"There Will Be Blood": The End of Morality

The relentless clink of a rusty pickaxe against unyielding rock sends sparks flashing in the dark mine, echoing sharply through the confined space. Finally, a hand-sized silver ore falls from a crevice, a reward well-earned after a day's toil. Yet, the journey back ends in a fall, leading to unconsciousness. When he awakens, sheer willpower forces him to climb out of the abyss and drag himself across a desolate desert. Years later, he transitioned from mining to oil drilling, expanding his enterprise with hired hands. On one fateful day, oil gushes forth, only for one of his men to be killed instantly by a collapsing wooden platform above.

This is the opening scene of "There Will Be Blood" (2007). It unfolds without dialogue, accompanied solely by Jonny Greenwood's dissonant orchestral score, which buzzes like locusts, a racket from the depths of hell. This introduction compares "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968).

In "2001: A Space Odyssey," an ape-man discovers the tool-wielding thumb, launching a bone into the sky, heralding a leap to a spaceship in the next frame. Similarly, Daniel Plainview, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, displays a rare genuine smile upon discovering silver, his greed, and desire as primal as the ape-mans. In the film's climax, Daniel wields a bowling pin to kill the preacher Eli, mirroring the ape's bone-wielding aggression. The oil extracted becomes the lifeblood of our modern society, essential for industrial progress. Thus, "There Will Be Blood" mirrors "2001: A Space Odyssey" in its structure and thematic resonance—transitioning from primitive states to a corrupt civilization.

Daniel's character quickly becomes multidimensional: a solitary, unsmiling figure embodying social Darwinism, with a deep, hypnotic voice that manipulates with calculated words. His actions are self-serving, a dark aura constantly surrounding him, his focused, pale gaze burning with anger and malice, akin to the depths of oil—profound and complex.

The eerie soundtrack oscillates between music and noise, reminding us that the deeper we go, the closer we get to hell. Daniel is a devil emerging from the depths, driven purely by desire and ambition. "There Will Be Blood" ruthlessly exposes the brutal allegory of American culture, politics, and history under capitalism.

The allusion to George H. W. Bush's middle name, derived from the Bush family's connection with businessman Herbert Walker, underscores the film's critique of capitalism. The nickname "H.W." given to Daniel's son resonates with this legacy, reflecting the deliberate choice of character names to symbolize the resurgence of capitalism.

As capitalism thrived, it ushered in the era of George W. Bush. His tenure saw tax cuts, deregulation, and the unchecked rise in oil prices, policies that weakened the American economy. Post-9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq further solidified these policies under the guise of anti-terrorism, leading to the 2008 economic crisis. The rich benefited while the American economy suffered, with private firms profiting from war and energy companies seizing foreign oil fields and transport opportunities.

The parallels between George W. Bush's life and Daniel Plainview's journey—from Harvard to the Texas oil industry, battling alcoholism with Christian faith, and winning over voters with his middle-class appeal—are stark and unsettling. The Bush family's image of greed and power, coupled with religious opportunism, is epitomized in Daniel. He embodies individualism and the American Dream, but his insatiable pursuit of wealth and disdain for those he deems useless signify absolute greed and corruption. This narrative is less about the American Dream and more about an American nightmare.

"There Will Be Blood" transcends personal epic, reflecting the brutal shifts in economic development and social structure, highlighting the dark side of America's corporate success story. Director Paul Thomas Anderson condenses historical and social currents into one man's rise and fall, revealing the inherent violence in the American character—both physical and spiritual. Daniel is the epitome of this violence, a manifestation of the weaponized frontier capitalism and male chauvinism that drive American power.

The critique of male chauvinism is also reflected in the ambiguous sexual orientations of Daniel and Eli, with both lacking interest in women, subtly undermining male power.

Daniel's surname "Plainview," signifies the vastness of the wilderness, the primal state, contrasting with Eli, whose biblical name and surname, "Sunday," symbolize godliness and morality. However, Christianity in the film is as corrupt and greedy as the oil industry.

When oil gushes forth, the preacher is eager to claim his share. Blood flows beneath the earth like oil, a metaphor for the sacred fluid, combusting and staining humanity. This juxtaposition of flesh and blood with the dark oil underscores the film's central themes.

The absence of a father figure, a recurring motif in Anderson's films, is prominently explored here. H.W.'s eventual estrangement from Daniel contrasts with the typical reconciliation in Anderson's previous works. The poignant flashback of Daniel playing with young H.W. on the grass, parting ways, foreshadows their inevitable separation.

Daniel's mistrust leads to isolation; his transcendence above God negates the need for redemption. His violent outburst culminates in bludgeoning Eli, burying his last vestige of conscience. His final words, "I'm finished," signify the completion of his capitalist mission and a metaphorical consumption of life itself.

Ultimately, the oil tycoon embodies the Third Revelation, preaching a new faith forged from America's original sin—oil. Capitalism and prophecy, blood and violence, these themes are intricately woven into "There Will Be Blood," crafting a narrative of humanity surrendering its soul to desire. The film's grand scale and meticulous metaphors expose the deep-seated issues within America's core values, rendering a definitive judgment on the contemporary American spirit.

Humanity has perished, suffocated in the dense, glistening black oil, and drowned in the blood extracted from lambs. The insatiable force of desire leads to a bloody sacrifice and a predestined apocalypse. Only scorched remnants and a lifelong void remain when all achievements burn. As the smoke clears, the blood-red dawn and the river of blood signify the impending end.