Analyzing Evil: Daniel Plainview From There Will Be Blood
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2021
- Welcome everyone to the thirty-first episode of Analyzing Evil! Our feature villain for this video is Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for watching. If you have any feedback or questions feel free to let me know below!
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#ThereWillBeBlood #DanielDayLewis #DanielPlainview - Zábava
![Creating Daniel Plainview [1/2]: Research, Voice, Costume, and Development | There Will Be Blood](/img/n.gif)
To me, when Daniel was yelling, "Bastard in a basket" at his deaf sons back, he was trying to convince *himself* that he never loved his son. There is no way his son heard him and he knows it.
good observation.
Yes, his anger at Sunday for not healing his child and his concern for his son after the explosion shows care.
I think the bastard line comes from what he thinks is betrayal. A deep pain as, he has been alone, truly alone with no one to count on his entire life.
Just as his response when he shoots his "brother". An abandonment reaction.
I don't think he cared. He was mean to him from the moment he walked in the door. He was done with him and didn't need him anymore anyways, he just wanted to be shitty to him because he's a shitty person to people. The truth is the boy was only useful to him as a business tool. He never loved him.
@@gfx2943 there are actually many moments where he showcases love for the boy.
One example is when he gets him back from the boarding school. He hugs him and while his mouth is behind his back, tells him he loves him even though he knows he can't hear it.
@@dclxvi_89 agree. Also he says there: " this does me good, this does me good(while hugging). Let me have a look at you." His innate drive made him different than the rest of the people. His efficiency in business made him who he was at the end of the movie. He is a intelligent man, a rational man. And he looks at social connections through his business interests. They are useful. With exception to his son and brother.
I used to think that he was a "psychopath" because of his anger. But growing older I begin to understand him better. He is a normal man who started from the bottom. With nothing but his wit, skill and drive.
One thing that really stands out to me is that Daniel never bothered to learn sign language. He had no inclination to learn to communicate with his son if there was inconvenience.
Exactly this. All these people commenting how Daniel was maybe just a good guy that was "misunderstood" or that everyone else wanting something from Daniel was just as evil... they're completely missing the plot 😂
For essentially 20+ years of him being a rich guy retired to his mansion, he doesn't bother to learn how to communicate with his son?
All Daniel's relationships were out of self interest. He's only interested in his "brother" as a kind of council and as someone he can trust (for being a blood relation)
He abandons the pretense of caring about his son as soon as he wants to strike out on his own, even when the son goes to great pains to explain he still loves him.
Daniel lacks redeemable characteristics and as the film progresses, you realise whatever redeemable characteristics you THINK you saw, were just carefully manipulated lol
There's a great shot of Daniel looking at the translator's hands with disdain. Like he resents it.
He had a communication with His son that transcends sign language. He was a hard working, hard bitten man, that probably had little time or knowledge of signe language in that period of American history.
@wanderswithdan If the girl his son married could learn sign language fluently, then Daniel, long a wealthy man at that time, absolutely had the means to learn. He willfully chose not to.
@@DeanCutsforth in that last conversation with his son he makes it very clear he resents it- calls it flapping his hands around and tells his deaf son to speak instead of signing, which is just ridiculously childish and cruel, especially considering it was largely Daniel's fault his son was deaf in the first place
I don’t think he’s crying over the imposter but his actual brother.
WHEN THE BROTHER IS SUS??!?!?!!?!😳😳😳
I don't know he seems kinda sus lately. Sussy baka
@@radioactivedragonite2420 sussy wussy?!
I hope you all stub on your toes
@@Fizzy332 sussy backa amogus imposter
Paul Dano is a highly underrated actor I think. I find myself hating him in everything he's in, but then have to step back a realize he's an actor and that's the idea. I hate him because he convinces me to hate him, therefore I highly respect him.
On God paul dano great actor
He’s not underrated anymore after The Batman
@doogall mcdoogalson If you haven't seen prisoners yet i highly recommend it. One of the best acting performances I have ever seen
You should watch Swiss Army Man for Dano in a more likeable (albeit still very weird) role
@@brendalewis2835 that part
I love how he got what he wanted the most - to be away from everyone in a big house. Yet once he is there, he has no clue how to exist in it. Ex. He camps on the cold wood floor of the bowling alley, he drinks his coffee in the kitchen, his bookshelves behind him are filled with items thrown into storage, he has turned his hallway into a gun range (perhaps just not to be in the outside world). His heaven turned out to be his purgatory, or worse, his own hell.
Whatever you say internet loser
Idk man, a hallway gun range sounds pretty damn cool. 😆
@@Skrenja now that you mention it, eating and sleeping in my personal bowling alley doesn’t sound too bad either 😂 I was wrong! He’s in heaven!
@@silasbeacom2930 😂
@@silasbeacom2930 Silas, did you call me an “internet loser” for making a comment out of appreciation for this movie and video essay and then proceed to harass other people in the comment section the same way? 🤣 that’s too rich! You are just being a bully, plain and simple.
When he said “I’m finished” I actually found it darkly comedic.
I always felt like the final scene was a "punchline" of sorts to the film. We have all this meandering, character exploring experience, dark and bleak and brooding, then get this wonderful bombastic payoff of cynical mean-spirited revenge against one absolutely loathsome character at the hands of a barely, SLIGHTLY less loathsome one.
I laughed hard. The whole thing was so bizarre that it was my natural reaction.. Yes, i do see a therapist 🙃
It’s a hilarious use of timing and double entendre!
Quadruple meaning: finished his meal, finished his beating, finished his revenge, and his life/reputation is finished. (Although- with enough money and loyalty- could this cold blooded murder be covered up?)z
@@KidFresh71 I get a feeling that the ending sort of hints at Daniel getting away with it.. His servant that comes in, seems unfazed by the whole ordeal.. But Daniel uttering «i’m finished now» can mean several things.. Did he finnish his meal, or his life 🤔
One of the greatest movies iv’e ever seen.
It bothers me when people think that Daniel started off good but turned evil. He was evil the whole time; he just hid it.
He did love H.W.. He also loved the man he thought was his brother, then mourned his brother's death. He wasn't pure evil. That's what's great about the film. Like life, the characters aren't black and white.
@@lxuaes6915 it’s almost as if he’s some sort of anti hero
@@mason20mason you're just plain unintelligent
@@rickross9829 I beg your pardon, brotherman.
@@mason20mason I'd argue he's far more of a tragic protagonist than any kind of hero. Who's the villain to Daniel's anti-hero? Eli? Daniels done things 100x worse than Eli. Especially with H.W., I really think there was a chance for Daniel to become good. Maybe his care for H.W. could allow for him to care for his fellow man, to help the people who's fields he's buying. But it never happens. In the end, Daniel Plainview lives in a castle-a purgatory of his own making with everyone else left in the dust; and his last hurrah is killing a priest he got in a feud with a couple decades ago. What about that is heroic?
" i have a competition in me. I want no one else to succeed. I hate most people." That line stuck with me all these years.
"Don't bully me, Daniel!!"
*gets bullied*
Eli lives in a society
He gets bowled.
gets literally bullied to death
NYAAAAAAAR!
Eli Sunday, grandfather of televangelism. It’s hard to feel too sorry for him.
I've always thought that his genuine affinity and compassion to children is because he experienced some sort of abandonment in his childhood. Thats why he adopted HW after his father died in his well, and why he felt protective over Mary. He breaks down after killing his fake brother, because it revived his childhood abandonment. It's also why he gets so vindictive when HW tells him that he's going out on his own.
good point
If you watched the Sopranos, the psychiatrist Tony saw learned psychopaths are especially sentimental to children and aniamals. Two things Tony was sentimental to, and that his therapy sessions only helped him be a better and more evil criminal
I've watched this movie a number of times and the power of DDL makes you want to believe that Plainview is a good man deep down, however I've come to the realisation that he was a complete sociopath
@@mtg1470 If psyschopaths are sentimental to animals , why is it that criminalogists say one of the earliest signs of a psychopath is animal cruelty and no sympathy for people young or old?
@@bryanpartington3260 Was I the script writer for the award winning series The Sopranos? No, I was not
When Eli made Daniel confess that he abandoned son and slapped him up, Daniel whispered something to Eli afterwards that frightened Eli.
What Daniel told Eli was
, "There will be blood and I will eat you".
Haha, he said it!
Eli is dumb...
... don't humiliate your enemies, either immediately eliminate them, or don't make them an enemy
humiliating them is only asking for trouble later...
HE SAID IT! HE SAID THE TITLE!
i always thought he said "im going to eat you"
becuase in the last scene, he says to eli "i told u i would eat u"
there is never a scene where we actually hear him say that, so i would say its what he whispered
@@maddysvideos2985 i believe he said both cause it looked like he sais 2 short sentences in that scene
The most common characteristics of a narcissist is entitlement and validation from others. Daniel was very entitled, but I never got the impression that he cared what others thought of him
Yeah he reads more as someone with an attachment disorder from traumatic isolation than as a narcissist or a sociopath. He’s not indifferent to the suffering of others, he knows what he’s doing. He assumes other people and the world will do it to him if he doesn’t do it to them - he’s full of hatred and loathing of himself and others.
I thought of him as a high functioning, antisocial personality via nurture/environment, rather than his nature.
You get the feeling he's an adapted product of his life
@@fenzelian I got similar thoughts. Daniel developed maladaptive coping mechanisms due to trauma he was exposed to when he was a helpless child. Abandonment, lack of safety, lack of care from those who were supposed to be there for him forced him to find something in order to survive. As it often happens, he chose to use externals as fullfilment of the void inside. Against considering him as a narcissist is his need to isolate, as he despises people. Having an attachment disorder, he fears people. Narcissists need their fuel from their targets, need constant admiration and confirmation. He's rather suffering from CPTSD and reacting with anger when stressed out. He has problems with having compassion for people who fail him or have some defects, just as he has no compassion for himself. Traumatized and dysfunctional. I feel for him.
Hmm.. I felt like his obsession with competition says differently in terms of caring what others think of him. Whenever he meets his competitors (ie. The steak restaurant scene), he seems to want them to think of him as at least their equal, if not better than them. He does also show off that he's "taking care of his son" to the table of his competitors as well. So, at least to them, I would think that he cares about his image.
Some people value competition over empathy. This competition comes with the possibility of death. He had genuine love for HW, until HW became a possible burden on the oil well and then later became his "competitor".
He sees business and competition as having everything be fair game. I guess you'd call it a form of pyscopathy, but I don't know about that. He sees the playing field and has no compunctions about doing anything to win. Putting DSM labels on him boxes him into something too lazily vague to get at the truest foundation of the man. He simply wanted to win and didn't care what it took, because he knows everyone else has the opportunity to do anything he does.
I think this video's analysis is wrong.
This movie is like a damn axe to your chest and leaves you empty.
Genius.
Idk it left me feeling like I had a competition in me.
If you like that feeling, have you ever seen Requiem for a Dream? :P
I didn't take it personally
at all and genuinely felt bad for the entire lot...
In the end he was the first and final causality....
It's not a fun film
@@pjdolont9012 a lot of great films are not fun films. Did I think this movie was a masterpiece? I do … BUT I’d rather not watch it again because of how bleak and depressing it is. It reminds me that the world contains alot of evil unchecked.
@@SolidPain6624 I don't have to feel good in order to feel..
I didn’t see remorse/regret in the church admitting he abandoned his son, I saw pure rage. He was furious that he was forced to say it he knew it was true but was unwilling to admit it. Just like the reverse seen at the end where Eli had to do the same thing Eli was not remorseful nor did he regret being a false profit he simply hated being bent to someone else’s will and forced to say it. Rage not regret.
Agreed. When I first watched There Will Be Blood, when I saw that scene, I knew Daniel would end up killing Eli based on the pure rage emanating from him.
I see a man who is enraged with himself.
You didn't see him suppressing the urge to cry briefly before he went into a rage?
This is a fantastic point.
I think it is both. Deep down, Daniel knows that he is broken and alone in his world. He drinks to numb himself from that. He hates seeing who he is, so he projects his self-hatred outwards. He sees the worst in people, as he puts it. Daniel puts on a mask to gain admiration and dominance, but he is truly unhappy and empty inside.
Having to publicly proclaim that he abandoned his child strips all of that away from him. It damages not only his public image, but also his self-image. Eli breaks his mask, exposing him as someone who isn’t the family man he portrayed. Without that, he also has to confront how alone he is. He isn’t feeling remorse for H.W., but moreso feeling remorse for himself.
Underneath his rage is also pain. His power and persona protect him from having to look at it. Without those things, all he has left is pain and emptiness. That’s why he’ll do whatever it takes to protect it. If anyone makes him feel vulnerable, he wants them dead.
you could almost make a villain movie about Eli too. It's a story in a way of a relationship between two villains - one who manipulates others through business for wealth, and one who manipulates others through religion for status
Name one thing Eli did wrong.
@@braydendulaney3312he tries to humiliate Daniel during the baptism scene
@@RyanRenteria you mean the child abandoning asshole that destroyed his entirety town?
@@RyanRenteriahey man explain how humiliating him was a bad thing to do? After he abandoned his son?? It’s like one of two moments in the movie where he gets what he deserved.
@@ryanharvey1610 man, watch the movie, its pretty obvious. if you dont get it then maybe go back to watching Marvel stuff
Best line in the movie: “I’m finished!”
Delivered with every meaning that could possibly be discerned from the words. The way Daniel spoke it is like a jewel. Multifaceted, sparkling with imagery
I found the ending incredibly random and confusing
As if to say, “clean it up,” to the butler
Gaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!
I think everything you say about Plainview you can say about Eli. But Eli lacked the brains and the determination. He was an evil parasite. Both despicable characters, to be sure.
Eli isnt as bad because he looks after the people in his church. Sure, he fills them with false hope, but its arguable that even though religion is a false hope, it adds a layer to reality that the human psyche needs in order to stay sane.
@@AnthonyfukinMacias Can you stand by that, though? Eli was manipulative, sold a false hope to his congregation, lusted for power and authority and control. Daniel Plainview sung a pretty song to trick people into business, Eli sung a pretty song to build a following.
The major difference is Plainview would probably own up to the bs, after making the sale of course, where Eli would not. Maybe Plainview screwing people out of their oil is worse, but they at least got paid for it, however little that was. What does someone get by being sold a false hope? Other than the chance to spend the rest of their lives dedicated to pursuing the falsehood? How does it help keep people sane to follow a demagogue in their quest to be the only important person in the community?
@@AnthonyfukinMacias Eli was a purposeful charlatan, he knew he was manipulating people in his church to consolidate his own power over them; he didn't really care about them. That's obviously not good. But then you say 'religion is a false hope' so matter of fact, like we're on reddit or something and you think everyone else thinks like that by default.
I like this channel but why. Do you talk. In fragments instead of sentences.
@@AnthonyfukinMacias Daniel raises another mans son. Also, protects the lovely girl child without expecting anything in return.
Evil or not, every time he shit on Eli, smacked the shit out of Eli, or even when he killed Eli, I had to root him on. That kid was obnoxious af
I see Daniel as more of a social evil he dosen't want domination and death he just wants his dues but at the same time does screw those he knows
Agree minus the kill. That was excessive for even Eli’s crimes.
Hmm you may have some violent temper issues, friend.
Maybe at first, but less and less as the film went on. Kid was sly and weasely, manipulative and cowardly but being killed like that he certainly didn't deserve
I still believe Eli and Paul were one and the same. So that made him hate Eli that much more.
when he says "I dont like people, I want to make money so I can move away from them" really resonates honestly. HIs whole speech there was one of the best things Ive ever seen.
That's cynical misanthropic mindset, he was able to go far through lying and misleading communities with his silver and than justifies himself by saying everyone else is the same, but the worst part is throughout this movie he only met them and by the time he could self reflect and improve his mental health and family relationship, he was shot down with the betrayal of his brother who was supposed to be a fresh air from the competition he has to everyone else in the world
But then you are left staring at yourself in the mirror.
Daniel was such a proficient manipulator, he managed to fool me for the entire movie. I kept waiting for his "good side" to prevail, and it wasn't until the final scene that I realized that he didn't have one... I was devastated that I had let him so thoroughly deceive me with his silver tongue and false empathy. I believed his adoption of the bastardized child, the business deal with the poor farmer, and the hiring of many men proved that he was not a selfish monster, until I realized with dread that it only proved his own greed. 10/10
Did you ever figure out why his name is Daniel Plainview:
Aka Devil in Plain view/sight.
@@Delightfully_Bitchy bravo, great insight! Wow...
*shrug* I pointed that out because people with Satanic name motifs don't usually get redemption arcs.
If you thought he could be redeemed, you might have missed it.
Disagree
@@imnotabird1118 I bet you really are a bird
I require a Bill the Butcher episode injected directly into my veins
I second that request! A direct IV drip might be preferred.
Curious... Is there any other video highlighting a historical person?
Might ruin the fun to dissect real life evil.
Yess, bill the butcher!
Ditto!
"I'm going to teach you English with this #$^#ing knife!!!"
At the end of the day he was successful. He got away from everyone...
Well put
I feel like this was a nod to Howard Hughes & Hearst.
He got what he wanted, but it didn’t stop him from continuing to grow more bitter, hostile and miserable over time.
@Air show Maybe that’s what he wanted to happen
as he says, he's finished
Isn't H.W the son of his deceased partner in the beginning? So he stole the identity of a father just like his friend the identity of a brother. Maybe he realized after killing him they have the same traits after all.
I think HW is really his son because he tells him "if it's in me it's in you" at some point like he says to the man he believes to be his brother.
@@gabrielkwiecinskiantunes8950 No, the boy isn't his real son. We even see the baby lying alone after his real father dies in the well accident (the first blood spilled). Daniel finally tells the "bastard" the truth towards the end. I love this scene because HW gets to show the man responsible for his inability to hear, that he's glad they don't share the same blood.
It wasn’t his partner but HW was the son of one his workers when the operation was smaller and when the worker died on Daniel’s watch he kinda felt obligated to the baby
HW would've been just another peasant without Daniel so it doesn't make sense
Wow that’s a good find 👍🏼
“I Drink Your Milkshake, I Drink It Up!”
“Don’t Bully Me Daniel!”
I drink your milkshake. This film is a masterpiece.
Absolutely
"I DRINK it UP!"
DRAAAAINAGE! Drainage, Eli, you boy.
that's like the best scene too
PIN THIS POST
He wasn't a psychopath, or even a sociopath. Just a very, VERY damaged individual who believes it's him against the world. He obviously loved his adopted son. We are reminded of that in the "flashbacks" after he drives his son away at the end. He's just very sad. And there are so many real people just like him.
My adopted daughter is Daniel Plainview incarnate, and believe me it's not fun.
is she single and ready to mingle?
he is sooooo hurt..he built very strong defensive mechanisms that there was no way back...his son was the only exception he surely loved him...and got hurt by their separation...i couldn't hate him not for one minute...
I had the same thoughts. I disagreed with a lot of this video. I think ultimately you can read what you what from the movie but I have always seen Daniel as a sad man who was a product of a harsh cold world. He parallels many real life barons. This movie is sort a alternate Citizen Kane
@@cody8804 yes indeed....he strongly believed that he was so invulnerable that nothing sad could reach his inner self,he was proved so wrong...on the other hand the "priest" or " pastor" or whatever was purely evil to my eyes from the very beginning..this movie should be shown to students of Psychology and Social studies' ones...so much to discuss, such deep feelings..
Paul dano playing a Paul and Daniel day Lewis playing a Daniel had me checking if the whole cast had characters sharing their real first names
When Daniel is floating in the waves starring at Henry is a great scene. I was scared what he might do.
The way he looks at Henry before murdering him is scary af.
narcissistic personality disorder, from what I’m told, does not exclude the potential for empathy or guilt. They are not sociopaths. The disorder is born out of insecurity. So when challenged, he gets narcissistically wounded, which means he is hurt more than the average person, which then results in narcissistic rage. The rage is when empathy and guilt leave the chat. And if he believes he was truly correct in being slighted or wronged, empathy and guilt don’t ever come back. When he is not being challenged, when he has enough narcissistic supply, he can feel empathy and guilt. Which is why he did have genuine sorrow over his son at that moment.
FINALLY
the narcissist just sees the world as an extension of himself: you are for him, or against him. No one is seen as just exiting and living their life as a separate entity. this is reflected in him telling HW he never saw any of himself in HW. And his desire for 'blood', for a brother, because he needs to see himself in others to even begin to feel something for them. When a child he raised threatens his blood, his self, he throws him away like garbage. Then he finds out his blood is a fraud, and even tho the fake brother was a real and true confidant, a loyal friend, he unceremoniously murders him. HW comes back and faces him like a man, and to Dan, just because he isn't blood AND wants to be his own man, and worse, work in the oil business[can't say 'competitor', Dan was no rival as an oil baron] his 'son' becomes AN ENEMY, he reviles him and tries to humiliate him.
So yeah, Dan is a land-thieving, robbing, murdering, megalomaniacal narcissist with the skills of a sociopath as far as manipulating others, but isn't a true sociopath without emotions. His emotions are all a result of feeling wounded or outraged by others tho, and feeling sorry for himself
He is a monster and 'Blood' is a monster movie
That describes literally everyone. It's easy to be nice if everything is going nice lol
@@seankrezanoski6840 They are literally 1% of the population, they can't be the nr 1 cause of anything.
@@seankrezanoski6840 Doubt it. Schizophrenic crime scenes are pretty brutal lol. But sure, sucks for the people who got offed spectacularly instead regularly, I guess.
This movie is one of only a handful that can be called "perfect"
The first time I watched it I felt put off and confused and was unsure if I liked it for most of the runtime. Then that ending happened and it instantly became one of my all time favorites.
I’ve since gone back and rewatched it several times enjoying it the whole way through, now understanding the film and knowing what it’s building up to.
Absolutely perfect.
100% perfect.
Well: The Godfather (1 & 2), Shrek (1 & 2), Rush Hour (1 & 2), most Clint Eastwood westerns from the 1960s-70s, Tombstone, Friday, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Marvel’s Infinity War come to mind too!
@@wacodraco1558 dude you are putting comic movies on the same level as this movie??? Not hating on comics but this movie is totally different level...
Lewis is such a brilliant actor. I would even say he's one of the best to ever do it.
I totally agree.
@@thomasrevere1728 it really says something when 2 of the villains both iconic the butcher and plainview are played brilliantly by Daniel Day Lewis
You're Goddamn right!
Do you think he would have been a good joker?
@@joshuar3632 i think he would’ve been the same as ledger. The way ledger went about his preparation for the film is exactly how daniel day lewis does for all his films. I believe daniel’s representation would be based upon the joker in the arkham games.
This film is the best example of a "slow burn", and many I have showed it to give up after the first few segments, but man is it BRILLIANT. I find myself so invested in it from even the very beginning. Truly an underrated film, more so than any I can think of.
That's exactly how I describe it.
Thankyou for saying this. I feel exactly the same way about it.
This movie though... holy shit can DDL act.
Check out Last of the Mohicans too if you have not already.
While not every movie he is in is perfect, he is perfect in every movie he is in!
That one scene where he is talking to bandy after killing his brother while he is half awake and half asleep is one the best showcases of screen acting I have ever seen.
I love him in Gangs of New york too. He basically stole the spotlight away from Dicaprio.
He’s my honest Abe 😊
I’m surprised you left out the fact that Daniel adopted HW and created a tragic backstory for them purely for business relations and an attempt to look more human and sympathetic I do believe he still grew to love HW in the end and considered him a son but it still says so much about him as a person and his ambitions
I was really surprised he left out that part as well. At one point I was actually beginning to think that because I haven't watched the movie in such a long time I may have been confused/forgotten about HW's origins. He was definitely adopted for the sole purpose of being used by Daniel. I also agree that he grew to love HW in his own way....
@@trexoxford9149 he was adopted cause his father died while working with daniel.... he is not a good man but he is also not evil
he is actually kind of a good guy as long nothing comes between him and his goals
I don't believe he was ever adopted. Daniel saw an advantage in having a child around to close deals. Which it did, Daniel was never capable of true adherence to another human being emotionally. It was Daniel first and foremost. Tolerance was conveyed only if the person in question has something to offer.
I always got the impression that he adopted him because he actually cared and him being Daniel, saw this opportunity to use his child to his advantage in his business.
@@jeffcardarelle5504 There was clearly a love for HW but when there was any kind of hardships with him he simply refused to deal with it
I love how complicated Daniel is. Evil may be a strong word (I understand it's the title of this great analyzing evil series), but also see a lot of good in him: his work ethic, standing up for the abused girl in front of her dad, and his love for his son.
Also he honoured all his deals and contracts totally. He was a man of responsibility.
The evil didnt happen until the murder and even then he murdered Eli, what I thought was the movie's actual evil villain.
Well, he also murders two (defenceless) people, one of them in his own home. And he threatens to murder someone else over basically nothing. So I don't know if his "work ethic" is really worth bringing up to save him from being called evil.
@@devdixit2440 who was the first?
@@Avenus112 The guy who pretends to be his brother, he wakes him up and shoots him in the head, then buries him in the forest. The second is of course Eli, who Daniel beats to death with a bowling pin. He might have also killed Tilford.
@@devdixit2440 understood, i forgot that killing and will rethink.
In the end of the movie, when he goes after Eli, he walks like a troll or gobelin screaming like a wild monster. The fact that he is holding the Bowling Pin like some sort of club accentuates this vision 🤣
Daniel is obviously a manipulative man who often does things just to impose his superiority but I do like to think that his protective actions towards Mary Sunday were genuine. That he truly does believe in being kind to children, in spite of his misanthropy and sub par parenting skills. Obviously that goodwill dries up the moment those children become adults but it always felt to me like his one true good human quality.
I could agree with that. I can't remember if it was stated in the conversations with his "brother", but I get the sense he was likely mistreated as a child and likely raised to believe he was worthless, which translated into him being this hyper aggressive business man and speculator, as well as having a soft spot for the pure innocence in children.
Empathy for children is not a true good human quality, it's a human quality. He is, somewhere, human, otherwise he wouldn't be such a perfect villain
Agreed. I often compare him with Tony Soprano, they both care about children and are narcissists. These kind of characters only show their humanity for a quite short time and that is what makes them memorable, realistic and perfect villains or anti-heroes.
That was a true gangster move. Especially when he just turns and stares at the father. The father, youd think, looks like he might say something but Plainview disarms him with the naked aggression of that stare. You get the sense Daniel is willing to take the conflict to whatever height the father wants to bring it to and couldn't care less. Wisely, the father backs down.
what about all the children whose parents he cheated and robbed land from?
you can't be a real misanthrope and like children: nits become lice
This is one I didn't know I wanted. But absolutely loved There Will Be Blood.
One of the best CZcams channels
Daniel Day Lewis described the confrontation with HW at the end, as Daniel's way of "sending" him off on a better path. In that way, it is strangely benevolent.
I think the scene where Daniel threatens to slit the throat of that man just because he spoke of his family is really telling. That was Daniel's real reaction and he couldn't hold it back. Behind every tiny amount of empathy that man has left, there is a reaction just like that one.
I'm so glad you mentioned that eli is just like him. Eli acts almost like a cult leader throughout the film, with a massive ego and narcissistic behaviour, the only difference I found is that eli shows a complete breakdown in confidence when confronted where as Daniel still breaks down in character but into more of a rage. I do feel there is some brief glimpses of actually care and love from Daniel to his son and the way I interpretated the end is that he loves his son so he doesn't want to destroy his son when he begins to collapse as a man and a person so in order to do this he shuns his son away
He acts like a cult leader cause he is a cult leader.
Daniel is supposed to be the materialist who only cares for oil and money, but he has a facade of being a family-man that he depensd upon, while Eli is supposed to be a man of god and not a materialist, but is really obsessed with getting money for his church and his projects ..
If daniel was a good dad then why h w left him when he are adult now?
One of my favorite tattoo artists passed away and he told me that he did a tattoo for Daniel Day Lewis and I feel so honored to be tattooed by someone that tattooed such a brilliant actor
ok
Ok
"I thank God, I have none of you in me" That line's haunted me to the core, ever since I saw this movie.
I noticed his “brother” say fond du lay and Daniel calls it fond du lac when they meet the 2 gentlemen. Maybe that is the first time he notices something is off with his bro
Next suggestion: Michael Corleone and in particular the evolution of his character (e.g. from a loyal family man to a ruthless mastermind) from Godfather 1 to Godfather 2.
That character changed psychosis every film. Much like it's director
Nope, 2 and 3 is an absolute abomination
This is a great suggestion, man.
@@bucketstuck7137 agreed
That would be godly
What about Daniel Day-Lewis's character in Gang's Of New York?
One of the best villains in movie history
this video was great, but i woulda clicked even faster if it was about Bill The Butcher
I love ole Bill. From the second he walked into that gang war and pulled out a meat cleaver I was like yo this dude is hard af.
I couldn't stop seeing Bill the Butcher in this movie. It would be a great video
@@stevenm9672 I think he was totally different in the 2 films
Daniel: "I'm finished."
Butler: "Very good, sir."
One of the best characters of all time and my vote for absolute BEST Film Score EVER
PS: The actor that plays Daniel's fake brother can be in as many films as he wants, playing as many characters as he wants BUT... To me, he will ALWAYS be Benny from The Mummy!!
My favorite actor of all time, so good. Did a great job with this character, which is vastly different from the character in the Upton Sinclair book. Next please do Bill the Butcher Cutting from Gangs of New York!
It was an Upton Sinclair book? I can't think of modern immigration politics, without thinking about The Jungle
Suggestions:
Lee Woo-jin from Oldboy
Norman Stansfield from Leon the Professional
Alex Forrest from Fatal Attraction
Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects
Catherine Tremell from Basic Instinct
Roger “Verbal” Kint from The Usual Suspects (we don’t want to spoil it)
This is a really good analysis into the mindset of Daniel Plainview. At first, I didn't like "There Will Be Blood" at the time. But after a couple rewatches, I find myself to be drawn into Daniel Day Lewis' performance because it's really more of an inside look into a man who is so deep in his obsession with business that he doesn't know how to communicate normally with other people, including his adopted son. Even after he's earned everything (including a mansion), he's now officially a lonesome shrieking madman in a lavish prison with no connection at all. It's really a tragic film to watch.
Something I always thought was that he must have gone and killed Tilford at some point. He said he would and he reminded him of this the second time they met before he walks away “I told you what I was gonna do”. I reckon he will have made good on that promise, he isn’t the type for hyperbole, he says what he means and means what he says when he’s in a bad mood
Apparently Tillford was a real person that died at home
He is a malignant narcissist. He is addicted to his rage. They do rarely feel guilt, but it's not the way we process guilt- they see it as a flaw in their own execution of mastery/superiority.
I love this movie, but always have a very hard time watching it because the character's 'way' is one I'm familiar with. There is nothing quite like watching a movie with a character that mirrors the character of who you're watching said movie with, and wondering if they will allow the awareness of recognition of themselves.
So true, unfortunately another symptom of narcissism is the inability or unwillingness to be self reflective. I’m curious if the person you were watching with had a positive or negative opinion of Daniel’s character.
You don't have to have that person in your life. They're just a person. you can leave.
@@mesmer3780 You're right and thank you for the wise advice. They don't have the same power that they did. I was already well into adulthood and long free of influence when I watched the movie with them...it was just weirdly apropos at the time. That's what made it surreal.
@@amys6987I think they found him weak for losing control whether through drunkeness or overt violence he displayed. It wasn't a question of morality. They found it gauche. They actually tsked during the bowling scene.
@@itsmainelyyou5541 that makes sense unfortunately, the external image is the most important thing. I’m glad you were able to free yourself from them.
Louis Bloom from Nightcrawler needs his own episode!!!
Bro...i watched that movie and found myself saying "how much further can this man sink into the depths of his darkness?" At every turn the man known as bloom absolutely blooms into an absolute monster
@@sirsilus784 fr he already looks like a sketchy guy but as we continue to follow him he only sinks further into the depths of evil and imo sociopathy as he shows little remorse or empathy to those he manipulates & any victims of the stories he gets footage of
@@calebthecritic4171 I had also consumed an 8th of mushrooms prior to watching so by the time he blackmailed the woman into sex i was on a roller coaster ride of emotions lol
@Joely7 yeah bro when he has his little fleet of minions completely brainwashed by his charisma i had lost all hope for humanity there ..they are all lined up in their little uniforms lol
Great choice and recommendation.
Daniel Plainview js such a brilliant character in that everyone thinks he's supposed to be a villain and we all recognize that he's a certain type of American villain we're supposed to disdain, but deep down most of us admire and respect his intelligence, determination and the part people like him played in revolutionizing industry and our standard of living. Sure, he's a monomaniac, egomaniac, antisocial psychopath, but he dedicated his life to something and wildly succeeded.
One of my favorite scenes is when Eli is slapping Daniel around in the church.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 It's worth the price of admission alone. You know its gonna be good when he slides on his back for miles with a broken leg though dirt, rocks, and sagebrush merely to cash in a piece of silver. Outstanding performance by Lewis. Award worthy many times over.
i love that movie. it's a goddamn masterpiece
It’s my favorite movie
Paul Thomas Anderson is a fantastic director.
Wut
Forreal
Th ending was superb.
I get bummed out sometimes when my friends don’t really care about some of the films that I try to get them into. The first time I saw this movie I went ranting about it but no one in my friend group seemed interested. I really admire Daniel Day Louis. I think he’s his own tier of actor.
He definitely is his own tier.
It is a difficult watch, honestly speaking. Some movies demands your patience. Thia is one of those.
Mate, I've recommended this on deaf ears too. The church scene(Daniel's baptism)is an acting masterclass. Both actors.
Pfft fucking metal heads, go figure
@@silasbeacom2930 This doesn’t make sense.
I love the detail of how the two main characters are named the same was as the actors portraying them. Daniel Day Lewis - Daniel Plainview. Paul Dano - Paul Sunday, Eli's identical twin brother who got the whole plot moving.
This was one of my favorite movies of all time. It really showed the raw greed that fueled the mans fire to succeed in a time when there was only yourself to rely on.
When I first saw this movie in theatres, I kept thinking that Daniel is an acute case of Borderline Personality Disorder.
I need to rewatch this film.
Brilliant film and performance
My friend summed this movie up for me perfectly. I told him it was in my top 10 so he watched it. The next day he told me “I didn’t really enjoy the movie, like the genre or want to watch it again. But it is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen”.
Idk what it is about this movie but as soon as I finish watching it I want to immediately rewatch it. That’s rare for an almost 3 hour movie where there’s no dialogue for the first 15 minutes
The way you start all your videos with an actor seemingly mouthing “hello everyone” the same time as you is a solid touch!!
“What ever happened to your wife?”
Daniel: I don’t like to talk about those things.
That really says a lot about him.
I wonder if he ever did have a wife. He probably didn’t didn’t feel anything for her.
@@craydogdog1530 he didn't. He tells HW that found him abandoned. "Bastard in a basket".
@@carlossprings2049 I wished twb showed the full story of Daniel Plainview from birth to the his end of days. I bet he had a wild past full of struggle, and rejection. I wonder if he was always like this or did something push him to become this way?
He didn't want to say that he got HW dad's killed... that'd make people less likely to use his drilling services.
@@carlossprings2049 oh yeh it was in reference to Hw’s mother lol I forgot
Daniel was rotten from the core for almost his entire life. It's bizarre how such toxicity can radiate so much dread and sorrow and hatred on others. Daniel Day Lewis is a brilliant actor and convinced me as if he was actually mad
Your work is exemplary. The patience and dedication are obvious. And your delivery is wonderful. Keep up the good work.
Daniel Day-Lewis deserved every award he could possibly win for this film. The complexity he brought to the character gives Daniel Plainview so many dimensions and angles, even some likability in spite of how evil and violent he is.
One of the most amazing characters ever created. Such unbelievable depth in any hero villain and protagonist in literature or film is staggering. To create someone from scratch of this depth is intimidating to any writer I'm sure. The fact that Anderson was able to put what was on the page into the hands of the greatest actor of maybe any generation is nothing short of some type of the universe lining up in a way it may never again. Wonderful breakdown of an incredible subject who as a fictional character with more to offer than many real people. Well done.
are you serious, i literally just watched this movie four days ago and have been obsessed with it
What is that profile pic dog
@@SM-bk4ye idek bro 😂
@@LilithsCosmicLounge cause fuck eli sunday. but fr though, it’s bc daniel and eli have been nemesis’s since their first encounter (technically 2nd) when daniel is discussing prices for abels land. daniel’s plans of stealing the land for little to no money is foiled by eli and his plans for his church. the whole movie is abt capitalism and religion (christianity) and the common themes that philosophers such as nietchze points out. daniel is a man who sees through people. he recognizes that eli is alike to him in he is able to utilize speeches and performances to obtain what he wants (a cult following and attention) while daniel utilizes these things to obtain oil and the freedom to separate himself from people. as he states to the imposter who claims to be his brother, he hates people. all of this combines into the final showdown at the end of the movie. daniel plain view is strong, willful, persistent, and clever. eli is weak, shallow, and is below daniel is every facet you can think of. daniel demonstrates his hatred for humanity in the killing of eli and the imposter (sus lmao). furthermore, he kills eli as a final way to prove he is better than his competitor and exert his dominance over him for eternity with this act.
@@LilithsCosmicLounge sorry if i went a little too crazy with the detail and it may just seem like a ramble.
@@LilithsCosmicLounge also i could’ve done more to explain the themes and interwoven plot details and character elements in the movie
Daniel's character is the personification of the evolving American corporation. All the traits, all of the manipulation, beautifully acted by one of the greatest actors in film history. Right down to killing its humanity when he beats the young priest to death in the final minutes of the film. "Finnished" is the final word spoken, and the meaning and message is loud and clear.
The entire film experience changes when you view the main character from this point of view.
Excellent analysis of this underappreciated film masterpiece.
Bruce Willis in The Jackal. One of his greatest roles to me of all time. His facial expression at the boat dock.... Still gives me chills.
Been waiting for this one! Amazing analysis as always. One character that I think would be great to see you dissect/analyze is Terrence Fletcher from Whiplash. I think he falls under the same category as Nurse Ratched when it comes to evil. His motivation isn’t Greed, consumption of power, etc. He’s just obsessed with achieving one particular goal and doesn’t care about the repercussions or collateral damage his obsession causes to the people around him. His students are nothing more than a means to an end. He’s manipulative, verbally/physically abusive, petty, sadistic and has no real empathy for the hell he puts people through. As long as he finds his Next Charlie Parker, his methods are as he puts it are an, “Absolute necessity.” Ok I’ll stop now and leave the analyzing to you. I’ve been watching this channel too long lol
One of my favorite parts is actually the shots of his son looking back and forth between Daniel and the translator and communicating. Idk what it is but I love it.
Same lol
He achieved everything he wanted and it destroyed him and those around him.
Came out the same year as No Country For Old Men. Both films tunnel into the misanthropic mountain from different sides. I found a certain similarity in atmosphere. Daniel Day-Lewis is one of those rare examples of the anti-prolific and "less is more" actor. The way he approaches a role is a very unusual immersion. He seems to inisist on making his characters almost a part of himself to the point of staying in character continually for the length of the project. Therefore, it should come as no surprise why Plainview is so scrutable in video like this.
Catching an upload when it's uploaded. Hell yeah.
Very keen observation that he rarely got on with people unless they were blood relatives who could inherit or share his legacy. A lot of Henry the 8th vibe to him.
What a great companion piece to the movie; I couldn't imagine a better analysis of Daniel's character. You managed to dig into Daniel's personality further than what is given directly in the film while still keeping the analysis plausible, and gave really interesting interpretations of his most outlandish actions. Thank you for one of your best videos I've seen
The scene when they find where the oil is in Little Elizabeth might as well of been a scene of horror. Just can't explain it better than that. So wonderful. This is a amazing movie that needs to be seen.
This is a fantastic profile of this character. Thank you.
As someone who lived with an utter madman, this is such an accurate performance. DDL deserves every accolade and more.
when all your wishes are granted , many of your dreams will be destroyed
also he could still have full blown narcissistic personality disorder , they can feel sorry for themselves , its not clear if he's mourning for the man he killed , or for sending his son away, or for his own loss , if its the latter then he is possibly a full blown malignant narcissist , they don't empathise with others , but they can feel bad for themselves
Thanks for helping me understand this movie fully! So many insights that I hadn't even considered! Love your videos!!!!
This is my all-time favorite movie, and you broke it down magnificently.
Daniel was a narcissist, I think. One thing that I thought of, while watching the movie, was that Daniel showed disdain toward his son in the later part. He mocked his son for using sign language- something that he never learned to communicate with his own son
This is such a good character to do this on. I really love your channel. Thanks for all the hard work. Can't wait for the next one.
This series is great and I am so happy to have found this gem of a channel.
Fell in love with your channel! 😍 I love pondering everything psychologically and emotionally wrong with villainous characters from my favorite movies, wondering if their motives for their behavior makes them truly evil, and I enjoy listening to people go down the rabbit holes of their psyche and explain it in detail. Love your work! ♥️
Analyzing Evil: Toecutter from the original Mad Max. He's absolutely insane to the point that any scene has in feels like he could snap at any moment
I absolutely love these Analyzing Evil episodes! I always look forward to watching them every time they pop up on my feed. I watched a few repetitively lol. You've done a great job putting these vids together with a talent for breaking them down. Well done!
I think Daniel seemed like a decent fellow before he started to drink. I think he started to drink because of the guilt and pressure over manipulating people, overpromising stuff and such to gain oil. Then it was a simple downward spiral. To add, physical work suited him better.
Amazing episode, felt like this video went over every aspect of the character and the movie. Definitely gunna give there will be blood another watch after this
Erm, gotta fix the description as it says "Our feature villain for this video is Daniel Plainview from Star Wars" :D
Done and done. My pasting skills are very strong.
Daniel Plainview is my favorite Sith
LMAO
I would watch that in a heartbeat honestly!
He is a Sith tho XD
Really really good analysis, as always. I wouldn’t have even thought to recommend this character but damn was this video needed!
You make an excellent point early on in this rather splendid character profile regarding the theme of extraction, and how Plainview will never be deterred from extracting what he sees as valuable from any source - whether that be the ground or people, he sees no difference.
Man, the most meager of commodities. A truth in capitalist economic theory. Pure profit.
Probably my favorite movie villain of all time, awesome work man.
Liked/Subscribed
Daniel Day-Lewis does an extraordinary job in this. Such an amazing character!
THIS is one I’ve been waiting for!! Excellent analysis!! Thank you so much 🤘🏻 Definitely my favorite character and film from the 21st century this far! Possibly favorite favorite performance of the century, but definitely film and character!! Well worth the wait Vile Eye, I loved it! Listened more than once already 🤘🏻🤘🏻 keep them coming. I, myself would love to see one on Max Cady as played by De Niro and Dexter Morgan.
I didn't really get the impression that Daniel had any guilt over killing "Henry." The sadness he expresses after reading the diary seems to suggest that he's mourning the loss of the real brother he never got to meet and is heartbroken that he had to learn about Henry this way. Since this grifter was ultimately nothing to him but a leech, Daniel doesn't appear to feel too bad about murdering him, wrong though it was.
I'm in the camp that the murder was totally justified.
@@joshuaduplaa9033 I've got be honest with you, Josh; that's messed up.
I'm not saying what fake Henry did wasn't wrong. It very clearly was, but reacting to it by murdering him is an extreme escalation, and that's putting it lightly.
This man was no longer a threat to him. Daniel had him at his mercy, so when I see that scene, I don't feel like the grifter got what he deserved or that Daniel was forced into a dire situation where he had no choice because his life was in danger. Daniel killed him because he wanted to, and he wanted to because some nobody lied to him and tricked him, and that was too humiliating for him to deal with. Worse still, Daniel also seemed to enjoy ending this man's life. I watch that scene, and I find it harrowing and cold because it shows how much of a narcissist and megalomaniac Daniel really is.
If you honestly believe that sort of thing is justifiable in a situation like that, I really don't know what to tell you other than that I think you should take some time to think about why you feel that way and question whether it's right or not.
@@jvondd I mean I agree with you that murder is wrong and he should face the consequences. I just think that Daniel's actions were justified given that Henry had deceived Daniel for what seemed to be several months, he took advantage of daniel and his money(sustaining Henry's drug addiction), and he was partially the reason Daniel felt it was necessary to send off HW to San Francisco. He wanted to kill Henry not because Daniel felt humiliated, but because he was extremely furious with this man who had manipulated and taken advantage of him, destroying him emotionally. I'm not saying it's right, but I don't blame Daniel for taking this course of action. I would probably do the same in that position.
@@joshuaduplaa9033 I'm a little confused because you just said that you agree that murder is wrong. We both agree that what happened in that scene was a murder, but earlier you said that this particular murder was justified, and you're still defending that position. That's a contradiction. You can't have it both ways.
That wouldn't be any different than if I were to say that I believe slavery is wrong, but I think enslaving this one person is justifiable because they're a bad person. I'd be a hypocrite if I said something like that.
Speaking of hypocrites, Daniel is a huge hypocrite because he murders "Henry" for deceiving him, yet he spends the whole movie deceiving everyone he meets. To Daniel, it's okay if he lies to people, but anyone who lies to him deserves to burn for it.
Let me be clear up front that I'm not trying to be condescending to you, but if your initial comment is an honest reflection of your take on that scene, I don't think you picked up on what the scene was saying. I understand that art is often a subjective experience and that some things can be open to interpretation, but Paul Thomas Anderson was not being subtle about the message of this scene. The dark shadows, eerie quietness, the positions of the characters, what they say to each other and the resolution of the conflict is all meant to convey that Daniel has taken a very dark, sinister turn. Before he was just making false promises and cutting underhanded deals. Now he's committing cold-blooded murder out of spite. Daniel Plainview may the protagonist of this film, but he is not the hero. Frankly, I don't think the movie has a hero, but if Daniel has any other role to play, he's the villain of his own story. He just doesn't see himself as a villain because he believes that he's better than everyone else and should therefore be free to do as he pleases without anyone getting in his way.
Again, I'm not suggesting that you're dumb or anything, but I do think it's safe to say that if you don't see a problem with Daniel's actions, especially in that particular scene, you missed the point of the film.
@@jvondd i do see the problem with his actions and I understand it's wrong. Something being wrong or justified isn't mutually exclusive. I can think he did something wrong, but it was justified. It wasn't an act out of pure maliciousness. He was justifiably angry. It doesn't make it right or anymore wrong. But I can see how someone could justify Henry's murder. I'm not some psycho man haha I just have an opinion
Excellent and clear understanding of a tragic complex man.