There Will Be Blood was robbed

Daniel Day-Lewis won his second Academy Award for Best Actor portraying this film’s maniacal centerpiece, a turn-of-the-century oilman as slick as the crude he pulls out of the California desert. The film, which some believe was robbed of the 2007 Best Picture trophy that went to No Country for Old Men, pits Day-Lewis against a false prophet who uses religion for corrupt purposes and power grabs in the same way Day-Lewis’ businessman from hell misuses capitalism. It’s a frightfully modern spin on Citizen Kane and, more than likely, some of our country’s more recent business and political figureheads. In short, a flawed but mesmerizing masterpiece. Rated R. Out on DVD now.