The San Francisco Chronicle gives "Wild Applause" to Jonny Greenwood's score for There Will Be Blood, with writer David Wiegand saying the album fully stands up on its own, apart from the film for which it was written. "A richly haunting series of symphonic and chamber poems that show their influences (Britten, Stravinsky) and cut their own paths as well," Wiegand says of Greenwood's score. Exquisite performances by the BBC Concert Orchestra, Empire Quartet, Dale and pianist Michael Dussek," writes Wiegand, "showcase the dark brilliance of Greenwood's music."

In the San Jose Mercury News review of There Will Be Blood, film critic Mary F. Pols says "there will be no other film like it this year or next, nothing that sounds like it or looks like it or feels like it." And Jonny Greenwood's score, she writes, is "as primitive, ominous, and exciting as the movie itself."

The National Society of Film Critics has named There Will Be Blood Best Picture of the Year and awarded the film with Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis, and Best Cinematography for Robert Elswit. The society comprises more than 60 critics from major publications throughout the country.

With the Oscar polls set to close at the end of the week, the New York Times film critics have weighed in on the list of nominees they'd like to see. A.O. Scott, Manohla Dargis, and Stephen Holden all agree that There Will Be Blood should be nominated for Best Director, Paul Thomas Anderson; Best Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis; and Best Adapted Screenplay. Holden and Dargis also think it should be on the list for Best Picture. Holden is joined by Scott in suggesting the film's Paul Dano for Best Supporting Actor. Scott also hopes Sweeney Todd will be recognized by Academy voters. He thinks it should be on the list both for Best Picture and for Johnny Depp as Best Actor.