Sunday my spousal unit and I were able to enjoy a rare treat, a date complete with dinner and a movie. We ate a very reasonably priced curry at Masala in the Inner Sunset (9th Ave/Irving) – OK food, OK atmosphere, nothing spectacular. Then we took in the latest Daniel Day-Lewis vehicle, There Will Be Blood. After having a little time to think about the film, I’m not quite sure what to say about it other than it was well made, well performed, and despite a slow start, compelling in the way that one can’t look away from a car wreck. One thing I couldn’t stand about it was the music, it seemed to be composed by an overly dramatic Philip Glass wannabe.

If you’re planning on seeing the film, don’t read any further. SPOILER ALERT.

OK, so you’ve seen the film or you’re not going to see it and you wanted to hear a little more. I thought the most interesting aspect of the story (other than the obvious blood/oil/drinking theme) related to the relationship between Plainview and Elijah, the self-proclaimed prophet and healer. It was clear from the start that Plainview would do whatever was required to access the oil and equally clear was his disdain for the religious “performances” staged by Elijah.

After Plainview’s son was injured as the well blew out the subtle conflict between the two erupted into physical confrontation that would escalate throughout the movie with the scene in the oil field, the church when Plainview is blackmailed into “salvation” to get his pipeline route, and in the ultimate scene when Plainview breaks Elijah mentally, spiritually, and physically in his home.

The scene that sticks with me is Plainview requiring Elijah to shout “I am a false prophet and god is a superstition.” It’s clear that Elijah comes to realize this during the confrontation and he can’t even take that false notion to his grave. Any other thoughts about this film from my esteemed reader community?