There Will Be Blood (2007)

Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson

Writers (WGA):

Paul Thomas Anderson (screenplay)
Upton Sinclair (novel)

Release Date:

11 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When Ambition Meets Faith

Plot:

A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Land | Prospector | California | Power

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 57 wins & 53 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Daniel Plainview
Martin Stringer	...	Silver Assay Worker
Matthew Braden Stringer	...	Silver Assay Worker
Jacob Stringer	...	Silver Assay Worker
Joseph Mussey	...	Silver Assay Worker
Barry Del Sherman	...	H.B. Ailman
Harrison Taylor	...	Baby H.W. Plainview
Stockton Taylor	...	Baby H.W. Plainview
Paul F. Tompkins	...	Prescott
Dillon Freasier	...	Young H.W. Plainview
Kevin Breznahan	...	Signal Hill Man
Jim Meskimen	...	Signal Hill Married Man
Erica Sullivan	...	Signal Hill Woman
Randall Carver	...	Mr. Bankside
Coco Leigh	...	Mrs. Bankside

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

158 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Germany:12 (f) | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | USA:R (certificate #43414) | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:15 (re-rating on appeal) | Norway:15 | Czech Republic:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | New Zealand:R13 | Sweden:15 | Denmark:15 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Taiwan:R-12 | Greece:K-13 | France:U (with warning) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Austria:16

Filming Locations:

El Mirage Dry Lake, California, USA

Company:

Ghoulardi Film Company

Trivia:

The film was originally given a 12A rating in the UK for cinema exhibition, meaning that children of any age could see it, with adult supervision if they were younger than 12. In a curious move, the distributors subsequently appealed to the British Board of Film Classification to consider raising the certificate. The BBFC agreed, and the film was subsequently uprated to a more restrictive 15, preventing anyone under that age from being admitted to screenings regardless of parental supervision.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Daniel starts throwing bowling balls at Eli, all twenty pins are standing in both lanes of the bowling alley. After a couple of camera angle changes, nine pins in the left alley are shown knocked over despite Eli nor the bowling balls coming near them.

Quotes:

Prescott:[Plainview has just stormed out of a town meeting] Mr. Plainview? No! Mr. Plainview, where are you going?
Plainview:I don't need the lease, thank you.
Prescott:We need you, we need you to...
Plainview:Too much confusion! Thank you for your time.
Prescott:No, no, no! There's no confusion! If you just...
Plainview:[stops in his tracks, stares down Prescott] I wouldn't take the lease if you gave it to me as a gift.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: There Might Be Blood (#3.6)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

There Is Power in the Blood

The best movie of the year and, possibly, of the decade

P.T. Anderson's "There Will be Blood" marks a whole new chapter in the filmmaker's career, and in the world of cinema altogether. This is a towering achievement, one that puts its mark alongside various American classics, such as Giant, The Treasure of Sierra Madre, and Citizen Kane. It's above all a masterpiece, wonderfully directed, superbly acted, and perfectly written.

Daniel Day Lewis delivers a performance worthy of Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and other movie titans. His depiction of Daniel Plainview is simply outstanding, a man moved by greed and hatred. His character is already one of the most charismatic villains of all times, one that would make Hannibal Lecter himself get goosebumps. Paul Dano also gives a surprisingly mature performance, showing that he has come a long way since he played the silent teenager in Little Miss Sunshine. Paul Thomas Anderson shows noticeable excellence behind the cameras, giving the world a lot of unforgettable scenes. The shocking finale is a proof of the movie's excellence. Wonderful in all its aspects, "There will be Blood" is the best movie of the year and, quite possibly, of the decade.