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Film Review: Phantom Thread (2017)@drax53d

(source: tmdb.org)

The world has changed so much that some things that happened only a decade ago now seem like a distant and increasingly difficult to comprehend past. One of the best examples is the decision of Daniel Day-Lewis, the English actor and three-time Oscar winner, to simply end his career. That decision coincided with the premiere of Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson's film in which Day-Lewis played the lead role. Day-Lewis's long absence from the big screen was, in fact, not so inexplicable given the English actor's habit of taking multi-year breaks between roles. And for that reason, part of the critical community was somewhat disappointed at the thought that Phantom Thread, a film they were not overly enthusiastic about, could have been Day-Lewis's last. However, given the economic and other parameters that have changed so dramatically of late, only few years later, during dark days of COVID pandemic, it seemed likely that, even if he were to change his mind, Phantom Thread could remain his final film.

In the film, Day-Lewis plays the character of Reynolds Woodcock, a London fashion designer who, in the 1950s, creates expensive dresses for the British and neighbouring countries’ aristocracy. Business is excellent, thanks in large part to his sister Cyril (Leslie Manville), who manages the finances and looks after the support staff, including the models with whom Reynolds tends to have short-lived love affairs. After ending one such affair, in an effort to replenish his creative resources, Reynolds travels to his native village where he meets Alma (Vicky Krieps) in a local restaurant – a pretty waitress whose accent betrays foreign origins. Reynolds falls head over heels in love with her and decides to make her his model and new muse. At first, Alma is delighted with life in the luxurious house, but over time Reynolds's perfectionism and sensitivity come to the fore, as does Alma's unwillingness to cater to his every whim. This begins to affect their romantic relationship, but Alma, before becoming Reynolds's ex-lover, decides to prevent that in a rather bizarre way that could very easily give her romantic idyll a tragic ending.

Day-Lewis's fans may have reason to be sad that Phantom Thread is his last film, but they also have reason to be satisfied because the great actor has delivered yet another masterful performance. As many times before, he immerses himself so thoroughly in the role that it is easy for viewers to forget they are watching Daniel Day-Lewis and instead truly see the character of Reynolds Woodcock. The character is brilliantly acted, offering a very good character study of a middle-aged man who has yet to heal the traumas of his childhood and who still cannot reconcile his professional and private life. Day-Lewis is more than ably partnered by the relatively unknown Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, who very effectively shades between the stereotypes of a femme fatale, a cynical manipulator, and a woman prone to potentially self-destructive outbursts. Lesley Manville also did a very good job; her character is initially presented as extremely antipathetic, only gradually becoming something akin to a voice of reason in this bizarre love story.

However, the top-tier cast was not enough for Paul Thomas Anderson to replicate the successes of his early career. The film suffers from a serious problem with pacing and excessive length, so that certain scenes are truly unnecessary, while others – such as the episode with the arrogant client and her "problematic" tycoon husband – are inserted merely as an obligatory reference to the Holocaust, without which many AMPAS voters could not imagine the Oscars. A disappointing impression also comes from Jonny Greenwood's score, which is of rather uneven quality and gives certain scenes an unnecessary and irritating "artsy-snobbish" charge. Nevertheless, when all is said and done, Phantom Thread is still a solid and more than watchable film, and looked even better in times when we were troubled by far more serious problems than no longer being able to see an artist like Daniel Day-Lewis in new works.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

(Note: The text in the original Croatian version is available here.)

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2 more reviews

›[ENG/ESP] The central theme of Phantom Thread is the difficult task of love by two narcissistic individuals. / El tema central de Phantom Thread es la difícil tarea del amor por parte de dos personas narcisistas. [REVIEW/RESEÑA]@greengalletti1791d

Phantom Thread was included by the National Board of Review among the top ten films of 2017 and nominated in six Oscar categories. / Phantom Thread fue incluida por el National Board of Review entre las diez mejores películas del año 2017 y nominada en seis categorías de los premios Óscar.

This weekend I took the opportunity to sort my video library and select some movies to watch during the course of this week.

And in the middle of that selection and reordering I came across a film by one of my favorite actors: Daniel Day-Lewis who, paradoxically, announced his retirement from his profession after having played it.

Born in Kensington (England) but naturalized Irish Daniel Day-Lewis has become one of the most prestigious and iconic actors in the history of cinema.

Characterized by an almost maniacal tendency in the choice of his characters, he has participated throughout his career in only seventeen films from his debut in 1981 with Gandhi to Phantom Thread.

In between unforgettable titles such as The Unbearable Lightness of Being, In the Name of the Father, The Age of Innocence and for my modest opinion, the best of all, with a truly extraordinary acting work: My Left Foot.

Daniel Day-Lewis was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in Phantom Thread. / Daniel Day-Lewis fue nominado al Oscar como mejor actor por su interpretación en Phantom Thread.

Este fin de semana aproveché para ordenar mi videoteca y de paso seleccionar algunas películas para ver en el curso de esta semana.

Y en medio de esa selección y reordenamiento me encontré con una película de uno de mis actores preferidos: Daniel Day-Lewis que, paradojalmente, anunció el retiro de su profesión después de haberla interpretado.

Nacido en Kensington (Inglaterra) pero naturalizado irlandés Daniel Day-Lewis se ha transformado en uno de los actores uno de los actores más prestigiosos e icónicos de la historia del cine.

Caracterizado por una tendencia casi maniacal en la elección de sus personajes ha participado a lo largo de toda su carrera en solo diecisiete películas desde su debut en 1981 con Gandhi hasta Phantom Thread.

En el medio títulos inolvidables como La insoportable levedad del ser, En nombre del padre, La edad de la inocencia y para mi modesta opinión, la mejor de todas, con una labor interpretativa verdaderamente descomunal: Mi pié izquierdo.

Today I want to tell you about my impressions of the last film I saw for the second or third time, I think, in the middle of the pandemic, when the curfew prevented us from going out in the streets and we had to spend many hours inside our homes. Although the danger has not disappeared, individual liberties are slowly taking their normal course.

Regarding the film, I refer to Panthom Thread, also known in Latin America as El Hilo Invisible in Spain and El Hilo Escondido in Latin America.

Hoy quiero comentarles mis impresiones de la última película que vi creo que por segunda o tercera vez en plena pandemia, cuando el toque de queda impedía salir a las calles y debíamos pasar muchas horas dentro de nuestras casas. Si bien el peligro no ha desaparecido las libertades individuales de a poco van tomando su cariz normal.

Respecto a la película me refiero a Panthom Thread conocida también en Hispanoamércia con el nombre de El Hilo Invisible en España y El Hilo Escondido en Hispanoamérica.

The film is set in London, after the Second World War and the whole development of the film revolves around the figure of the renowned fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock who is the lord and master of London fashion at that time.

His talent in the field of haute couture allows him to count among his clients the greatest exponents of the high bourgeoisie and the European aristocracy.

And in the midst of this general recognition, he obsessively strives to keep under control all aspects of his life, not only business but also personal, with a maniacal obsession. Even the personal life of his sister, his partner in the couture workshop, over whom he exercises absolute control.

This control - absolute and despotic - risks being broken when he meets a young and beautiful waitress who fascinates him (from a professional point of view) by taking her to live with him and making her work as a model, establishing a relationship between the two women of mistrust and resentment.

In an oppressive environment Alma (the young model) falls in love with Reynolds (Daniel Day-Lewis) who coldly exchanges his love and only respects the perfect routine that has governed his life up to that moment and that the new relationship seems to put at risk.

In an atmosphere of continuous discussions, the film shows the extremely complex and obsessive character of Reynolds and a certain manipulation by the future wife who at all costs wants to have him under control and get him out of that rigorous and methodical life to which he has been subjected for years.

Even trying to provoke a slight poisoning to show that he is not totally independent and needs her.

In this way, a morbid relationship is established between the two, a kind of executioner and condemned, with a sickly character, where he gradually abandons all the principles in which he firmly believed.

Reynolds' talent for haute couture led him to meet clients from the European aristocracy and high bourgeoisie. / El talento por la alta costura lleva a Reynolds a monoplizar los clientes de la aristocracia y la alta burguesia auropea.

El film se ambienta en Londres, después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y todo el desarrollo de la película gira alrededor de la figura del reconocido diseñador de moda Reynolds Woodcock quien es el amo y señor de la moda londinense de esa época.

Su talento en el campo de la alta costura le permite contar entre sus clientes a los mayores exponentes de la alta burguesía y de la aristocracia europea.

Y en medio de este reconocimiento general se empeña obsesivamente en tener bajo control todos los aspectos de su vida, no solo empresarial sino también personal, con una obsesión maniacal. Incluso la vida personal de su hermana, socia en el taller de alta costura, sobre la cuál ejerce un control absoluto.

Este control - absoluto y déspota - corre el riesgo de resquebrajarse cuando conoce a una joven y bella camariera que lo fascina (desde el punto de vista profesional) llevándola vivir con él, y haciéndola trabajar como modelo, instaurándose una relación entre las dos mujeres de desconfianza y resentimiento.

En un ambiente opresivo Alma (la joven modelo) se enamora de Reynolds (Daniel Day-Lewis) quien recambia su amor con frialdad y solo respeta la rutina perfecta que ha gobernado su vida hasta ese momento y que la nueva relación parece poner en riesgo.

En un ambiente de continuas discusiones la película va mostrando el carácter sumamente complejo y obsesivo de Reynolds y una cierta manipulación por parte de la futura esposa que a toda costa quiere tenerlo bajo control y sacarlo de esa vida rigurosa y metódica a la que se ha sometido por años.

Incluso tratando de provocarle un ligero envenenamiento para poder demostrar que él no es totalmente independiente y necesita de ella.

De esa manera se instaura entre ambos una relación morbosa, una especie de verdugo y condenado, de carácter enfermizo, donde de a poco va abandonando todos los principios en los cuáles creía firmemente.

Phantom Thread was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Supporting Actress (Lesley Manville), Best Score and Best Costumes (in which it finally won the statuette).

At the Golden Globe Awards it was nominated for Best Dramatic Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Best Soundtrack.

Phantom Thread fue nominada al Oscar como Mejor película, Mejor director, Mejor actor (Daniel Day-Lewis, Mejor actriz de reparto (Lesley Manville), Mejor banda sonora y Mejor vestuario (en la cuál obtuvo finalmente la estatuilla)

En los Premios Globos de Oro fue nominada en las categorías Mejor actor dramático (Daniel Day-Lewis) y Mejor banda sonora.

Daniel Day-Lewis: Reynolds Woodcock Vicky Krieps: Alma Elson Lesley Manville: Cyril Woodcock Camilla Rutherford: Johanna Gina McKee: Condesa Henrietta Harding George Glasgow: Nigel Cheddar-Goode Brian Gleeson: Dr. Robert Hardy Harriet Sansom Harris: Barbara Rose

Source/Fuente: IMDB.

Daniel Day-Lewis is a master in the language of the body, although he is not exactly a verbose actor, his is discipline, exigency and acting rigor perfectly identified in a character that fits him to measure (although, without joking, he is a tailor).

Rarely does the common spectator, who often selects his films quickly and almost always based on the actors, have the chance to see a film that presents such high aesthetic values and that, at the same time, seems to create a barrier for the identification of the spectator, as if it were a mechanism that seduces the eye but at the same time has a repellent effect on the feelings.

Morbid, rigid, gentrified characters in the midst of a very refined classical style and a photography with strong colors, pictorial shots of a camera that moves slowly, have earned him all the awards and nominations he has deservedly received.

Source/Fuente.

Daniel Day-Lewis en un maestro en el lenguaje del cuerpo aunque no sea exactamente un actor verborrágico, lo suyo es disciplina, exigencia y rigor actoral perfectamente identificado in un personaje que le calza a medida (aunque, sin bromear, se trate de un sastre).

Pocas veces el espectador común que muchas veces selecciona sus películas en un modo rápido y basándose casi siempre en los actores, tiene la posibilidad de ver una película que presente unos valores estéticos tan elevados y que, al mismo tiempo, parezca crear una barrera para la identificación del espectador, como si se tratara de un mecanismo que seduce a la vistapero que a su vez ejerce un efecto repelente sobre los sentimientos.

Personajes morbosos, rígidos, aburguesados en medio de un estilo clásico muy refinado y una fotografía con colores fuertes, planos pictóricos de una cámara que se mueve lentamente, le han valido todos los reconocimientos y nominaciones que meritoriamente ha recibido.

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›Phantom Thread - Movie Review@coldsteem3080d

The trailers for Phantom Thread looked a bit brooding to me. My wife wanted to see this film. The 8.7 rating at IMDb made it hard for me to resist. Trailers can be deceiving. But I was a bit apprehensive about seeing a love story set against the backdrop of a fashion house in 1950s London.

Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day Louis) is as punctilious as he is pedantic. His perfectionism gives him an air of arrogance. The rigors of dressmaking appear to take a toll on him. His life is one of rigid rules and routine. He is urged by aid, Cyril (Lesley Manville) to take a break in the country. There, he discovers an awkward girl, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who begins to thaw his heart. Alma goes to work for Woodcock as one of his runway girls. But she is more than just a runway girl. She lives in the house as well. There is a flicker of chemistry between the two, but Woodcock's finicky personality seems a chasm between them.

Alma also has a quirky personality. She is as persistent as Woodcock is meticulous. As she begins to understand the deeper struggles beneath the quirks, Alma asserts herself vocally as well as through sedition. A steady stream of royalty and high society pass through the fashion house, the economy that pays for its maintenance. Yet Alma intersects that flow with the validation of Woodcock that doesn't seem to come from dressing the who's who of the bourgeois. Woodcock is fragile while Alma is his medicine. But the cure is a strange one.

Phantom Thread was exactly what I expected it to be. A pretentious Christmas release meant to impress Oscar voters. I found the film to be a bit too ~~brooding~~ slow for my taste. The story is peculiar, just bizarre enough to have a mild twist at the end. But the torment of the main character grated on me at times. Daniel Day Lewis was exceptional, don't get me wrong. He made the tortured soul believable. But it was over-the-top for me. The reluctant pacing drew the story out. Some of it was necessary to create the foundation of the bizarre relationship between the two lead characters. But I found it was overdone, making the film tedious at times.

The casting for Phantom Thread was excellent. Lewis added incredible depth to his character. In fact, I really enjoyed the characters in this film. It was driven by character tics. But Lewis was overshadowed by an impeccable performance by Krieps. He became the counterpoint to her character, which was written intentionally as the stronger character. She gave that character the credibility needed to sell the story. The dialogue will probably be considered the strength of this film to the Hollywood set. It was sharp at times. But the film sometimes bogged down in the dialogue as well. Great casting, decent writing, sluggish pacing. A dose of action may have done this film a favor. The closest thing we get is Woodcock's penchant for driving fast.

Part of the reason Phantom Thread felt so long is because it was. The film has a two hour, ten minute run time. Certainly there was ten or fifteen minutes they could have cut from this film. The movie received an R rating from the MPAA. It is an adult oriented film, but not overtly gratuitous. There is no sex and nudity, unless you consider breasts through a sheer gown to count. The film deals with adult themes, particularly one that skirts the issue of death. Primarily, the rating is tied to language, which seems a bit harsh. I would probably have rated this film a PG-13.

Phantom Thread is a decent movie, but there is no way I would justify an 8.7 rating like the one at IMDb. The film had limited release over Christmas, so the real world bourgeois are probably responsible for that rating. Once real movie-goers get to this film, I would expect the overall rating to drop close to an 8. I am not quite that high myself. The story had merit. The performances were excellent. But the film lacked flavor for me. It was slow and bland and the payoff just wasn't good enough to justify the pacing. I think I may be a bit generous with a 7.5/10. Worth seeing, maybe worthy of a matinee, but you can wait for it streaming and not miss anything.

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