There Will Be Blood

Such a film! The critique of capitalism as leading to a competitiveness that destroys even familial love and friendship was interesting. On the other hand, the son had at least entrepreneurial aspirations that did not require revolt from his father (although that revolt and separation from his father did occur).

The portrayal of religion was very interesting. It is unclear whether Eli really believes what he preaches or not: On the one hand, he is committed to raising money for his church and not for himself. On the other hand, he seems to enjoy far too much the power to manipulate the church members and put on a show. The fact that he is willing to do anything to get money for his church, including denying God, makes you think, again, that he is in it for power rather than for God. The fact that Eli has no real connections to people at all, even his family, makes Daniel look better than him in some ways.

The mirroring in the film was beautiful--the relationship between the father and the son was touching (Emily, snarkily, when someone talked at the wrong moment [as if I don't talk during movies...]: "This is a very touching scene, you know!"). When the man adopts the child, he feeds him milk mixed with a little whisky (clever, I know!); later, when the child goes deaf, he mixes whisky into his glass of milk to help him sleep, and then tilts the glass as if it's a bottle for his son to drink. The relationship between Daniel (the father) and the preacher is also a power struggle in which the power repeatedly changes hands, each time accompanied by slapping and each causing the other to repudiate his beliefs and loudly profess the other's.