There Will Be Blood [Blu-ray]

I bought this dvd like 10 years ago, and I did not watch it completely. The reason was that I found it too long, two and half hours, with not much interesting scenes and dialogues. But somehow, Daniel character clung on my head. And in recent years my interest in Psychology grow huge. Then I wanted to re-watch it. And that was a perfect judgement. The reason for that is that Daniel character represents the modern personality sickness in a so subtle form. - He wants to be rich more than anyone around him, and he does not want to deal with anybody. - He does not give a damn about people. They are just tools, means for him to reach his own goals. - He hates everyone. - He is angry inside. - He is envious inside. - He believes everyone can be manipulated. - He does not have a faith, but he can be Christian, can be Muslim, or a Jew at a finger snap, no problem. - Same goes in politics, he can be leftist, rightist, feminist, environmentalist, communist, BLMist, racist.. you name it.. Bottom line is that whatever he choose to be should be serving his grandiosity among others. - But in the mean time he wants to love people, and to be loved. Deep inside he is empty, longing for all those feelings. He wants to fill his emptiness with a normal human being, but that is something he can not do it. That is not his nature, so he is in a continues suffering state. Another great sphere of the movie is that you hardly notice these personality traits on Daniel for the first half of the movie. And this is exactly about these psychos in reality; deception. In the first half of the movie, Daniel appears like a poor countryman man striving to be a self made millionaire. But his dialogues, his facial gestures, his body language are so subtle in presenting the modern psychopath I described above. Daniel starts his own oil drilling adventures in late 19th century in New Mexico. One of his workers dies in an accident. And he adapts his son, H. W. Daniel is also single. Viewer feels the oddness of this adaptation because Daniel is not type of man who has empathy, care for anyone. I think this is one of the best part of the story, because viewer is always kept in a suspicion on true character of Daniel. And answer to this adaptation comes at the end of the movie, may be in the best scene, and dialogue of the movie. It is the best articulation of the Daniel's psychopath. Movie goes on with Daniels rising about his Oil business together H. W. by buying some poor and religious farmers' land in California. Although movie concentrated on Daniel, in my view, it takes a twist after half of it concentrating on preacher of the village church, Eli. Eli is the son of the farmer from whom Daniel bought the land. Eli asks for money for the church, he wants to have a bigger, better church. Though Daniel hates Eli's money ripping of him for Church, he still does all those payments. Even in in his dealings with Christian farmers, he comes to a point he gets baptised and confesses his sins. Deception is his normal part of life. But movie, portrays the Eli no less deceptive and sick than Daniel. This Paradoxical appearance of sick minds of Daniel, and the Preacher is so captivating.. It is a social paradox between "good" and "evil". And both are suffering inside themselves, their paradoxical sick personalities. Both characters of Daniel, and Eli dominates the movie. Daniel Day-Lewis, and Paul Dano casting these characters are magnificent.

More than an epic tale of an early 20th Century oilman, this is a fascinating study of the greed for power and what it does to a man. We meet Daniel Plainview down the bottom of a mine, exerting himself in mind-numbingly monotonous and backbreaking work, looking for gold or silver. He is a man willing to endure pain and humiliation to grasp more money, or more power. As he quickly moves from gold to black gold, he becomes more powerful, and his ruthlessness and underhandedness become more and more apparent, combined with the charisma required to persuade landowners to part with the mineral rights of their property. We learn about how he sees other people when he adopts a boy who he finds useful to put a kind face on his activities, and how he treats a man appears claiming to be his half brother. The movie kicks into gear though when he meets an equally power hungry man in the unlikely form of the young faith healer and preacher, to whom he takes a seemingly instant dislike. With the relationships with these three characters, we see his dilemna- his power is only something if he can pass it on, but when he sees only the worst in other people, how can he? Who will be worthy of the three to take on his mantle..? The style of the movie has some stunning direction which tells us much of the story through scenes and images, rather than words, yet this is married with an intelligent, absorbing and uncompromising script. The music is daringly inventive, although with me the jury is out whether it is a success or a distraction. Daniel Day-Lewis turns in yet another 100% authentic and believable performance, creating a chilling and yet at times charismatic character, and Paul Dano is remarkable as the young preacher. Sure, women are given little to no role in the story, and it is unremitting in its bleakness, at times feeling like it has been designed to within an inch of its cinematic life. It's not going to be to everyone's taste.. However the authenticity, stunning performances and script that demands the viewer engage in some thought, have created what might just be a bona fide masterpiece, even with its flaws.

When reviewing a film featuring a performance as powerful as that of Daniel Day Lewis, one can easily make the mistake of devoting too much attention to Day Lewis, and not on the rest of the film. There is no question that Daniel Day Lewis absolutely dominates the screen as the cunning, cynical and utterly greedy Daniel Plainview. However, the film itself has many masterstrokes of its own. The opening itself, without any dialogue for the first 15 minutes, is a strangely intriguing introduction as we are drawn into the intriguing world of early twentieth century California. The very set design, and period recreation are a total immersion in their selves, and give the viewer the feeling that they really are back in the early twentieth century. Regardless of the subject matter, even if one is undecided as to whether a drama surrounding the ambitions of an oil man is necessarily their cup of tea, the story pace, characters, and underlying score are enough to keep one completely engrossed. The story has many interesting turns and developments, and the films title can be understood in a number of ways, however leaving the viewer to form their own opinion is the best approach, as unraveling the title is part of the films enjoyment. The Blu Ray is an entirely appropriate format for the film, as it has some excellent cinematography that are a fine exhibit of Blu Ray's advantages. In short, a mesmerizing, unsettling, and in many ways darkly comic drama that is truly unforgettable.

There Will be Blood is an excellent film. Truly, I recognise that. The sprawling tale of Daniel Plainview, an oil driller, as he falls deeper and deeper into madness as the film continues. The direction is practically flawless, with Mr Anderson bringing the dusty fields and green acres of 20th Century America to the screen in a way that few have managed over the centuries of film. The grit, the dirt, the mud, the oil... All feel like they are able to be touched by the audience such is the excellence of the cinematography/direction. Of course, beautiful scenery is just as easy to capture in a nature show, so a movie must have a compelling story to match the direction. As the minutes go by, the twists and turns come thick and fast and each packs as much of a punch as the previous one. Now obviously it is easy to praise Mr Day-Lewis as he is the best actor working today. His transformation into Daniel Plainview occurs as soon as he is introduced. You do not see an actor you see a man who, despite his best efforts, becomes lost the more the film progresses. However the one person who sticks out (and not in a positive way either) is Paul Dano. While there are moments he is excellent, there are just as many moments where his overacting is noticeable and that is a detriment to the film as a whole. His high pitched shrieks during his sermons are horrible to listen to. Thankfully he is not given too many speeches to perform otherwise he would have knocked another star off of this review. I recommend you watch this film. It has complex characters, mature plot points and even some social commentary on power and money. Maybe, unlike myself, you won't get a headache from hearing Dano's voice. Plus, what do I know, I'm just a reviewer on a website. My word means literally nothing!

`There Will Be Blood' was my film of the year for 2008. Daniel Day-Lewis is mesmerising as the charismatic California oilman Daniel Plainview. With eyes like a lizard, he occupies almost every frame of the film, the first fourteen minutes of which amazingly sees no word spoken at all. And yet we watch intently the every move and facial expression of this man who is determined to go places. "I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed", he eventually reveals, and we subsequently watch him succeed handsomely in creating his oil empire through scenes set in the years of 1898, 1902, 1911, and 1927. But success for Daniel comes at the price of ultimate failure in non-material terms. This tale is an anti-Nietzschian fable. Paul Dano, whose acting career since `L.I.E.' has been a joy to watch, acts superbly as the young preacher, Eli Sunday, Plainview's quasi-nemesis. For those who are interested in any extras, here's a word or two about those on the two-disc collector's edition. There is, alas, no director's commentary, and the second disc lasts less than an hour! Nevertheless, here, first, we have a fifteen-minute stream of evocative archive photographs and film of the early oil industry in the American west. These are interwoven with extracts from the film, which feature some scenes that did not make the final cut. All of this excellent presentation is accompanied by extracts from the film's music soundtrack. Secondly, there are six minutes of deleted scenes that explore more the relationship between Daniel and Eli. Finally, there is a twenty-five minute, black and white, silent movie from the 1920s that was a promotional documentary - `The Story of Petroleum'' - for the business. Again, this has been scored with the excellent music from the main soundtrack.

Make no mistake, this film is a cinematic masterpiece. P.T.Anderson has made one of the greatest films of the 21st Century. No better time has there been to make a film about man's greed for oil. However, I didn't for second think about the modern-day link. I don't think the director meant for there to be a link. In Daniel Plainview, Anderson has written a character so interesting and layered, that we are hypnotised. I don't need to say anything about Daniel Day-Lewis' performance. The man won an Academy Award. That says enough, but it truly is perfect from start to finish. The dedication he puts into his characters is second to none, but like any great actor, you see no hint of preperation on screen. In fact, never have I seen someone involve themselves in a character so much that I actually FORGET that it is an actor on-screen. Until now. Paul Dano as Eli Sunday is a wonderful turn, not to be forgotten behind Day-Lewis' pro/antagonist. Eli Sunday's chemistry with Plainview forms the core of the film. You are on neither's side. You can truly be the audience, and observe as these two men clash in the core life values. Plus...the twist...just wait and see. This film is electric stuff. Anderson's maverick direction makes every frame of this film perfect. Whatever he does next, it will have to be quite something, in order to beat the cinematic perfection of 'There Will Be Blood'.

DVD arrived in timely manner, but DVD case was broken - but DVD seems to be in okay condition

Reading from the reviews some say its not so good, some say it is. I would describe it as a typical Mirmax Film, quiet, simple with no in your face "kung fu wam-bam" action. I have watched this with my dad and we both loved it so much and liked the ending of the film. Curiousity made us watch it further. never heard my dad talk about a film so much afterwards. set in the 1900s US time, We noticed 2 business people in this film, the Oil Man, Daniel. and the 3rd revelation church dude, Eli. Both want to make money to expand their interests Daniel his Oil business however he can and Eli, his revelation church through getting money from Daniel and his business. Daniel didn't like Eli and knew at 1st instance that Eli would spell trouble, and he was. after he beat him up due to the anger of his son's accident (wasn't his actual son), Eli got his own back on Daniel becuase Daniel needed leases from landowners for his business so he'd do anything, even take insult like have salt rubbed in his wounds, how? you'll have to watch it. But one turns out more cunning than these 2, as these 2 are lost in their world of business, money, grief, anger and hatred. Who is this cunning person? well you'll have to watch the film ;) but he must be happy he took the chance when he could.

Fantastic, एपिक movie, Danielle de Luis as usual is great

Oh my goodness what a performance by Daniel Day-Lewis my god this guy is good with his acting skills hands bloody down.Wow you got to see this movie which is a true story by the way.i just can't believe there is only seventeen reviews of this movie man what ashamed.. "This is one epic American classic that should not be missed" Daniel Day-Lewis, gives the Academy Award Winning performance of his life, Daniel Plainview [Day-Lewis] and his son are independent oil men, prospecting through California at the turn of the 20th century, who was challenged by a young preacher, Eli Sunday played by [Paul Dano] which both men lives turn into an abyss, and a darkly-journey of madness, I have watched this movie So many Times, that the first time he meet the people to pitch his prospecting ideas, I think I can recite every word that was said, here's what was said,word for word, "Ladies and gentlemen, I traveled over Jist about half our state to get here this evenin'. I couldn't get away sooner, because my new well was a-comin' in at Lobos River, and I had to see about it.That well is now flowin' four thousand barrel, and payin' me an income of five thousand dollars a day, I got two others drilling', and I got sixteen producin' at Antelope. So, ladies and gentlemen if I say I'm an oil man, you got to agree, "You got a great chanct here, ladies and gentlemen; but bear in mind, you can lose it all if you ain't carful, out of all the fellers that beg you for a chanct to drill your land, maybe one in twenty will be oil men; the rest will be speculators, fellers tryin' to get between you and the oil men. to get some of the money that ought by rights come to you, Even if you find one that has money, and the means to drill, he'll maybe know nothin' about drillin', and have to hire out the job on contract- and then you're trying to rush the job through, so as to get to another contract jist as quick as he can. But, ladies and gentlemen, I do my own drillin', and the fellers that work for me are fellers I know, I make it my business to be there and to see to their work. I don't lose my tools in the hole, and spend months a-fishin'; I don't botch the cementin' off, and let water into the hole, and ruin the whole lease, And let me tell you, I'm fixed right now like no other man or company in this field, Because my Lobos River well has jist come in, I got a string of tools all ready to put to work, I can load a rig onto trucks, and have them here in a week, I've got business connections, so I can get the lumber for the derrick-- such things go by friendship,in a rush like this, That's why I can guarantee to start drillin'; and put up the cash to back my work, I assure you whatever the others promise to do, when it comes to the showdown, they won't be there. Runtime 158 Minutes. Widescreen 2.40:1 5.1 Surround Master Audio.

If you ever explore threads asking people to list the movies they find the most boring, you'll see that There Will Be Blood is often mentioned. I can understand why. The opening 14-and-a-half minutes doesn't contain any dialogue unless you count the occasional grunt or cry of pain. The score is often unsettling and unlike anything you would expect to hear. The pacing is slow and the film has plenty of painful scenes. The opening scene is set in 1898 and gives us immediate insight into the character of Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis). We see him working alone, prospecting for oil. It's a physically demanding occupation which is full of danger. One small lapse can cause a severe injury or even death. Plainview falls down a well shaft and breaks his leg, but discovers oil in the process. We then see him crawl backwards as he slowly makes his way into town to register the find. He's one of the most stubborn and driven characters you will ever see portrayed on film. In 1902, he's working with a group of men, and we are reminded again how dangerous the work is. A tiny mistake results in the death of a man and Plainview adopts his orphaned baby boy. The story jumps forward several years and we see Plainview and his adopted son, HW, attending a town meeting. Plainview has discovered that the region contains oil and we see him making an offer to extract the oil. His argument is calm, reasonable, and logical. He's quite a salesman. He talks of other offers the town may receive and why his own proposal is the best solution for everyone. We are given the impression that he knows what he's talking about and it's difficult to resist his offer. When Plainview is visited by Paul Sunday (Dano), the main part of the film begins. Paul offers to reveal the location of land rich in oil and he negotiates a price for the information. Plainview visits the town and finds that the information is accurate. He begins buying up all the available land. The film contains a power struggle between Plainview and Eli Sunday (also played by Dano). Eli becomes Plainview's enemy immediately by negotiating a higher price for his father's ranch than Plainview expected to pay. Eli is also the town's priest and he seeks power and recognition at every available opportunity. Plainview sees him as a fake and doesn't seem to have any religious beliefs of his own, but he's forced to bow to Eli's wishes on several occasions. I've barely touched on the plot, but I won't reveal any more. This is a sprawling story spanning several decades. It's one of the most intense character studies that I've ever seen. You'll see how Plainview relates to other people and his adopted son. He's a ruthless businessman and it's dangerous to cross him. In one scene, we hear his honest thoughts on society: "I have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people." That last sentence is spoken with irony, but Plainview makes it clear that he understands his own true character. As the story progresses, we see what obsession and hatred can do to a man when it's maintained over a long period of time. My knowledge of film isn't as deep as you would expect for someone of my age. It's a relatively new obsession in my life. However, I believe that Daniel Day-Lewis delivers the best acting performance I have ever seen. I didn't doubt for a moment that he was a bitter, obsessed, driven man, capable of doing anything to bring him closer to his goals. Day-Lewis is in every scene and the film wouldn't have had the same impact without his astonishing performance. The technical aspects of the film are also superb. Jonny Greenwood's unusual score is particularly effective. One of my favorite moments happens during a drilling accident when the percussion increases in tempo as the scene unfolds. The cinematography is breathtaking at times. There's an early scene in which Plainview and HW approach the crest of a hill and the distant landscape is revealed. It's one of several moments of extreme beauty in the film. If the film has a fault, I would say that the final 20 minutes don't quite match the quality of the rest of the story. This closing sequence still works, and contains a few memorable moments, but the first two hours are close to perfect. If you enjoy character studies that aren't afraid to take the time to tell a story, There Will Be Blood might be your kind of film. If you need action and an upbeat conclusion, then it's probably not for you.

Dès le titre, l'âpreté et le destin des personnages est scellé. Le film sera dur et violent : promesse tenue. C'est du sang noir de la terre dont il s'agit : le pétrole. Si la terre saigne, elle demande un sacrifice en retour : le sang de l'homme doit être versé. Si vous n'avez pas vu le film ne lisez pas ce qui suit ! L'émergence du pétrole et le mythe du self-made man sert de toile de fond à la confrontation de deux manipulateurs qui se reconnaissent comme tel. D'un coté, le pétrolier Daniel Plainview qui utilise son enfant adoptif pour acheter des terres et des gisements ; de l'autre, Eli le pasteur prédicateur grand guignol qui rallie les consciences par ses prêches enflammés. Tous deux ont soif d'argent et de pouvoir. Les hommes sont des outils pour le pétrolier y compris sa propre famille. Son ascension sociale est inversement proportionnelle à ses relations aux autres. L'ouvrier qui meurt au fond du puits de pétrole lui lègue un enfant. Quelques années plus tard, cet enfant amadoue les fermiers dont il souhaite acheter les terres. Suite à son accident, le pétrolier l'éloigne. L'enfant le gêne et ne peut lui être d'aucune utilité dans la gestion de ses affaires. Surgit alors un second membre de sa famille (ou déclaré comme tel), le frère, venu de nulle part. Ce dernier l'épaule dans son projet de pipeline. Mais sitôt le contrat signé, l'usurpateur est démasqué et éliminé sans sentiments aucun. La scène de la baignade est magnifique dans sa manière de célébrer l'accomplissement de ce projet insensé et de décrire l'immense solitude du pétrolier. Les deux sentiments l'envahissent et le submerge à l'image des vagues. Le prêcheur est l'instigateur de l'extension du champ pétrolifère de Plainview. Lors de l'achat de la ferme, malgré le prix demandé par Eli, Plainview le paie une bouchée de pain, loin de la valeur véritable du gisement. Pour sa seconde entrée en piste, il pense tenir les rennes. Le pétrolier le manipule une seconde fois. Pour l'inauguration du derrick et la mise en exploitation, Plainview sabote les plans du prêcheur débutant qui lui aurait permis d'asseoir son importance naissante dans la communauté des fermiers. Le rappel de la promesse de don du pétrolier à son église lui fait mordre violemment la poussière. Le baptême du pétrolier est l'occasion de lui rendre ses coups. Mais Plainview obtient ainsi l'accord de passage du pipeline sur les seules terres qu'il ne possède pas. Jamais Eli, le soit disant « homme de Dieu » ne parvient à manœuvrer le pétrolier. Il conserve toujours une carte d'avance. Plainview est un solitaire dévoré par l'ambition. Il ne peut s'encombrer des autres fussent-ils sa famille. Dans sa vaste demeure vide, symbole des sommets financiers qu'il désirait plus que tout, sa monstruosité apparaît pleine et entière, sans masque. Il renie son fils adoptif. Le fils rejeté quitte sans amour ce père froid et calculateur au soir de son existence. L'irruption du prêcheur, dans une ultime tentative maladroite et désespérée d'utiliser Plainview à son profit (financier), est son chant du cygne. Après tant d'années, la terre demande réparation pour le fluide poisseux extrait de ses entrailles : c'est le sang de l'homme qui étanche sa soif. La démesure de la maison du pétrolier devient étriquée face à l'ignominie du personnage. Pour incarner Plainview, un acteur capable de tout était nécessaire : une présence physique massive évidente dans la scène d'ouverture, une capacité à l'exagération sans tomber dans le grand guignol et une posture glaçante et malsaine distillée de façon graduelle au long du film. Daniel Day Lewis possède tout cela. C'est un monstre d'interprétation. Aucun autre acteur ne semble pouvoir embrasser un tel rôle. Il ne joue pas, il est. Son Oscar est une évidence pour saluer sa prestation. Saluons aussi l'interprétation de Paul Dano dans le rôle d'Eli qui tient tête sans peine à l'acteur anglais. La mise en scène de P. T. Anderson est moins ostensible que celle de ses réalisations précédentes (BOOGIE NIGHT, MAGNOLIA). Cette sobriété formelle magnifie la photographie et rend la part belle à ses acteurs. Les scènes nocturnes sont exceptionnelles dans leur composition. L'utilisation de la lumière témoigne d'une grande maîtrise. La scène aquatique 'point charnière déjà évoqué- est leur exact contraire. La lumière y est éclatante, les couleurs sont brûlées, sans pareil dans le reste du film. Cela donne toute sa force et son originalité. L'utilisation de la musique d'Arvo Pärt, compositeur estonien, et des Fratres (dans leur version de 1992 pour violon) en particulier véhicule ce petit supplément génial à la mise en image. Cette musique lyrique et étrange à la fois apporte une profondeur adéquate au film (scène de l'accident du garçon). Elle sera habilement mariée au concerto pour violon de Brahms utilisé lors du générique final. Du cinéma américain dans sa toute sa complexité et sa magnificence : un chef d'œuvre. Oscar 2008 du meilleur acteur. Espérons une édition Blu-ray à la hauteur du film !

Wahnsinnig betörende, faszinierende aber auch ganz dreckige Kinobilder, die so nachhaltig wirken dürften, wie die unvergessenen Bilder in Malicks "Glut des Südens" : Der Oscarprämierte Kameramann Robert Elswitt zeigt dem Zuschauer ein noch unerschlossenes, weites und erhabenes Land nach dem Sieg gegen die Ureinwohner: Trockene Öde, steinige Prärie, herbstliche Wälder. Die zweite Teil der Eroberung wird eingeleitet. Inmitten dieser wunderbaren, teils sehr spröden Landschaft agiert der Ölmann Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day Lewis). Reiner Zufall, denn er hat 1898 nach Silber gegraben und stösst überraschend auf Öl. Er kann Geld damit machen und betätigt sich fortan mit seinem kleinen Sohn (Dillon Freasier) als kleines Familienunternehmen in Sachen Ölbohrungen. Als ein Farmerjunge ihm von einer noch unerschlossenen Ölquelle im Hinterland der USA berichtet, kauft er Grundstück um Gründstück zu Spottpreisen von den vielen armen und extrem religiösen Farmerfamilien auf und beginnt mit den Bohrungen. Dies wird der Sprung vom Unternehmen zum Grosskapitalisten....mit allen Begleiterscheinungen. Paul Thomas Andersons oscarprämierter Film ist eine gallige und morbide Abhandlung über diese erstrebenswerten Ziele des Menschen, Reichtum und Macht, der die Menschen auf diesem Weg dorthin natürlich verändert und sie gierig werden lässt. Demgegenüber stellt er den um 1900 bis heute ständig erstarkten christlichen Fundamentalismus im Land der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten mit einem jungen, charsmatischen Prediger, Eli Sunday (Paul Franklin Dano, bekannt aus Little Miss Sunshine), der sich vom unscheinbaren, gottesfürchtigen Farmerjungen zum bigotten, demagogischen Hassprediger ebenso wie Plainview wandelt. Der Film spukt auf die Verklärung der Gründerjahre und lässt diese zwei amerikanischen Werte "Money and God" aufeinanderprallen, führt sie in Kombination als verlogene und unglückmachende Zweckgemeinschaft vor. Durch die heutigen Ereignisse um Öl, Terror, Wirtschaftskrisen, Börsencrash und dem Fehlen von wahrhaftigen moralischen Instanzen ein hochaktuelles und spannendes Thema. Andersons Film zeigt uns die Anfänge des Kapitalismus ab 1900. Als die Bodenschätze gierig erschlossen wurden und der Grundstein gelegt wurde, dass die USA zur grössten und reichsten Weltmacht mit "Gottes Segen" werden konnte. Einer der grossen Filme des Jahres, in der epischen und suggestiven Machart ein bisschen mit "die Ermordung des Jesse James" verwandt - lediglich einen Tick näher am Puls der Zeit. Nach "Last Exit Reno", "Boogie Nights" und "Magnolia" ein weiteres, grandioses Kino des jetzt schon legendären Directors. Vielleicht sogar sein Meisterwerk.