20 Things You Somehow Missed In There Will Be Blood
11. The Beating Is Real
Day-Lewis is a method actor and it is a fact. Many fables about his behavior on set, while in character have done the rounds. Actors have spoken of their fear, in some cases, of seeing Day-Lewis live and breathe as his character. So there should be no surprises when he does something on-screen to another person in character.
We see a glimpse of that in a scene involving Eli (Paul Dano). Plainview promised a sum of money to the church to gain an upper hand in his plans to buy out the lands. But, once he got what he wanted, he forgot about the promise, which was a lie to begin with. Eli didn't know this. With an ocean of oil in front of him, he metaphorically walks through it to get to Plainview.
Mind you, this was right after Plainview's son lost his hearing. Once Eli asks for money, all hell breaks loose. Plainview drags him around in the mud, slapping and berating him. All of that is actually real. Day-Lewis did not hold back and went on to play his role to "perfection". Hats off to Dano for taking it like a champ!