Review of Phantom Thread (2017) by Kris B — 19 Oct 2018
I have just finished watching what I think must be one of the strangest love stories I've ever seen. I've always been a big fan of film director, Paul Thomas Anderson, but his film Phantom Thread is unlike any of his other films, or any love story I have ever seen.
The film has three exquisite performances: Daniel Day Lewis (whose performance is meticulous as always), Lesley Manville as his spinster sister who has devoted her life to her brother and his famous house of fashion and an extraordinary glowing performance from Vicky Krieps as the woman he falls in love with, marries and also sometimes seems to despise her hold on him at the same time. (But isn't that true with love in real life?).
The film looks beautiful, the clothes are beautiful and the art direction is beautiful.
I think I'll have to watch this movie again to catch it's full meaning, but right now I think the movie is about the obsessive nature of creativity and how fragile creativity can become. Vicky Krieps seems to set out not only to love the famous dressmaker, Woodcock, but she seems set on breaking him of his often nasty obsessive creative nature and recreate him as an artist.
Many will hate this film, many will Love it and I can also seeing many who will be indifferent to its charms. At this moment I'm not sure if I loved it or just liked it.
The craftsmanship is gorgeous, but I don't really know what Im feeling.
Give this film a watch and tell me how you feel about it. I'm very curious to hear other people's take on what is, apparently and unfortunately Mr. Lewis"s last film, since he is retiring from acting.
He is probably the finest actor of his generation. Mr. Lewis here is in top form... so he is ending his acting career on a high note. (Heaven forbid if his his last film had been the horrendous film of the musical NINE made several years ago.).
But, as a viewer, I'm still uncertain if this is a masterpiece or just an intriguing but rather slight entry In the Paul Thomas Anderson canon.
This review of Phantom Thread (2017) was written by Kris B on 19 October 2018.
Phantom Thread has generally received very positive reviews.
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