There Will Be Blood

NEW YORK (CNS) - "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage/Miramax) is an extraordinarily fine drama loosely based on Upton Sinclair's 1927 muckraking novel, "Oil!" set during the early 20th century.

It charts the rise and fall of a silver miner turned ruthless oil tycoon, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who, accompanied by his young son, known simply as H.W. (Dillon Freasier), fleeces the Sundays, a poor central California family, of their land, when one of the sons, Paul (Paul Dano), surreptitiously sells him the information that his family's land is rich in the "liquid gold."

The Sunday patriarch, Abel (David Willis), relinquishes the land for a song, but Daniel eventually finds himself pitted against Paul's brother, fledgling charismatic preacher Eli (also played by Dano). Daniel's subsequent reneging on a $5,000 payment toward Eli's church and, in one of the film's best scenes, his last-minute refusal to let Eli bless the derrick when it is unveiled provide the impetus for the sparring relationship and personal tragedy that follow.

Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson has used the novel as a springboard to fashion a classic piece of American cinema, with echoes of similarly themed milestones such as "Citizen Kane" and "Greed."

The film's profound themes -- the pursuit of power, the corrupting influence of avarice, the tensions between fathers and sons, and the uneasy juxtaposition of bald-faced capitalism and spiritual fanaticism -- make a darkly fascinating brew. Robert Elswit's photography and Jack Fisk's production design add significantly to the film's lean but majestic look.

The measured pace of the film's opening scenes -- with Daniel as a solitary miner -- belies the utterly gripping events that follow, with scarcely a dull moment.

Day-Lewis' galvanizing performance ranks with the greats, even as he seems to be channeling John Huston in his gravelly delivery. The full extent of his ruthlessness -- and the loss of his humanity -- becomes increasingly apparent as the lengthy film unspools.

Dano, the mostly mute son in "Little Miss Sunshine," does accomplished work in both of his roles. Is he a sincere man of God or an egotistical charlatan? We're kept guessing until the end. Freasier is perfectly cast as the son who works hand in hand with his father until fate intervenes, with a well-matched Russell Harvard assuming the role of H.W. as a young man.

Kevin J. O'Connor gives a finely etched portrayal of a sad-sack stranger who announces he is Daniel's long-lost brother whom the latter is eager to accept given his profound sense of isolation at this point in the narrative. Other small roles are convincingly taken by locals from rural Texas where the film was shot.

Witness the Words of Jesus Come to Life

Religion plays a big part in the story, and another high point is Daniel's enforced conversion at one of Eli's holy-roller services, though the tables will eventually be turned. And, be warned: The disturbing confrontation between Daniel and fundamentalist Eli that forms the film's climax is truly disturbing, as indeed it is meant to be.

The film contains some brief but brutal violence, murder, three uses of profanity and several crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops