There Will Be Blood

The derrick explosion wins over the wordless opening, Eli sermon, oil-soaked beating, competition confession, baptism, beach revelation, drunk lunch, H.W. rupture, Paul’s sales pitch, and milkshake murder.

The theme, emerging humor, visible oil-building process, score, ambiguity, PTA’s ascendancy, practical landscapes, script, trailer, young H.W., and “I’m finished” age best.

The beach two-shot with Henry’s face partly in sun leads a field including the dynamited well, mine fall, falling well debris, burning derrick silhouette, and vintage-lens train image.

The category is deliberately left blank because the panel supports the film’s decisions.

The real fire’s environmental damage, Miramax branding, and the oil state’s global damage are the only candidates.

Three takes argue Daniel may be sexually attracted to Henry, the film is much better and more important than No Country, and Day-Lewis cannot be greatest without a mass-audience movie.

Paul Dano’s exorcism wins, while Day-Lewis is declared ineligible despite the climactic pantomime.

Legendary SNL writer Jim Downey wins for his small real-estate role.

Bandy wins for two compact, forceful scenes.

Day-Lewis and PTA both have strong apex cases; oil, modern outdoor epics, oil-covered faces, private bowling alleys, well explosions, and feeding liquor to a baby receive playful subcases.

The movie is untouchable, though an all-Black version is briefly enjoyed as a thought experiment.

Wayne Jenkins is the comic default, while Philip Baker Hall and Buscemi fit naturally and Bernthal could replace Ciarán Hinds.

Daniel Day-Lewis gets the single Oscar.

The bloody bowling pin leads Daniel’s flask, hat, Henry’s diary, long swimming trunks, and Eli’s final cross.

Oil defeats religion and unchecked competition can poison the self and the world.

Daniel Day-Lewis wins the two-to-one host vote over Paul Thomas Anderson after an extended dispute; Craig finds Sean’s PTA case more compelling but does not cast a candidate ballot.