There Will Be Blood

In There Will Be Blood, Daniel-Day Lewis plays a ruthless oil tycoon named Daniel Plainview. He is originally a mineral prospector, but one day he discovers oil and starts his own drilling company. When an accident results in the death of one of his workers, Plainview adopts the man's son and names him H. W. H. W. is very loyal, which Plainview uses to his advantage. Whenever he needs to take land away from its owners for drilling, he shows off his son to assure them that he cares about family and that he runs a family business.

Plainview's latest prospect comes in the form of a poor farmer's son named Paul Sunday, played by Paul Dano. The son assures him that there is oil beneath the family's farmlands and that he wants to profit from the sale of it. Plainview offers to pay the family a reduced price, and most of the family agrees. Paul's twin brother, Eli, also played by Paul Dano, has other plans. He wishes to sell the land at a higher price so he can fund the church of which he is pastor.

Plainview eventually wins and begins to acquire more land in the community. A great animosity develops between the two men. The community believes Eli has the power to heal people, while Plainview sees him as an impostor. When the one holdout in the community agrees to finally give up his land, he makes it a condition that Plainview must become part of Eli's church. Eli takes advantage of the situation to humiliate the oil man that refused to help fund his church. What follows is a battle of wits between the two men.

The director, Paul Thomas Anderson, is known for his twisted, unconventional style. The film has an atmosphere of darkness that makes it very unsettling, but interesting nonetheless.