So we watched 'There Will Be Blood' at last. An award-winning period thriller from director Paul Thomas Anderson (from a novel by Upton Sinclair), this cast the charismatic Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, a tough oil prospector in the early 20th century, and Paul Dano as Eli Sunday, a small-town preacher who, like Plainview, sees himself a leader and spokesperson for the community. These two square off as Plainview's company rolls into town, seemingly to bring a much-needed cash infusion to the remote region. Without getting too involved, let it be said that these two encounter some pretty harsh times, and yes, there is blood. It's not a gory bloodbath, though. This beautifully-shot film (I think it may have been up for some kind of cinematography award) examines the effects of greed on supposed 'good' people's souls. It's as intense a film as you'll see anytime soon, well-scripted, well-acted, and completely worth your time. It's a long one (158 minutes), so find a comfy seat, as you may well be at the edge of it for much of this movie. Soundtrack by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, and appropriately subtle and packed with tension. Powerhouse!
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