There Will Be Blood

…is a movie driven by theme. It’s a cautionary tale about how greed and religious fervor can corrupt absolutely and can easily destroy everyone around. But because it’s driven by theme, the characters are permitted to be larger than life and actors Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano take every opportunity to devour the scenery in support of their thematic cause. Daniel Day Lewis, channeling Jack Palance, owns every molecule of his character and he is utterly captivating. This is an unmitigated benchmark of the craft. P.T. Anderson gets lots of brownie points for ambition, though don’t believe the reviews that say this is weird or unconventional. The only thing unconventional is the music, which at times drove me crazy. Otherwise, this could be a John Ford movie, with all the stunning cinematography, set-pieces, and bombastic performances. It’s a powerful and meaningful warning to all Americans.