After watching There Will Be Blood, I have to think long and hard before naming a movie that tells a story as dark and dramatic as it does (though in part, this is because I tend to watch lighter movies).
Explicitly, the first dark movie that comes to mind is Oldboy (2003). While the plot of Oldboy is a bit more twisted than the plot of There Will Be Blood, the protagonist Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) of There Will Be Blood has much greater presence than that of Oldboy.
 |
| Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) |
The second movie that eventually came to my mind, however, would be a reasonable contender to the dark and dramatic aura carried by There Will Be Blood: The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo (2009).
In any case, I would highly recommend this film for its great performances as well as its dark and sometimes violent plot. While its not good enough to be in my personal top 50 films, I would certainly consider watching There Will Be Blood again in the future.
"I drink your milkshake!" - Daniel Plainview
[20140629]
Instant comments:
That's a strange start to a movie.
 |
| Abel Sunday, Daniel, HW, and Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) |
Wow, I didn't realize that's how oil had to be obtained in the past.
An hour into the movie, I find that the movie is more character-driven as opposed to story-driven.
Damn, that's some serious slapping that went on (Daniel slapped Eli around).
The Wikipedia article says "Eli humiliates Daniel there, coercing him to acknowledge being a poor father as part of his initiation." However, I interpret the scene as both a sign of Daniel's willingness to do anything it takes to make money and mocking the ritual.
Burn!
Excellent dialogue:
Plainview: You're not the chosen brother, Eli. It was Paul who was chosen. You see, he found me and told me about your land. You're just a fool."I'm finished." [20140629: The Wikipedia article pointed out that this scene was parodied in the South Park episode "Breast Cancer Show Ever" (Season 12 Episode 09).
Eli Sunday: Why are you talking about Paul? Don't say this to me.
Daniel tries to comfort his son HW (Dillon Freasier) after an accident.
Plainview: I did what your brother couldn't. I broke you and I beat you. It was Paul who told me about you. He's the prophet. He's the smart one. He knew what was there and he found me to take it out of the ground, and you know what the funny thing is? Listen... listen... listen... I paid him ten thousand dollars, cash in hand, just like that. He has his own company now. A prosperous little business. Three wells producing. Five thousand dollars a week.
[Eli cries]
Plainview: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli.
Eli Sunday: No...
Plainview: You slithered out of your mother's filth.
Eli Sunday: No.
Plainview: They should have put you in a glass jar on a mantlepiece. Where were you when Paul was suckling at your mother's teat? Where were you? Who was nursing you, poor Eli- one of Bandy's sows? That land has been had. Nothing you can do about it. It's gone. It's had. You lose.
Eli Sunday: If you would just take this lease, Daniel...
Plainview: Drainage! Drainage, Eli, you boy. Drained dry. I'm so sorry. Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches across the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!
[sucking sound]
Plainview: I drink it up!
Eli Sunday: Don't bully me, Daniel!
[Daniel roars and throws Eli across the room]
Plainview: Did you think your song and dance and your superstition would help you, Eli? I am the Third Revelation! I am who the Lord has chosen!
Watched 20140531 (Netflix, Instant) (Streaming until 20140601)
There Will Be Blood (2007) Paul Thomas Anderson. 158 min [loosely botn Oil! (1927) by Upton Sinclair]
Relevant Links:
There Will Be Blood (IMDb.com)
There Will Be Blood (Wikipedia.org)
There Will Be Blood (RottenTomatoes.com)
