New in Theatres: “There Will Be Blood”   Rating: R

Genre: Drama

           Because of YouTube, this movie has been broken down to a singular line: “I drink your milkshake!” Unfortunately, few will ever know how much more there is to this movie. There is hate, hate, and well… more hate. Daniel Day-Lewis’ brilliant portrayal of Daniel Plainview, a simple oil man (or so he’ll tell you), shows us his hate for mankind, his hate for life, and most of all his hatred towards himself. And while this movie may have come short of an Oscar in the category of “Best Picture,” don’t be fooled into thinking this movie isn’t worth every penny for admission.

          “There Will Be Blood,” is the story loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil!. I say loosely because this movie is so much more; or in actuality so much less in terms of scope, but yet a brilliant story nonetheless. While Sinclair’s novel gave an entire story, a setting, and a town, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” gives us a skewed perspective of a lonely world.

          Daniel Plainview is a man that hates everything- his only goal in life is to become rich. For what reason, we have no idea, but regardless of reason we quickly realize that his ambition lies nowhere else. The man would literally drag himself up from a well to reach the top and start back over again, like he does in this film. Family and friends mean nothing to Plainview. His child, whom is referred to as H.W., is never loved like a child is meant too. Instead he is simply a prop for Plainview's business meetings, and a disposable prop at that. All of this would lead you to believe that Plainview is a complex man, but you would be wrong. In fact, he’s such a simple man that when he becomes a billionaire and his half-brother (whom he’s never met) comes out of nowhere he doesn’t even question the possibility that the man might be lying. Instead Plainview makes him his right-hand man. This is the insanity of Plainview. He hates everyone, yet he realizes he needs people to bounce his own insanity off of. Most never get to fully realize his hatred, with the exception of a local priest, Paul Sunday (played by Paul Dano), who he begins to hate from the day he meets him.

          As the movie progresses you begin to question what we’re really meant to grasp, if anything at all. Eventually, we begin to understand that this movie is about the ruthlessness of Plainview, and the unavoidable confrontation between himself and Paul Sunday. The ending never seems to be in sight, until it happens so fast you’re left sitting in your seat wondering if it’s really over. Some may consider it the perfect conclusion, while others will wonder if there weren’t 500 better ways to end this film.

          This film will not be mistaken for the best of 2007, although it will definitely be recognized by many as the best performance of Daniel Day-Lewis’ career. This is really saying something, considering the movies Lewis has been in. Meanwhile, director Paul Thomas Anderson continues to ignore character development of any kind, but continues to work with some of the best in the business to bring brilliant color, scenery, and camera angles to the big screen. His work adds to the overall quality of the film.

          Jane Austen is credited with writing 6 novels, most of which can find supporters to this day willing to call them “brilliant.” So what motivated a young, British, female author to write such wonderful words? Recent biographies of Austen claim that she was in love with an Irishman named Tom Lefroy, and some have even unearthed letters written between the two. This movie explores the possibility of their love. Although it is admittedly inaccurate, since few could say what really might have occurred, it is quite the pleasure to watch.

          “Becoming Jane,” is a film far too easy to fall in love with. The film takes place in what can only be described as a breath-taking English countryside. The story portrays Jane as a young writer, who has never had the chance to see the world, yet already knows so much. Tom Lefroy, on the other hand, is a somewhat worldly man learning to be a lawyer. While pompous at first, it is quickly determined that Lefroy has genuine spark for Austen, and while the couple tries to hide it, everyone around them can see what is going on.

          Once the two admit how they feel, they come across a bigger problem. Both Mr. Lefroy and Jane are poor, and in order to survive they will need to make more money. The two struggle with the decision of what to do, as Tom needs to take care of his family, and Jane has a family of her own to think of.

          Although there is something left to be desired with Anne Hathaway’s ability to portray an Englishwoman, I overlook her inaccuracies simply because the chemistry between her and James McAvoy is quite remarkable. The idea of another pair matching their on-screen romance just doesn’t seem possible. For his role, McAvoy is simply brilliant. Proof that he truly is a rising star after movies like “The Last King of Scotland,” and “Atonement.” While this movie isn't quite comparable to those two films, McAvoy does just as good a job in "Becoming Jane" as he did in any of his previous work.

          Few movies deserve the title “legendary,” but Fargo has been deemed as such since the moment it was released in 1996. Movies like this keep us coming back to theatres year after year, dolling out what seems to be too much money just to see a film. In short, this movie makes us realize just how much entertainment can be provided when everything is done right. Over the years we’ve come to expect greatness out of the Coen Brothers, and this movie is what helped launch our current expectations.

          This film is about a lot of things, but for the sake of space, I’ll try to tell a long story short. Jerry Lundegaard, played by William H. Macy, is the manager of a car dealership. Despite having a rich father-in-law, Ludegaard has little money and attempts to find a way to make cash without having to outright ask for it. He devises a plan to hire two low-life criminals to fake his wife’s kidnap in order to get the ransom money. The only problem is the criminals are hardly professional, and after a mix-up, they end up killing a state trooper. This leads the criminals to ask for more money and complicates the whole situation for Jerry, especially when another sheriff (Marge Gunderson) starts to sniff around his car lot.

          What makes this film so great is the Coen brother’s ability to fit so much into such a small space. Every role, regardless of size, has purpose and meaning. Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare play criminals who are polar opposites. Buscemi is a talkative wise-guy who seems to be the brains, despite the fact that he constantly is making mistakes. Stormare, on the other hand, is silent yet deadly and gives you an uneasy feeling just by his facial expressions. William H. Macy, for all it’s worth, comes across as a small town guy who simply got himself in way over his head; while Frances McDormand plays a cop-country-bumpkin with little education. She is basically a modern Columbo.

          Each character has a similar story in what seems to be one of the most well thought-out movies of all time. Every piece fits in this puzzle. From set design, to characters, to lines of dialogue that seem meaningless, everything has a purpose. When all of these factors are put together, the result is one of the greatest movies of all time.