There Will Be Blood

Times Watched: 1
Watched with: Mr Rider @ GV Vivo City (22/02)
Snacks: Green Tea

finally.
i've waited 2 years for this movies.
and the fact that everyone was giving it full marks fuelled my anticipation.
was it REALLY that good?

it is the 1890s. a time where prospectors searched the lands for oil and minerals. a time where men looked to make their fortune by digging the ground.
a time where men would kill and sell their souls for money.
(kinda same like today lah actually...)

Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) is, as he puts it, "I'm an oil man. A family man."
and his family is his adopted son H.W Plainview whose father was a worker of his who died working the derricks one day.
and when a young man gives him a tip about an oil-rich piece of land, thus begins the tale of Plainview and his struggle and quest to make his fortune by all means necessary.

there Plainview comes across obstacles involving his son, a long-lost relative and an over-bearing young man/'faith healer ' Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) who runs a church and is ultimately the nemesis to Plainview's vision and beliefs.

and it is very seldom that you can find a movie where a single actor can carry the WHOLE movie from start to finish on his own.
Daniel Day-Lewis' performance as Plainview is one of the most powerful performances i've ever seen in a long time.
here is a man who is arrogant. proud. ambitious. greedy. business-minded. smart. ruthless. and yet he is a soft-hearted man.
(he's now one of my favourite characters from a movie ever.)
now i understand why everyone was praising this movie and in particular this actor's performance.

combine that with P T Anderson's usual brilliant direction and amazing scenery and you have a winner ladies and gentlemen.

but a fair warning.
not many people will like this movie i admit.
because it is different.
the first line of speech doesn't even come until more then 10 minutes into the show - and yet it sets the tone for the character and the film.
it is not your typical hollywood blockbuster that everyone flocks to.
if you want to watch a movie then this is not your cup of tea.
but if you want to watch a film. then enjoy.

by far one of the best and most powerful movies of the year.
when you still have that feeling of awe after you get home after the movie - then it was a really good movie bub.
i hope there are more to come honestly.

Final Verdict: 5 out of 5