20 Things You Somehow Missed In There Will Be Blood
10. Day-Lewis Mimics An Ape
The climax of There Will be Blood is iconic in every sense. "I drink your milkshake!" is probably the most recognizable part for the ordinary cinemagoer. But there is so much thought put into the final scene that remains hidden.
Foremostly, Day-Lewis' rage-filled attack on Eli. When Plainview throws Eli on the floor of his bowling area, we see a low-angle camera capturing him walking towards Eli. His particular style of walking resembles an ape. Actually, director Paul Thomas Anderson wanted to represent the primal hatred that Plainview harbored towards Eli.
Throughout the film, their rivalry was topsy-turvy. The cloak came out on top on most occasions, much to Plainview's chagrin. Gradually, we saw the oil magnate lose control over himself and the climax was the final nail in the coffin. Once he found Eli at his mercy, there was no looking back for Plainview. It is a small detail but says so much about PTA's incredible eye for such things.