Black gold

by LES EVERETT

DANIEL PLAINVIEW (Daniel Day-Lewis) in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood is, as he often says, an oil man. It wasn't always that way however. In fact he was prospecting for silver in California when he made his first big liquid discovery.

Daniel Day-Lewis and Dillon Freasier in There Will Be Blood.

The early scenes in his movie of Plainview as prospector reveal his incredible determination. And as he becomes a successful oil man, bringing others into his schemes, he shows the same drive. At his side during the next phase of his career is his young son and "business partner" HW beautifully played by Dillon Freasier.

Things are going pretty well for Plainview when a tip-off gives him the chance to really strike it big. The new find is in a very remote area and cooperating with a big oil company or transport group could perhaps be in Plainview's best interests but he's resentful of those seeking to make good from his efforts. "I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people," he says. And when given an offer he can't refuse Plainview refuses because never having to work again simply does not appeal, "what would I do?" he asks.

Apart from Day-Lewis and Freasier there's also a great performance from Paul (the silent teenager from Little Miss Sunshine) Dano as preacher Eli Sunday (and his twin bother Paul).

The soundtrack by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood is outstanding and the film looks magnificent. In fact during the early part of his film (when there's no dialogue) I began to wonder when the great movie about the early days of the WA Goldfields would be made.

There Will Be Blood is a 158-minute epic and won't satisfy those who believe for retribution and redemption but it is a wonderful movie.

29 January 2008

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