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I delayed watching director Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread as if it were a chore. Although Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood are each one of the greatest films of their decades, the last films I've seen from him have been some of the worst of this decade.
I walked out of Inherent Vice, and The Master was one of the most unfulfilling two hours I've had in a cineplex, despite starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.
That was a mistake on my part. Phantom Thread is the most ravishing film of this past year.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays eccentric dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, whose clientele inhabit London's fashion scene in the 1950's. The film invites viewers into the lavish world of not only Woodcock and his meticulously prepared meals, but into the lives of everyone around him including his socialite clients, his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) and Alma (Vicky Krieps), a woman who might change everything. It's a romance that explores the exchange of power in relationships and how people tailor themselves to those they love. It never falls to predictability, nor is it ambiguous. And yes, you'll squirm.
Mark Bridges’ costume designs are a stunning sideshow, showcasing the silky elegant dresses that his women clientele describe as items that "will give me courage,” and the lavish interiors of Woodcock’s townhouse play a strong supporting role to those pieces. Plus, Jonny Greenwood's jazz-inflected score perfectly compliments the era. That's right, Paul Thomas Anderson has gone full Merchant Ivory and it's phenomenal.
In a nutshell: Phantom Thread will demand your hushed concentration, but it's not a date movie.
Award potential: Phantom Thread was nominated for a total of six Oscars recently. I expect it will win one.
That was a mistake on my part. Phantom Thread is the most ravishing film of this past year.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays eccentric dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, whose clientele inhabit London's fashion scene in the 1950's. The film invites viewers into the lavish world of not only Woodcock and his meticulously prepared meals, but into the lives of everyone around him including his socialite clients, his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) and Alma (Vicky Krieps), a woman who might change everything. It's a romance that explores the exchange of power in relationships and how people tailor themselves to those they love. It never falls to predictability, nor is it ambiguous. And yes, you'll squirm.
Mark Bridges’ costume designs are a stunning sideshow, showcasing the silky elegant dresses that his women clientele describe as items that "will give me courage,” and the lavish interiors of Woodcock’s townhouse play a strong supporting role to those pieces. Plus, Jonny Greenwood's jazz-inflected score perfectly compliments the era. That's right, Paul Thomas Anderson has gone full Merchant Ivory and it's phenomenal.
In a nutshell: Phantom Thread will demand your hushed concentration, but it's not a date movie.
Award potential: Phantom Thread was nominated for a total of six Oscars recently. I expect it will win one.
Daniel Day-Lewis wears the role as if it's a custom suit, but this is Gary Oldman's (Darkest Hour) year, and Greenwoods' sensible jazz score will fall victim to Alexander Desplat's splashy one for The Shape of Water. However, rarely has a costume designer's work been as center-stage as Mark Bridges'. I can't imagine a loss for Best Costume.
The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.
The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.
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