Net News Publisher (Free subscription) | 07/13/2008
... are the most obvious, but clearly the narrative pits Daniel against the local upstart preacher, Eli Sunday, played by Paul Dano. Both men are shown to be shysters and con-men. Daniel resents Eli because Eli doesn’t have to work hard for his money. Consequently, Eli resents Daniel because he makes so much money and Eli is as greedy as Daniel. The interplay between Daniel and Eli adds a good...
The Daily Record (Free subscription) | 07/11/2008
There Will Be Blood **** (15) By Rick Fulton BY 1911, Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) has made a fortune from draining land of oil. Atip-off leads him and his 10-year-old son H.W (Dillon Freasier) to a rural community in the thrall of charismatic preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). Daniel establishes one of his rigs and taps into a huge underground reserve of black gold, which he hopes to sell...
Belfast Telegraph (Free subscription) | 07/04/2008
By 1911, Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) has made a modest fortune buying plots of land and draining them of oil. A tip-off leads the businessman and his 10-year-old son HW (Freasier) to a rural community in the thrall of charismatic preacher Eli Sunday (Dano).
IndieLondon (Free subscription) | 07/06/2008
... overflowing with the black stuff. But once there, he crosses paths with a Bible-bashing preacher, Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), who threatens to undermine his progress both spiritually and physically. It’s only a matter of time before their rivalry spills over into blood. Day-Lewis is one of a rare breed of actors with the ability to inhabit each role. Meet him in real life and this congenial,...
Manchester Evening News (Free subscription) | 07/04/2008
... and his 10-year-old son H.W. (Freasier) to a rural community in the thrall of charismatic preacher Eli Sunday (Dano).Daniel establishes one of his rigs and taps into a huge underground reserve of black gold, which he hopes to sell via an ambitious pipeline across the state.The tug of war between business and the church threatens the entire enterprise, pitting Daniel against an increasingly...
News Scotsman (Free subscription) | 07/05/2008
... to pure profit, something that the film explores via the titanic clash between Plainview and Eli Sunday (a magnificent Paul Dano), the young opportunistic preacher whose family's ranch sits atop the ocean of oil Plainview wants to get at. Anderson smartly never tells us what's motivating Plainview, leaving us instead to read between the lines of his odd handling of familial questions – the...
Scotsman.com (Free subscription) | 07/05/2008
... to pure profit, something that the film explores via the titanic clash between Plainview and Eli Sunday (a magnificent Paul Dano), the young opportunistic preacher whose family's ranch sits atop the ocean of oil Plainview wants to get at. Anderson smartly never tells us what's motivating Plainview, leaving us instead to read between the lines of his odd handling of familial questions – the...
IGN (Free subscription) | 06/06/2008
... dry. But Plainview finds himself struggling to maintain control of a new find, when he encounters Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), an ambitious minister who hopes to expand his congregation. Soon, the two men are locked into a battle of wills over control of the oil, falling into an increasingly dangerous game of one-upmanship that threatens to end in violence and self-destruction.First (and foremost...
