Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread

Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, Richard Graham

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

The Story:
Set in London sometime after World War II, Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) is an acclaimed fashion designer who's meticulous eye for detail in the fabric matches his equally insatiable desire for routine and perfection in his real life.  He has never fallen in love, still pining over the loss of his mother, and has a deeply personal connection with his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville), who helps control the company he's amassed.

One day he goes to a restaurant and meets waitress Alma (Vicky Krieps), and is smitten by her.  They go out on a date and slowly begins a relationship, with Alma becoming Reynolds' muse and model, as well as his lover.  Yet things aren't all perfect, as Reynolds' thirst for control and routine is equally matched by Alma's own desires, and the two participate in an intense back-and-forth for power and control, yet somehow maintaining a deep sense of love for each other.

The Synopsis:
I was once asked who my all-time favorite actor was, and I impulsively answered with Tom Hanks.  While there's no doubt Tom Hanks is a powerhouse performer, I forgot an actor whose performances are revolutionary, whose dedication to their craft is unparalleled, and whose presence alone transcends the simple definition of "actor" and creates a whole new term all his own: Daniel Day-Lewis.

In a sense it's easy to forget to include him in an impulsive list of actors, because he does something much more than just act: he becomes the character he portrays in such a deeply personal way that those closest to him could never decipher who was who.  Where some actors do two, three, or even four films in a year, Daniel Day-Lewis takes years between projects (his last film, "Lincoln," came out in 2012), and when his name emerges once again, you know you're in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  A performance so captivating, so stunning, so unequaled, that he can make any film look great - he could even star as Christian Grey in "Fifty Shades of Grey" and it'd be a masterpiece...thankfully, he'd never set foot near that drivel.

With "Phantom Thread," one might say it's a film where absolutely nothing of consequence happens, and most would find the idea pretentious and boring - and I would have to agree.  If it was anyone else playing the lead role, it would've been a snooze-fest story.  However, since it's Daniel Day-Lewis, it propels the film to legendary status - never mind the fact that he announced this would be his final film, his swan song, and for an actor as decorated as he is (three Academy Awards for Best Actor, and two more nominations for the same category, including for this film), this is the perfect send-off for an actor that will be studied by cinema historians hundreds of years in the future.

What is it about Daniel Day-Lewis that makes him an actor without equal?  Simply it's his commitment to the film, and after understanding the painstakingly meticulous way he prepares for a role, it's easy to understand why he would want to retire.  For this film alone, he watched footage of 1940s and 50s fashion shows, studied famous designers, consulted with curators of fashion and textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and even apprenticed under Marc Happel, head of the costume department at the New York City Ballet (imdb.com credit).  When Vicky Krieps arrived on set, she had to refer to Day-Lewis as Reynolds, as he stays in character throughout the duration of filming, and even referred to him as Reynolds in future interviews.  For such a fastidious attention to his role, it's also no wonder why Daniel Day-Lewis played Reynolds so perfectly - they're essentially the same person.

With such an anchor at the heart of the film, the remaining parts of "Phantom Thread" are met with the same amount of care and detail.  The film is almost continually balanced with a beautiful piano score in the background that hearkens back to the era it's set, and of course the costume designs are pure visual masterpieces (both the Score and Costume Design earned Academy Award nominations).  The setting takes place almost entirely in Reynolds' mansion, which is as exquisite and expansive as you'd expect, serving as both a home and place of work for his army of sewers and seamstresses.

All these outside factors help drive home the performances in the film, which is essentially a three-person play.  Daniel Day-Lewis is the lead, who delivers Reynolds as a very troubled genius who can never find true love because of his heartbreak over his mother's death.  He enjoys a rigid routine, from trimming his nose hairs to how he puts on his stockings, to his quiet breakfasts and pinpoint accurate dinners, he's the definition of "creature of habit."  You never know how temperamental he will be - one minute he's smiling and conversing as normal, the next he's berating and yelling like a petulant child, and you never know which one you'll see at any given moment.

Then there's Vicky Krieps who - if there was a weaker female category for Best Actress - would've earned a nomination herself.  At first, Reynolds sees her as a muse and someone inferior to him (when she first sees him, she literally trips over herself), but soon he realizes that there's much more to her than just a pretty face.  She's as equally strong-willed as him, and even more mysterious.  You're not exactly sure what her motives really are - does she really love him?  Or does she love the power he possesses?  Does she even understand the meaning of love?  We don't really know - all we know is that their whole relationship is like witnessing an intense chess match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky: both characters want to gain the upper hand and claim checkmate, but each one is one step ahead of the other.

Finally there's Lesley Manville, who earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Reynolds' steely, resolved sister Cyril.  Whereas Reynolds is prone to fits of emotional distress, Cyril is the constant, the rock-solid.  She's cold and calculating, and doesn't suffer fools to pass.  When Reynolds is giving her a particular temper tantrum, she tells him plainly: "Don't pick a fight with me, you certainly won't come out alive.  I'll go right through you and it'll be you who ends up on the floor.  Understood?"  Reynolds - along with the audience - clearly understood her message.

As I said earlier, if it was anyone but Daniel Day-Lewis, the film would've been rather boring.  There's nary an action sequence to be seen, as the entire film is a deeply introspective view of two opposing forces of nature who duel it out with wits instead of rifles, and it's captivating to watch only because it's Day-Lewis ruling the roost.  That enough gives the film the attention it deserves, as everything else around it basically exists within his own universe, much like planets revolving around a powerful sun.  This is the kind of experience you'll have with "Phantom Thread," a purely cosmic experience.

The Summary:
For his final film, Daniel Day-Lewis pulls out all the stops and graces us with another unforgettable character in a film that's filled with tension and drama, beautifully peppered with a soaring score and couture costumes.

The Score: A+