Who is Daniel Day-Lewis?

Last Friday, I got a chance to watch a movie that has received rave reviews. Going in, I had never heard of the lead actors. So I was a bit hesitant. Well, it did not dissapoint. Right from the opening scene, you are sucked into a compelling story of Daniel Plainview played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The sweeping shots are breath-taking, the soundtrack matches the tension, conflict and high drama note for note. The sets are exquisitely designed, you feel like you are in a time-traveling machine chronicling the life of the protagonist. But for me, Day-Lewis' performance was the most striking aspect of the film. His greed for power, his troubled relationship with his son, and his tango with Eli Sunday, ably portrayed by Paul Dano, all bring out a masterful performance. And his delivery made you hang on his every word.

As I said at the outset, I knew none of the actors going in. But as I mentally gushed over Day-Lewis' performance, I kept asking myself, who is this guy? He must have won some kind of an award in the past. I left the movie feeling that he deserved to win this year's Oscar for best actor.

Well sure enough, after referring to my trusty old Wikipedia, I found out that Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is not only an acclaimed actor, but also won an Academy Award for best actor in 1989, for his performance as Christy Brown in Jim Sheridan's My Left Foot. Two decades later, he seems set to win another.

As for the movie, I will hazard to say that it is one of the best movies of our era. It has high drama, great photography, a compelling story and great humor to boot. It is one of those movies that people will use as a benchmark for years to come. Some have said it is the "Citizen Kane" of our time. However, I was disappointed by the ending. It felt rather abrupt. The antagonist gave up way too easily! But if Daniel Day-Lewis does not win the Oscar this year, well, there will be blood!