The Ending: In the movie's epilogue, Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) visits an older Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who is now a bitter old drunk. Eli tries to broker a deal on the land of the now-dead Mr. Bandy, and even agrees to admit to being a false prophet and God a superstition to that end. Daniel is ultimately just toying with him, though, and after taunting him, beats him to death with a bowling pin, after which Daniel's butler arrives to check on him, and his only response is, "I'm finished" as inappropriately upbeat violin music plays, and the film cuts to black. Why It's Awesome: It's a summation of the sublime character study Paul Thomas Anderson and Day-Lewis put so much of their blood, sweat and tears into building, of capitalism colliding with faith and, unsurprisingly, capitalism "wins", if you can call it winning. Day-Lewis is a force of nature throughout the movie and especially in this closing portion, which no doubt brought home his second Best Actor Oscar win. Then there's that wonderful final line, which of course has a delicious double meaning, and try not to laugh at the violins.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
