There Will Be Blood

Todd Says:

5 STARS

I've only ever seen four of Daniel Day Lewis' movies, but it is always a treat to watch him act. If he is acting. If you're ever going to make a movie, and one of your characters needs to be completely and totally consumed and driven by a nearly insane singular desire then Day Lewis is the man for the job. He is either very much like this in real life, or one of the top five actors of all time.
There Will Be Blood is a perfect portrait of the American Dream, it's about two men's struggle for power and fortune and the extremes that they are willing to go to reach them. Don't let the title scare you away, this is not a gory movie, on the contrary, most of the villainy you witness is purely psychological. The verbal exchanges between Daniel Day Lewis' character and the ambitious Evangelist Eli Sunday are interestingly intense, but other than a lot of open handed slapping the violence in this movie is mostly just eluded to.
This is one of the most gripping movies I've seen in a long time, and I more than recommend you see this, I implore you to watch. If you are let down with this masterpiece then you clearly have no business watching real movies and should just go back to your good friend Cable TV to help you pass the time. That's right, I'm offering for the first time ever the CINEMAPHILES GUARANTEE 5 STAR GUARANTEE, if you are not completely satisfied with your viewing experience then we will refund you your two and a half hours.
Enjoy.

Alexis says:

5 Stars

I am biased. If it had not been for my love of Day Lewis and his performance in one of my all time favorite movies, Gangs of New York, I might never have pushed to see this movie. But I did and I was more than pleased. His performance as Daniel Plainview was just as good if not better than his portrayal of Bill the Butcher. But enough comparing already, the point is, Day Lewis was amazing to view. Even where the movie could appear slow to some it was gripping to watch Plainview. Imagine a movie where no one says a word until 15 minutes in and yet your interest is kept. This movie is good cinema.

Paul Dano's Sunday twins was also good, I have only seen Dano in Little Miss Sunshine where he was good, but I believe this showed that he can really act. The exchanges between Sunday and Plainview are unmatched in my viewing experience. The way these two get at each other to the core, mostly with oral banter, is gripping and you can't wait to see what the other will do next.

As for the title There Will Be Blood. Well, there is blood but very little and most of the violence and deaths in this movie are done so realistically but without a lot of gore and blood, which I appreciated. So don't let the title scare you away. If it makes you feel better, go with the Upton Sinclair title on which the movie is based, Oil!. There do you feel better.

5 Stars means drop whatever you are doing and watch this film, so why are you still reading?