Running time: 159 minutes
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciaran Hinds, Dillon Freasier
Rating 8 out of 10
In Paul Thomas Anderson's two previous 'long' films - Boogie Nights and Magnolia - he portrayed the fates of large groups of interconnected characters seeking salvation in distinctive settings. Now, in his new epic (which runs at a meagre and captivating 159 minutes compared to the 188 minutes of Magnolia), he traces the life of just one extraordinary and singular character. Much has been written about Daniel Day-Lewis' portrayal of Daniel Plainview, a turn of the century Californian oil prospector and his performance certainly justifies the hype. It's a million miles away from the garish clowning he produced in the disappointing Gangs of New York, but it does lend itself to immediate impression and linger in the mind. It's at least equal to any of the performances we have seen from the Anglo-Irish actor before.
Plainview is simply fascinating: instead of seeking salvation he is simply seeking silver. The stunning opening sequence - shot in silence and depicting his early failures as a jewel prospector - contrast with a dramatic climax many years later as the tycoon Plainview settles what his now twisted logic believes is a final score. It's an ending that will shock, possibly confuse, and one which is certainly worth closer examination.
Along the way we see how Plainview is prepared to sacrifice everything, even his family, in order to build his empire, and his greed is crystallised in his relationship with a young preacher (Paul Dano), who stands between him and a huge fortune. Plainview's false conversion to religion in order to get his deal is one of the film's many highlights.
Magnificent cinematography is accompanied by an iconic soundtrack composed by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. Based on the Upton Sinclair novel Oil! it's also partly a history of how America came to be, and because it decides to portray the flaws in achieving success, it's not always pretty. Plainview is a fictional 20th century legend, and Anderson has dedicated his film to Robert Altman, who would have undoubtedly approved.
Paul Hurley
