Paul Dano, who plays Eli Sunday (and his identical twin, Paul, in a brief but vital scene) establishes himself as a powerful actor in a role demanding both hysteria and hubris.

Considerable scene-stealing is done by magically gifted child actor Dillon Freasier, who plays HW Plainview, Daniel's 11-year-old "son and partner," used initially as a billboard for Plainview's being a family man. Kevin J O'Connor and Ciaran Hinds do very well among a rock-solid supporting cast, but this is a film that belongs to one man.

The only thing Plainview shares -- as the living, breathing, drinking being that he unquestionably is -- with Daniel Day-Lewis, is his first name. The actor creates this character from the bootlaces up, his never mended leg dragging behind him and every action, every grimace, every smile -- every pause, even -- gives you tremendous insight into a complex, troubled, awesome individual.

Blood is a character study as ambitious as Citizen Kane, and Day-Lewis does it justice. He is arguably the greatest actor of our times, and this could well be looked upon as his finest performance. It is a meaty, stunning portrayal and an exemplary testimony to the purity of Method acting. Eat your heart out, Laurence Olivier -- this one's just unbelievable.

The actor-director combination is accurate enough to ensure that this isn't just a nihilistic film, but one that lifts the curtain of inevitable darkness. And for the record, I love the last scene, a purely intentional misstep.

Paul Thomas Anderson created this world; Daniel Day-Lewis drank it all up.

Rediff Rating: 5 Stars

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