Have you ever experienced watching a motion picture that struck such an emotional chord in you that you had to take some time to really let it soak into your psyche, really let it resonate with the things you yourself have going on in your life? Days after viewing it you still need time to reflect on it......a film that powerful? I found one that did just that for me. And here I am a week after viewing "There Will Be Blood" and I'm still not entirely ready to share my thoughts on the film. But seeing as how that's my job here at Killer Film, I must forge ahead and give you, dear reader, my review for Paul Thomas Anderson's gift to cinema, the amazing "There Will Be Blood".

How do I begin? Perhaps I should share my love for this directors previous works. Yes, I am a fan of P.T. Anderson and I have thoroughly enjoyed everything he has unleashed on film watchers in the past decade or so. I find his work to be brilliantly written and directed. I don't use that term loosely. Brilliant. From "Hard Eight" to "Boogie Nights" to "Magnolia" to "Punch Drunk Love" (in what I feel is Adam Sandler's best film as an actor), Anderson has delivered each and every time. Yes, I understand that some people just don't "get" his films. Some people find his work too "cerebral". Not I. Rather, I think his works are cinematic perfection, open to any astute viewers interpretation of the events unfolding onscreen. Character studies that definitely resonate with the viewer upon repeated viewings. Anderson is a masterful designer of complex stories and characters, but makes them all accessible to the viewer. It's a gift that too few filmmakers have nowadays.

With his newest film, "There Will Be Blood", Anderson gives us his most powerful and meaningful film to date. And, in what is sure to bring him the Oscar for Best Actor, Daniel Day Lewis gives the performance of his life as Daniel Plainview, a business-man in the oil industry and the father of young H.W. Greed and power are motivating factors in Plainview's world. He is a cold, callous man. And in a 30 year arc, his greed and quest for power/money leads to a destructive madness.

I've heard that Paul Thomas Anderson has referred to this film as a horror picture, and in many ways it is. It's unsettling to say the least. The dynamic performances of the lead actors only add to the terrifying feel of the movie, aided by a musical soundtrack that is as unrelenting as the characters onscreen. There are several questions raised in the film: What is Evil? What is Hate? What is Greed? When does one lose his humanity? Terrifying parallels are drawn to the world we live in today, even though the film is set at the turn of the 20th century. The movie dangerously plays with religion and with human ethics and acts as a mirror for the viewer to question these things in ourselves. This, people, is a masterpiece. This is utter and total brilliance.

Daniel Plainfield strikes oil and begins a life long journey of hate, greed, and violence. As the title of the films suggests, yes there will be blood. Daniel learns of a large oilfield under the ground in a small town and proceeds to buy up all the land, promising the citizens of the town new roads, new schools, a new life. He meets Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a man whose life is committed to serving the Lord, and soon the two men begin a silent war with each other. Yes, religion gets questioned here...even skewered, as Daniel believes Eli to be a false prophet. Over the decades, as Daniels money and power grows, he loses more and more of his soul. It's a strangely surrealistic descent into madness that takes over Daniel, culminating in one of the greatest endings of all time. Truly shocking, utterly terrifying, and all at once beautiful to watch, "There Will Be Blood" leaves a hearty impression.

Much has been said about Daniel Day Lewis's work here. He's won several awards for his portrayal of Daniel Plainview and I'm certain Oscar gold will be coming his way as well. I don't know if the movie works so well because of his performance, or if his performance is so outstandilng because of the direction by Anderson.....either way, these men were destined to work together. This is a movie that had to be made. As far as the supporting cast goes, everyone was exceptional. Paul Dano really deserved more recognition for his work here as Eli and Paul Sunday (yes, he plays 2 characters.....or does he?? Let the theories begin...). The kid who played young H.W., Daniel's son, did a fantastic job and his role is rather pivotal.

The look and sound of the film......I was just blown away. It's so beautifully shot that it immediately draws you in. I mentioned the score earlier and it is mesmerizing. I'm serious......this movie is, simply put, PERFECT.

There's so much to take in here that it will take you several days to let it all soak in. You'll be thinking about this film weeks, maybe months, after you've viewed it. And it definitely begs to be viewed several times over. I say it's the best picture of the year, if not the decade. I say Daniel Day Lewis is the most versatile and amazing actor working today. When you see it I think you'll agree. But if not, hey, it's Paul Thomas Anderson.....love him or hate him, at least his films will have you talking. And when people quote this movie, there's a couple lines in particular that will no doubt cross over into pop culture vocabulary. Who would've thought something as simple as a milkshake could be scary?

This comes HIGHLY recommended as this is definitely a KILLER FILM.