There Will Be Blood (film)
"There Will Be Blood" is a 2007 film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, loosely adapted from Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel "Oil!". The film explores complex themes such as greed, religion, and capitalism through the story of Daniel Plainview, an ambitious oil prospector portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis. Set in early 20th-century California, the narrative follows Plainview's ventures into the fictional town of Little Boston, where he competes for oil rights and navigates conflicts with the local community, particularly with Eli Sunday, a charismatic preacher.
The film's cinematography, crafted by Robert Elswit, received widespread acclaim, winning an Academy Award, while Johnny Greenwood's score, recognized for its unique style, earned a Grammy nomination. "There Will Be Blood" achieved critical success, receiving eight Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Actor (Day-Lewis) and Best Cinematography. Many critics have interpreted the film as a commentary on the energy crisis in America, particularly relevant around the time of its release due to rising oil prices. Overall, the film is regarded as a significant work of the decade, with numerous accolades highlighting its impact on contemporary cinema.
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There Will Be Blood (film)
Identification: Film set in the early twentieth century about an oil prospector and his son attempting to drill on the land of a religious family in California.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (b. 1970)
Date: Released on December 26, 2007
Loosely based on the novel Oil! (1927) by Upton Sinclair, There Will Be Blood explores themes such as greed, religion, and capitalism. A critical success, the film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won for best actor and best cinematography.
There Will Be Blood (2007) was director Paul Thomas Anderson’s first film since Punch-Drunk Love (2002). Anderson wrote the screenplay, loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel Oil!, and worked with cinematographer Robert Elswit to portray the bleak oil fields of 1900s California. Elswit won an Academy Award for Cinematography for his work on the film. Anderson wrote the screenplay with actor Daniel Day-Lewis in mind for the leading role of oil prospector Daniel Plainview. Lewis agreed to do the film before the script was even finished. It took two years to get the film financed, and principle photography began in June 2006. The soundtrack for the film was composed by Johnny Greenwood, guitarist from the British rock band Radiohead. The score was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008.
There Will Be Blood follows the capitalistic ventures of Plainview, an oil prospector, in early twentieth-century California. Plainview and his adopted son, H. W. Plainview (played by Dillon Freasier), travel to the fictional town of Little Boston, where they learn of an oil deposit on the farm of the Sunday family. One of the twin brothers of the Sunday family, Eli (played by Paul Dano), questions Plainview’s faith in God and wants Daniel to help him fund a church for his congregation, the Church of the Third Revelation. Plainview continues to clash with Eli, as well as with a larger oil company that is hoping to acquire the same land that Plainview has purchased. There Will Be Blood follows Plainview’s career trajectory as an oilman and investigates his struggle to balance success in business with spiritual redemption and morality.
Impact
There Will Be Blood was a critical success and received numerous award nominations. Many critics saw the film commentary on the energy crisis in America that began with an increase in oil prices in 2003. The price increase was attributed to many factors, including a decline in petroleum reserves and the Iraq War. There Will Be Blood won several major awards and was chosen by several critics as the best film of the decade. Over fifteen movie critics, including Manhola Dargis of the New York Times and Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, named the film as the best film of 2007.
Bibliography
Sinclair, Upton. Oil! New York: Penguin, 2007. Print.
Thomson, David. The New Biographical Dictionary of Film: Fifth Edition, Completely Updated and Expanded. New York: Knopf, 2010. Print.