end of last year, I began seeing ads for There Will Be Blood. Each ad I saw eluded to possible Oscar nominations. In the end, the Academy has given 8 nods to the film in the following categories:

• Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Daniel Day Lewis
• Achievement in Art Direction - Jack Fisk (Art Direction)/ Jim Erickson (Set Decoration) Achievement in Cinematography - Robert Elswit
• Achievement in Directing - Paul Thomas Anderson
• Achievement in Film Editing - Dylan Tichenor
• Best Motion Picture of the Year - JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Lupi (Producers)
• Achievement in Sound Editing - Christopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood
• Adapted Screenplay - Written for the Screen by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Two of other Best Picture nominees (Atonement and No Country for Old Men) also received 8 nominations tying There WIll Be Blood for the most nominations. Despite what seems a negative review, I did enjoy this movie as a piece of art. It was striking and I can see how it was nominated for so many awards.