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Few films in recent years have made such an instant and dramatic impact as Anderson’s towering yarn about crude oil and God. Fewer still have put their finger on such a mortally topical concern, which is why this melodrama, inspired by an Upton Sinclair novel, has secured such a lofty berth on our list. It’s a stormy thriller about how oil turns a frontier hero into a monster, and Daniel Day-Lewis takes possession of the role like a demonic force of nature. The year is 1898, and women have yet to be invented in Texas. After years of bitter nothing, Day-Lewis’s rake-thin, hard-as-nails prospector uncorks his first gusher and starts building an empire.
By 1911 Daniel Plainview is a fully fledged tycoon, mopping up land from dirt-poor pilgrims with neither the tools, nor the nous, to dig their own fortunes. It’s a masterclass in how the West was truly sold, and a virtuoso piece of acting. The meticulous skill with which Day-Lewis assembles his performance around Plainview’s frontier tics and mannerisms is a genuine, and truly spartan, pleasure. He has a voice like Abe Lincoln, a strong handshake, and an honest limp. His ghastly ambition only becomes apparent when he clashes spectacularly with a young, evangelical minister, Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), whose tiny parish sits on top of the biggest untapped reservoir in America. The self-made millionaire and the self-appointed scourge of God are acutely aware how much a contract can transfigure their less-than-divine ambitions. The deal they strike is duly blighted by horrific accidents and ugly betrayals.
What makes Anderson’s film such a magnificent watch is the quality of the hypocrisy. The failure of these two emblematic characters to square religion and greed is quite sublime, and alarmingly relevant. James Christopher
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Anchorman? BadBoys? Dumb and Dumber? -
Perhaps the top lists should be in a category order and the gerenal public can pick their own top 100!
As always, a great debate!
Iain, Manchester,
looks like this guy stuck this film at No2 to be different otherwise his top ten would look like most other peoples.
matt, paignton,
magnolia is a far superior film to There will be blood.
stephen , london, uk
very good acting but very long and boring movie, especially towards the end.
didem, La Jolla, CA
Amazing performances don't always translate in great movies. Such is the Case with 'there will be blood'. 'No Country For Old Men' is a much more superior movie though it might not be ready for this list.
Ekow, University Park, USA
I'm sorry, was this film selected for a bet? 2nd best film ever? Has no one seen that classic 'Wet paint drying'? It knocks spots off this feeble effort.
Andrew Harrison, Holmfirth, UK
I seem to be in a minority but I was bored by There Will Be Blood. Daniel day Lewis sounded like John Huston's powerful and evil tycoon in Chinatown and to me this gave the game away from the start. It was obvious he was greedy and would do anything for wealth and end a lonely old man.
Ann Downey, Dublin, Ireland
#2? That was a strong risk. There Will Be Blood is great, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't immediately fall in love with it when I saw it. It's in my top ten personal favorite movies list. But it's not the second greatest film ever made and should be much, much lower.
Sam Bailey, Florida,
What happen with the art?.. showing worst part of human being for 90 minutes, doesn t make them heros of talent, it looks they don t know much about human beings and making a picture with good paint, does not produce art.
A. Wise, Lisle, Illinois
Amarilis Wise, Lisle, Illinois
Please tell me that this is a joke. This is PTA trying to mimic a fusion of Leond and Welles, and failing miserably. Ridiculous ending - being weird doesn't mean being good. There have been countless Westerns better than this, even in '07. It's not even April 1st. I feel violated....
Adam Hirsch, London,
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