Sure, I heard about all the critical praise for this movie, all its nominations, awards, Daniel Day-Lewis’s Oscar and everything else. But I simply had to see it to find out the meaning of “I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!” I hadn’t heard a line so often quoted since Borat’s “High five!”

And I’m happy to report that in the context of the oil baron Daniel Plainview’s tirade against the preacher Eli Sunday, the line actually makes sense. It’s brilliant, actually. And yes, I have been quoting it repeatedly.

But that’s hardly the only brilliant thing this movie has going for it. For all the hype and hoopla you’ve likely heard about Day-Lewis’s role as Plainview, I’m telling you, it’s all true. He’s so good it’s frightening. His is such a visceral performance, it’ll rattle your bones and make your hair stand on end. The scene in which he’s baptized into the church, well, I don’t know how else to describe it except to say that I had the sensation of being unable to look away and simultaneously wanting to run out of the room. It’s not as if there’s more violence in this film than in the average fare, but still, it’s not for those with weak nerves.

The film does have its faults, however, and I have to complain about one in particular. Paul Dano plays both Paul and Eli Sunday, whom I didn’t realize until practically the last scene were supposed to be twin brothers. I thought it was the same person. I really wonder at the decision to have him play twins…it’s confusing and pointless. Couldn’t there just be two brothers, played by two different actors?

There Will Be Blood (2008)
DVD Date of Release: April 2008
Based on Oil! by Upton Sinclair

Posted Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:00:32 and filed under DVD of the Week, Movies, DVD, Adaptation Reviews. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.