Original interpretation — not a still from the production
An epic of avarice and isolation, chronicling the rise and fall of an oil magnate in early 20th-century California.
The Continental Verdict
Essential
Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" is less a narrative of historical events and more a meticulous study in the corrosive nature of ambition. Daniel Day-Lewis, in a performance of formidable intensity, embodies Daniel Plainview, an oil prospector whose relentless pursuit of wealth and power isolates him utterly from humanity. The film, set against the austere backdrop of the Californian oil boom at the turn of the 20th century, eschews conventional sentimentality, instead presenting a brutalist portrait of capitalism and individual pathology.
Anderson, operating at the peak of his formal powers, constructs a world both vast and claustrophobic. Robert Elswit's cinematography captures the desolate grandeur of the landscape, while Jonny Greenwood's unsettling score acts as an almost psychological landscape of Plainview's fracturing mind. The narrative is a slow burn, punctuated by explosions of violence and seismic shifts in character, leaving the viewer to contemplate the cost of a life devoted solely to accumulation. It is a work that demands engagement, rewarding it with profound, if disquieting, insights into the American mythos of self-made men.
Why Watch It
The Gentleman Factor
The gentleman will appreciate the film's stark examination of industrial expansion and the often-sordid origins of great fortunes, offering a cautionary tale against unchecked ambition and the illusion of self-reliance. It is a meditation on the psychological toll of singular focus.
Look Out For
- Sober business attire
- Rough-hewn prospecting gear
- Edwardian suits
The Locations
Marfa, Texas (standing in for California)
More from the travel pages →The Cars
Period-appropriate horse-drawn wagons and early automobiles (e.g., Ford Model T)
More from motoring →The Wardrobe
Mark Bridges's costuming perfectly charts Plainview's progression from a solitary prospector in grubby workwear to a formidable, if still unrefined, magnate in tailored, dark suits. His choices subtly underscore the character's increasing wealth and internal decay.
More on style →The Soundtrack
Jonny Greenwood's orchestral score, a dissonant, angular work, masterfully underscores the film's psychological intensity and the desolate beauty of its setting. It is as much a character as the landscape itself.
Into the music room →Watch Next
Where to Watch
Available on most major streaming platforms for rental or purchase.
For the Collection
Also in Power & Money
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