Summary:
The film follows the rise to power of Daniel Plainview - a charismatic and ruthless oil prospector, driven to succeed by his intense hatred of others and psychological need to see any and all competitors fail. When he learns of oil-rich land in California that can be bought cheaply, he moves his operation there and begins manipulating and exploiting the local landowners into selling him their property. Using his young adopted son H.W. to project the image of a caring family man, Plainview gains the cooperation of almost all the locals with lofty promises to build schools and cultivate the land to make their community flourish. Over time, Plainview's gradual accumulation of wealth and power causes his true self to surface, and he begins to slowly alienate himself from everyone in his life.
| Runtime: | 158 min |
|---|---|
| Rating: | Rated R for some violence. |
| Production: | Paramount Vantage |
| Genres: | Drama, Thriller |
| Country: | USA |
| Languages: | English, American Sign Language |
| Home Release Date: | Apr 8, 2008 |
| Director | Credit |
|---|---|
| Paul Thomas Anderson | Director |
| Writer | Credit |
|---|---|
| Paul Thomas Anderson | Screenplay |
| Upton Sinclair | Novel "Oil!" |
| Principal Cast | Credit |
|---|---|
| Daniel Day-Lewis | Daniel Plainview |
| Cast | Credit |
|---|---|
| Barry Del Sherman | H.B. Ailman |
| Coco Leigh | Mrs. Bankside |
| Dillon Freasier | Young H.W. Plainview |
| Erica Sullivan | Signal Hill Woman |
| Harrison Taylor | Baby H.W. Plainview |
| Jacob Stringer | Silver Assay Worker |
| Jim Meskimen | Signal Hill Married Man |
| Joseph Mussey | Silver Assay Worker |
| Kevin Breznahan | Signal Hill Man |
| Martin Stringer | Silver Assay Worker |
| Matthew Braden Stringer | Silver Assay Worker |
| Paul F. Tompkins | Prescott |
| Randall Carver | Mr. Bankside |
| Stockton Taylor | Baby H.W. Plainview |
| Producer | Credit |
|---|---|
| Daniel Lupi | Producer |
| David Williams | Executive Producer |
| Eric Schlosser | Executive Producer |
| JoAnne Sellar | Producer |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | Producer |
| Scott Rudin | Executive Producer |
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