The Hindu : Karnataka News : Daniel’s Day out film review

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Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Daniel’s Day out film review

There will be blood (English)

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis,

Dillon Freasier, Paul Dano

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

The third of the best picture nominees to hit the screen, “There will be blood”, is based on Upton Sinclair’s novel, “Oil!” The first line of dialogue comes after 14 minutes and 30 seconds according to Internet Movie Database. However, it felt longer, and while the film clocks at slightly over two-and-a-half hours, it feels longer than that thanks to the pacing.

Starting off in the turn of the century, the film tells the story of a silver prospector, Daniel Plainview, who quickly turns to oil and becomes very successful. His methods are not entirely above board and he does not think twice about bleeding the land and its people dry to feed his greed.

When Paul Sunday comes up to Plainview with a tip of oil to be found near the family farm, Plainview sets off with his son, to acquire land to set up his empire. He comes up against the younger Sunday, Eli, a fiery preacher. The film follows the fortunes of the two men till the eve of the Great Depression where Plainview is a rich oil magnate and Eli is on the brink of bankruptcy.

The movie talks of the corruption inherent in the twin towers America is built on — oil and religion. The movie is shot like an epic and the cinematographer rightly won the Oscar for his work, but does not live up to its promise.

The biggest culprit for this is the hurried third act. If there is one guaranteed reason to watch this film, it is for Daniel Day-Lewis. As the morally ambiguous Plainview, he masterfully inhabits his character. The best actor nod at the Oscars is well-deserved.

MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER

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