There Will Be Blood

2007, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA, 158 min.

Selected and introduced by Broadway composer and lyricist David Yazbek.

Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his portrayal of Daniel “I drink your milkshake!” Plainview, a hard-bitten miner who strikes it rich during the oil rush, in this searing drama directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. His downward spiral into moral bankruptcy is set against an eerie, immersive soundtrack by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, which earned a BAFTA nomination for best film music.

“Set against the movie’s stark landscape and brilliant orchestration by Jonny Greenwood, the conflict between Daniel and Eli turns simultaneously explosive and subterranean.” —Cynthia Fuchs

Why did you select There Will Be Blood for the Cabaret Cinema: Soundtrack series?

“There Will Be Blood surprised me with its score in a way I hadn’t been hit since Star Wars. But it also has its own sound-symphony going on in the portrayal of fire, water, oil, the violence of nature and of unnatural things. The way the human voice is twisted and sculpted to help explicate character (especially the two main characters) and the way silence is used. Also the film (like any good film) has a rhythm—a cadence that is suggested by the epic time frame, honored by the director and composer, and finalized by the film editor, who made it a masterpiece.” — David Yazbek

Cabaret Cinema: Soundtrack

You can probably name the best movie you’ve seen, but what about the best movie you’ve heard? It might be your favorite because of its sound effects, sound engineering, score, or another element of the audio experience. Watch—and hear—a series of films that caught the ear of notable New Yorkers.

About the Introducer

David Yazbek was born in New York City and grew up playing in bands. He’s made five albums: The Laughing Man, Tock, Damascus, Tape Recorder, and Evil Monkey Man. He has created music and lyrics for four Broadway shows: The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and the upcoming The Band’s Visit. In addition, he is an Emmy award-winning comedy writer, and writes and scores film and TV.