Phantom Thread
Starring: Daniel-Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville
Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
Rated: R
Phantom Thread is everything that Darren Aronofsky's unfocused Mother! tried and failed to accomplish. It's a fascinating commentary on the cyclical nature of the creative mind and process. Although someone may be considered a creative genius, their process often wreaks havoc on those around them.
The film follows fashion designer, Reynolds Woodcock (yes, that's really his name) in the 1950's who begins a relationship with a young waitress named Alma (Vicky Kreips). She becomes his muse, but ultimately finds that sought after title may be a curse. Reynolds is prone to intense mood swings and bursts of anger. However, Alma stays around because of the allure of his world. Eventually the two find themselves caught in a dysfunctional relationship.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson makes sure that every frame of Phantom Thread is exquisite. Every moment of it is meticulously detailed, much like Reynolds himself. Anderson also did the cinematography for the film which looks fantastic. The look of every shot seems to match the 50's time period the film takes place in. Not to mention, the score by Johnny Greenwood is haunting and beautiful. It matches each moment that we see on screen wonderfully.
Daniel Day-Lewis gives an intense performance as Reynolds ranging from inspired to depressed at a moments notice. When he first sees Alma, he has to have her as a new muse, almost as if she is a shiny new dress one would see in a store window. In the beginning of their relationship he is welcoming, but when she displays her own sense of identity he begins to shut her out. He wants to use her as inspiration for his work and little else. It's a fascinating character study that explores the dynamic of the "creative genius" and their muse.
Vicky Krieps plays Alma in a breakout performance. I'm surprised she didn't receive a Best Actress nod because she has no problem showing off in an acting showcase with Daniel Day-Lewis. We don't know much about Alma, who begins the film as a quiet character. That quickly changes as we see her relationship with Reynolds unfold. She changes from a shy waitress to a woman who will not be pushed around by Reynold's childlike tantrums. She attempts to change things in this strange fashion house that she stumbled into. If only she could find her way out of it. Ultimately, she may take things too far when trying to get Reynold's attention.
While remaining as spoiler free as possible, I'll just say: If you're going to see Phantom Thread, you need to know you're going to witness one of the most uncomfortable couples in cinematic history. What I thought was a typical awards-season film about a "troubled genius" who takes advantage of women turned into something much more shocking in its third act. However, this twist makes the film and its characters so much more intriguing as a whole.
My one issue with this movie is that the dresses aren't as stunning as the characters claim. Reynolds is supposed to be one of the greatest fashion designers working, yet his dresses have obvious problems. You can see creases and wrinkles in the fabric. At times, they don't even fit the models properly. There's only one dress that seemed gorgeous to me. (If you've seen the movie, it's the pink one that Alma models) In an artistic sense, maybe the dresses were supposed to be an outward expression of his personal issues. (Only one dress looks great because he makes it right after he is introduced to his new muse.) However, it's made pretty clear that Reynolds is sought after for his incredible gowns. I wasn't seeing that. Maybe I've seen too much Project Runway in my life, but I feel like the costume department could have done a better job.
Phantom Thread is a disturbing, but meticulously beautiful film that confronts an artist's inability to maintain a healthy relationship during the creative process.
My Rating: 9/10