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The opening scenes of “There Will Be Blood” starring Daniel Day-Lewis, visually and audibly capture the image of life in the southwest during the early 1900s.
The film is based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel “Oil!.” Sinclair’s novels encouraged early 20th century readers to explore new ideas and consider the implications of working conditions in the U.S.
A&C staff duke it out over ‘There Will Be Blood’
“There Will Be Blood” fails to do the same.
Rather, it begs the question: why is it an Oscar nominee for Best Picture?
Best Picture in the Oscars means that it is the best overall — extraordinary cast, direction, costumes, production, soundtrack and screenplay.
While “There Will Be Blood” is superior in many ways, the screenplay is not impressive. If the story cannot keep interest, the movie fails.
The main characters are passionate and vibrant, but they lack substance and background leading one to wonder, who are they really?
Since the action moves so slowly, it is easy to formulate deep, dark and (possibly) wrong impressions of the characters.
Imagining intrigue where there is none dominates the viewing experience.
Day-Lewis’ performance is spectacular.
His character, Daniel Plainview, is controlled by vicious demons whenever he is emotionally threatened.
Day-Lewis’ expressions and movements makes visible the constant struggle between Plainview’s emotions and actions.
Plainview and many of his crew consider themselves living in a godless land making the film’s most provoking struggle. The dichotomy between zealous evangelicals and Plainview, the money hungry oil tycoon.
It is difficult to discern whether one should think less kindly of Plainview or Eli Sunday, the local minister.
Quality direction evokes a dark, emotional and foreboding feeling.
Powerful images such as Plainview laughing at a burning oil tower and of Sunday exorcising the demon arthritis from an old woman are examples of the artistic possibilities of film.
Classical music juxtaposed with dirty, violent, western scenery reinforces the brutality of the land, the loneliness of the oil camps and the characters’ harsh emotions.
It is the music, and occasionally the lack thereof, which most impacts the intensity of important events.
After all, “There Will Be Blood” seems to exemplify the attitudes of Oscar judges by offering an impressive piece of art while lacking an interesting story.
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