This is one of the greatest films of the past decade. the film is about business, business deals and business cons. we are presented a topic most of us don't know about except for maybe the documentary-goers and book readers (or if you lived at this time which i certainly did not). these are the times of oil. what people would do to get their hands on oil is what so would call disgusting; yeah well is happens everyday in our world. the film is directed by one of the greatet directors of our day: Paul Thomas Anderson. he wrote and directed one of the deeepest and humane films ever and one of my favorites: "Magnolia" in 1999. he is and incredibly skilled director who does not have one sole style. he deals with depression and isolation deftly; we can conclude that he has probably expirienced it first hand. We have the "oil man", Daniel Plainview played by Daniel-Day Lewis who i will get to in the second or third paragraph. he goes from town to town seeking oil deals. he is quite wealthy but he has worked for it. we see him as the actual mine worker getting his hands dirty, falling down and breaking bones. He has worked hard for the money and still does. but he is not a holy man. he has sinned. he cheats lies and bargains all for wealth. This all is challenged when he goes to a town in search of oil. This town is as about religious as you can get.
So Lewis is your orthodox buisness man. he has been in the business long enough to know the loop holes and knows how to get around people. he dextrously uses his son to convince people that he is a family man. his son H.W. is not he own son. a friend of his died in one of the mines so he took over. he gets a tip from a young man from a small town that there is a huge amount of oil that is seeping from the ground. but the young man is not stupid. Lewis, in large hopes for a breakthrough, travels with his son pretending to go quail hunting. they settle on property with a deeply religious family primarily run by their teenage son. it was their other son who tipped Lewis about the oil in their property. Paul Dano plays both sons. once settled down, Lewis reveals the real reason why they are there: oil. of course he offers his deals but again, the family is not stupid. they, naturally, want a huge donation to their church seeing as how the whole town uses it. Drilling begins, and then Lewis's unknown brother shows up looking for some money, knowng og his brother success in the oil business. this presents problems as well. we recieve insight into the craft that is done so well. the score is eerie and showcases the emptiness of the people and their setting. most of Andersons's scores are incredibly suiting to the emotion and setting of his films.
Lewis's performance is one of the greatest of our time. he seems experienced and professional as the character is. it is a unique and complex character. he said he based his voice off of John Huston's which for me was very recognizable but perfect. Paul Dano is better than he was in "Little Miss Sunshine" which he was good in as well. he was really convincing as a radical religious leader in his town. Anderson pulls wonderful performances from his young actors like Jeremy Blackman's moving performance in "Magnolia". Dillon Freasier is no different. Lewis is the kind of actor that can be placed into any setting and adapt. like Blachett and Streep. he is not a type-cast actor like Michael Cera and Jesse Eisenberg. his wonderful performance in "My Left Foot" really shows his ability and Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" does as well. But i love his evil and cold side. Like Ian Holm in the heart-wrenching Atom Egoyan film "The Sweet Hereafter", Lewis is there for business, not pity. This is the genious of the film.
| Academy Awards, USA | |||
| Year | Result | Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Won | Oscar | Best Achievement in Cinematography Robert Elswit |
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Daniel Day-Lewis | |||
| Nominated | Oscar | Best Achievement in Art Direction Jack Fisk (art director) Jim Erickson (set decorator) | |
| Best Achievement in Directing Paul Thomas Anderson | |||
| Best Achievement in Editing Dylan Tichenor | |||
| Best Achievement in Sound Editing Matthew Wood Christopher Scarabosio | |||
| Best Motion Picture of the Year JoAnne Sellar Paul Thomas Anderson Daniel Lupi | |||
| Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Paul Thomas Anderson | |||
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