There Will Be Blood

**g0zen** · 01 Oct 2007, 04:57 PM

I want to talk to you for a second about my most anticipated film of the fall, P.T. Anderson's (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love) There Will Be Blood. Here's the synopsis:

Originally Posted by IMDB

This adaptation of Oil!, a novel by Upton Sinclair, is a period piece taking place in the turn-of-the-century where a tycoon (Daniel Day-Lewis) strikes it rich after gaining oil rights to a family's ranch, turning the small town into a boomtown where a charismatic young preacher (Paul Dano) captivates churchgoers. The studio describes it as "a story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century Texas prospector in the early days of the business."

Unlike the book, which focuses on the son, from what I've seen and heard about the film this focuses on the corrupt oil tycoon father. There's a lot of potential in this film, especially coupled with a director like Anderson who knows how to present a very powerful story without hitting you over the head with it. Don't look for this to have a lot of the socialist rah-rah from the book presented in some hamhanded way like say in Ford's version of The Grapes of Wrath.

Look for this film to address a myriad of controversial topics of our time in a way that you'll barely notice, unlike Syriana. Greed, religion, and above all that precious black gold. I have high hopes for this to be a very American movie, as in a movie casting a new light on our 'shared values' and where they come from, presented through the lens of the iconic 'West'. But, this isn't a western, don't think that.

Anyway, castwise as the lead we have Daniel Day-Lewis the badguy from Gangs of New York donning his evil mustache again to play a similar role in a different time and different place. Normally I'd be against this because it plays into the idea of typecasting certain actors for roles and not challenging other actors to fill a role, but I've seen what Anderson can do squeezing quality performances out of people like Cruise and Adam Sandler so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt here. That's it really, the only other 'name' on the list is Ciarán Hinds, who played Caesar brilliantly in ROME and was also great in Munich.

It's looking great so far, and I encourage all of you to see it.

**Dolemite** · 01 Oct 2007, 05:47 PM

I'm so glad Daniel Day-Lewis is making movies again.

**Dyne** · 02 Oct 2007, 05:16 PM

day one for me.

**FirstBlood** · 09 Jan 2008, 07:15 PM

So i just got back from seeing this, and anything else in 2008 will have a hell of a time topping this one.

of course DDL is phenomenal and Paul Dano follows up his performance in Little Miss Sunshine better than I ever could have imagined. Amazing acting all around.

Go see this movie.

**Mr-K** · 10 Jan 2008, 05:09 AM

I've actually heard people seriously say that Daniel Day Lewis's performance is the best performance in a movie *ever*. Like every movie ever made... ever. Which is, duh, hard to believe, but I still want to see this. I've only seen Punch Drunk Love and Boogie Nights, bu Anderson is capable and it will be interested to see another movie of No Country caliber.

**Survival Kid** · 10 Jan 2008, 09:57 AM

This was here in CT last month briefly but I missed it. Then I went in to NYC to see it and The Orphange, but this was sold out. Really want to see this too. Fucking gay.

Wait a minute. It's back in CT. Awesome. Going to see it today or tomorrow.