There Will Be Blood is a realistic account of the desperate desire to build a fortune in the barren turn of the century west. The main character, Daniel, is a ruthless juggernaut that epitomizes the capitalist dream. This movie delivers a gritty story that is similar to Upton Sinclair’s other popular novel, The Jungle.

This movie deserved all the nominations and awards for art direction. Daniel Day-Lewis’ oil-streaked face is a ghostly image against a burning oil dredge in the night. One scene shows a breathtaking blue sky reflected in a pool of oil surrounded by barren sagebrush. There is some foreshadowing when Daniel sits in the sun and his half-brother sit in the shade.

There Will Be Blood earned its awards for cinematography. The film overlays a heartfelt speech Daniel delivers about how he intends to improve the area with pictures of oil dredge workers arriving in town. There is one scene in the movie where Daniel admits his sins to a congregation. Later, Daniel’s adversary must admit his sins to Daniel. The two scenes are disturbing and oddly mirror each other.

Daniel Day-Lewis proves he can play the role as a merciless, power-hungry tyrant. He showed us this cruel character in There Will Be Blood and in Gangs of New York. I am excited to see what else he has to offer in the future.

There Will Be Blood is a good movie if you are into plot. But I would not recommend it for a first date, unless you are dating a film major.