Overall Impressions:
The film does have a pretty slow pace, but it certainly doesn't have you bored. If I'm honest this surprised me. The trailer actually had me concerned about the film if I'm honest. Is a film about some dude selling oil going to keep me interested? From the initial impressions, I felt there just seemed to be little else to it. To that latter part I wasn't wrong, there is little else to it, but as is my firm belief: any story can make a good film, provided it is handled appropriately & this is precisely where it scores.

Kicking it off as the scene is set, there is simply the one man: Plainview, hacking away at some rocks. There's no dialogue for the first few minutes of the film. As his progress begins to yield small results (silver) and then some larger results (oil), it gets to straight to business.

By the end of the first act, it's pretty clear where he began & where he's at. He's not simply the guy that can get the oil from the ground. He's also well connected with the people he will need along the way. Obviously it helps that he has great strength in his speech in conjunction with the gift of sharp wit. This allows him to become quite the salesman. The plot point at the end of the first act has Peter come from a land afar to let Mr. Plainview in on a potential fortune (at a cost ofcourse).

Dubious of the boy's nature, but intrigued by the information he brings. He takes the risk of venturing out to see if this oil is out there for the picking, to find of course that it is (else we could have been in for quite a boring second act) and it's this reservoir of oil & his process of getting it, sidelined with the journey of his life as an 'oil man' that keeps us glued to our seats. Saying any more about the story seems a bit of an injustice so I'll move to the technicalities.

They've done a superb job of capturing the time period in which it is set. The research that has gone into it must have been pretty in-depth. Some of you may be aware of the big outburst of the over-use (including from myself) of the term "I drink your milkshake". Thanks to Film Junk, I got to learn that this too was part of the research. This said there is 1 line in the film that just didn't fit in. I think it was an attempt at humour but I'm really not sure. You'll know it when you hear it.

The writing & directing (done hand in hand) had a pretty clear picture here of what they wanted & I do believe it has been achieved. The role of Daniel Planview was written with Daniel Day-Lewis in mind. To see him in the role could not be any more natural. He is Plainview. Though all of the other aspects of the film are spot-on, it has to be said, it is this man that stands taller than them all. Paul Thomas Anderson coming a close second with the probably the most quotable dialogue in a long long while. I can't remember the last film, which had me wanting to memorise the whole thing.

At third place we have Paul Dano. Much to my surprise, I might add. I don't believe I've seen him before but he's certainly left an impact. Without spoiling it much I have to say I hated his character from the very outset, which is the intention. The guy has pulled off the role to such an extreme that his overall outcome to me, seemed like he got off too easy. You may think I'm being harsh in that statement but I really did hate him that much.

The one thing I will say is that I don't understand the title. The first time I heard it I thought it may be some spin off from Saw II (I'm glad it's not) and yes, people do die in it, but it's far from blood spray. It just doesn't spell out the film for me, even having seen it. *shrugs*

Even though it doesn't match the excessive hype, it has to be said, this is a film that will keep people on a universal level engaged. Perhaps this is why contrary to the title there isn't all that much blood. It's stayed with me for days. I even bought myself a milkshake. (& yes I did indeed "drink it up")