The Mung Pie

Let me first say that There Will Be Blood is not for everyone. 80% of you probably won’t like it or find it boring. I didn’t. It’s not a story filled with action, suspense, or comedy. It’s a story about an oil man who is great at what he does. It’s about his character and the struggles he has with competitors, religion, his family, and himself.

There Will Be Blood has some of the best acting I have seen in a very, very long time. Daniel Day Lewis is immensely captivating and his screen presence is like none other. While other characters were talking on screen I found myself drawn to Lewis and studying his subtle but perfect reactions to the presented situation. It even went so far to where I would miss dialogue because his acting was so mesmerizing. However, Lewis doesn’t give the only great performance. Paul Dano gives an equally great performance as the over enthusiastic preacher, Eli Sunday. Dano is very talented and it’s been great watching him grow as an actor with each film he is in. Dano has always been the master at acting fantastically creepy and awkward and this film is no different.

On the topic of awkward, let’s talk about the films score. It’s amazing. The first shot of the movie the viewers are presented with the swelling of strings. It instantly throws you into the mindset that this film is going to be different and filled with dark topic matter. Throughout the film the score comes in and out and paints the mood extremely unconventionally. At points there will be normal conversation and the soundtrack will be plucking away and creating this uncomfortable and tense emotion. It’s very strange however I found it very entertaining and made the film that much more creepier. It was a great experience.

Paul Thomas Anderson has done a great job at setting up captivating shots that will be remembered for a long time. The final scene of the movie will more then likely be a scene that movie enthusiasts will recall and add to their great moments in the history of cinema.

Now here’s the tough part. I want to say go see this movie in theaters, but honeslty I have a feeling most of you wont like it. For a movie thats 158 minutes of mostly dialogue and is currently receiving an 8.9/10 on IMDB with nearly 12,000 votes…it’s kind of hard not to say see it, as soon as you can.

Pies: 9/10