Image 1 of 13

<i>By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer</i><br>
<br>
Hollywood has produced several memorable films examining the complex, often tumultous bond and dynamics between father and sons. And with Father's Day coming up, it's time to look at some famous celluloid fathers and sons.<br>
<br>
<b>"There Will Be Blood"</b><br>
<br>
There is often a lack of communication between fathers and sons. And that's quite literally what happens between an ambitious oil man and his adopted son in Paul Thomas Anderson's award-winning 2007 loose adaptation of Upton Sinclair'snovel "Oil!" A deep rift occurs between oil tycoon Daniel Planview ( Daniel Day-Lewis in his Oscar-wining role) and his young adopted son H.W. (Dillon Freasier) after H.W. loses his hearing in an oil derrick explosion. Instead of comforting H.W., Plainview leaves the hysterical young boy and rushes off to the disaster. After the boy tries to burn the bed in which his father is sleeping, Plainview sends him off to a boarding school for the deaf. The relationship never recovers, especially since Plainview won't learn sign language.

'There Will Be Blood'

( Melinda Sue Gordon / Paramount Vantage )

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Hollywood has produced several memorable films examining the complex, often tumultous bond and dynamics between father and sons. And with Father's Day coming up, it's time to look at some famous celluloid fathers and sons.

"There Will Be Blood"

There is often a lack of communication between fathers and sons. And that's quite literally what happens between an ambitious oil man and his adopted son in Paul Thomas Anderson's award-winning 2007 loose adaptation of Upton Sinclair'snovel "Oil!" A deep rift occurs between oil tycoon Daniel Planview ( Daniel Day-Lewis in his Oscar-wining role) and his young adopted son H.W. (Dillon Freasier) after H.W. loses his hearing in an oil derrick explosion. Instead of comforting H.W., Plainview leaves the hysterical young boy and rushes off to the disaster. After the boy tries to burn the bed in which his father is sleeping, Plainview sends him off to a boarding school for the deaf. The relationship never recovers, especially since Plainview won't learn sign language.

Comments (1)

Add / View comments | Discussion FAQ

markjacobs20 at 6:54 PM June 18, 2010

How bout "He Got Game". Great father son movie starring Denzel and Ray Allen. Not only is it a great father son movie but you also get to watch basketball with it.

Also Atwone Fisher. While not really a father son movie, it has some great father/son type scenes between Denzel (once again) and Derek Luke.

Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments' factual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link next to a comment. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.