Christopher Orr briefly but vividly describes the opening scenes of the being of “There Will Be Blood”. The opening scene lays the foundation of what is to come in the later scenes. It talks about the ambitions of a unknown man that discovers oil accidently. He takes in the son of a deceased worker and raises him. The intention of the adoption is both out of sympathy and gaining wealth. The image of alcohol and its multiple uses are found throughout the movie. At a time where alcohol was facing its prohibition. It was depicted as the main catalyst used to numb the pains of loss and grief. Whiskey was rubbed on the nibble of young H.W when he was a baby and also was missed with his milk after he had gone deaf. Daniel Plainview used it to deal with his power hunger and his escape from the oil industry. H.W goes on to live on his life. When he becomes a man he tries to become independent but Plainview sees this as betrayal. He tells H.W that he was never good enough to be his real son and he would have never been able to amount to as much as H.W did without Plainview there. This breaks H.W and Plainview has a flashback. He drinks away the memory. Orr also speaks about how religion played a key role in the film. Plainview was never a religious man and whenever it was mentioned he would steer away from the question. He also “accepts” religion to become more wealthy when William Brandy tells him that if he joins the congregation he would allow Plainview to establish a running pipeline on his land. Religion comes back towards the end and Plainview exposes the flaws of Eli , the so called prophetic leader of Little Boston. He shows that wealth and money will always change the hearts of men. At the closing scenes Eli comes back and begs Plainview for money because of the economic changes of the Great Depression. Plainview tells him to denounces God and Eli does just for the lust of money. The ending finishes with the blood of Eli flowing on the bowling lane. The same blood that Plainview says he will drink when he was being baptized. The ending does leave the audience guessing about what happens to H.W , what happens to Plainview and also what is to come due to the economic recession in the United States.
Day-Lewis does an extraordinary job on the role of Plainview. The powerful and intimidating voice echoes in the hearts of his rivals and he shows no weakness or fear in front of them. He does have his setbacks but only in solitude. No one stood over Plainview at any point of the movie. He proved that he could stand even on his one good leg.
