Much in the world has changed since the summer of 2007, yet the timelessness of many of the films that year has proven the staying power of immaculate cinema. 15 years ago, the world was graced, or rather cursed, with the arrival of Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood. In what is perhaps Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterwork, Daniel Day-Lewis embodies the core American ideals upon which this country was founded: greed, evil, selfishness. As 158 minutes stretches out over the course of 30 years, the infinite lifespan of greed makes itself vehemently apparent. In the 15 years since its release, There Will Be Blood has only grown in its brilliance. And, in a most genius decision, the first 15 silent minutes of this film serve as the most fitting introduction imaginable to one of cinema’s most dastardly and realistic characters to ever exist.
Daniel Plainview practically lives underground. Covered head to toe in grime, his silence speaks volumes. Through grunts, hocks of spit, and greedy mutterings of discovery, he’s indistinguishable from a creature found in a cautionary fairy tale. Only There Will Be Blood is most certainly not a fairy tale, but instead, a wholly realistic look at a specific type of individual that built the very foundations of capitalism – and all the evil that comes along with that. After literally dragging himself and his score through the dirt, we witness Plainview build himself up. He is no longer alone in some hole in the middle of nowhere, but has made enough to assemble a small team, surely all hoping to either get rich or simply make enough money to feed themselves and their families. And if Plainview’s later speeches are any indication, it can be assumed that he said whatever he had to in order to get them to dive into the depths of the dirty earth alongside him. Even the acts that could be seen as charitable are eventually torn down by his own admission. In a way, it seems as if even he is incapable of lying to himself for too long in the name of the greater good. One way or another, the reasoning behind his actions always comes out. Most telling is that it never comes out by way of fear, but instead, pride.
Daniel Plainview is a proud man. He wholeheartedly understands exactly who he is, and it doesn’t seem to scare him in the slightest. On the contrary, he appears to be excited by it. In what is one of the more iconic moments of the film, there is a fiery accident that would serve as a distinct problem in another film; yet this is no ordinary film. Bathed in oil and pitch black darkness, Plainview has a look of enlightenment on his face. As a raging fire lights up the sky and offers a glimpse of Day-Lewis’ barely contained excitement, it seems as though nothing else matters. In many ways, he appears to be the literal face of evil. As Jonny Greenwood’s score descends into a repetitive drum pattern, it feels as if the very earth cracked open to unleash the corrupt spirit that lingered beneath the ground. Or perhaps, this accident is all that Plainview felt he needed in order to be his true self, the one that has been festering just beneath the surface.
A viewing of There Will Be Blood is akin to watching a dance with the Devil. As many individuals cross paths with Plainview, we see just how easily he can take advantage of them. In his quest to prevent everyone else’s success, he will even go as far as receiving a baptism from the hands of Eli Sunday, played by a deeply impressive Paul Dano. As Plainview gets on his knees begging for forgiveness in the name of securing a business transaction, it’s difficult not to conjure images of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist. As Linda Blair’s possessed Regan openly ridicules the priests attempting to save her soul, Plainview mocks the church itself and all within it. As the water washes over his head, his grin grows and the evil within him appears to become vitalized. Just as Greenwood’s score full of strings embodies a sense of new frontiers ready to cautiously be explored, there is a looming sense of danger behind every choice made in the film. Certain moments feel no different than a full-fledged horror film. After all, we are witnessing a battle for the soul of a man who is nothing if not deeply compelling. Through a more realistic lens however, Plainview’s soul was lost long ago. Perhaps we are just subconsciously hoping he is able to find some semblance of redemption.
As the years quickly go by, and Plainview has to deal less and less with “those people,” it is evident that he is becoming increasingly detached from reality. He openly admits to being disgusted by even the inspiring moments of his past, and he never resorts to opulence as a way of proving himself. Instead, it’s just a byproduct of his nature: crushing his competition. He spends his later days in a rudimentary shooting gallery in his home or sleeping on the floor of his bowling alley. Even at his most despicable, some yearn to be merely a fraction of the behemoth Plainview clawed himself into becoming. Yet, despite their desperate attempts, they quickly crumble under the morally hollow Plainview.
There are few contemporary directors who craft character pieces as compelling as PTA can, but when matched with the sheer intensity and insanity that Day-Lewis brings to the role, the impact is undeniable. 15 years later, There Will Be Blood remains one of the greatest American films to ever be crafted. And the idea of Daniel Plainview, as wicked as he may be, has only multiplied and thrived in the years since.
