There Will Be Blood: Baptism Scene

Paul Anderson’s 2007 film There Will Be Blood starring Daniel Day-Lewis is filled with complex and intriguing moments.  One scene in particular showcases Day-Lewis’ masterful performance and the film’s quality as a whole.  When the protagonist Daniel Plainview is forced to be baptized by his nemesis Eli, the many different dimensions of this character are brought to light.  At the start of the baptism, the camera shifts to a close up on Plainview and focuses in on his face.  Anderson’s use of this technique allows the audience to see the emotions running high in Daniel as the scene progresses.  At first, Plainview looks only annoyed that he has to put up with this inconvenience in order to build his oil pipeline.  However, after Eli mentions Plainview abandoning his child, Day-Lewis’ smug expression shifts to one of anger and guilt.  The close-up holds on Plainview as he follows Eli’s instructions on what to say.  His hesitance only when he is asked to admit that he has abandoned his child brings out how terrible he really feels about sending H.W away.  Additionally, he only follows Eli’s prompts until he starts furiously screaming out “I’ve abandoned my child!” The close-up during this moment allows Day-Lewis to show his fury, tensing up his face and enlarging a vain on his forehead. This scene adds depth to the character of Plainview who was previously shown as just a ruthless business man, doing whatever he must in order to succeed.  The combination of Anderson’s camera work and Daniel Day-Lewis’ acting create a truly unforgettable scene that is vital for the characterization of Daniel Plainview.