Skip to main content

Phantom Thread (2017)

Phantom Thread (2017) is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. In the 50s, a British dressmaker falls in love with a waitress only to have her find out that he's very picky about most things.

The problem when watching "artistic" movies is that there's going to be symbolism almost throughout the film. Phantom Thread is not shy on the symbolism and it suffers more than it helps. It almost seemed like a test for Paul Thomas Anderson to say 'I wonder if I can get away with this and still get an Oscar nomination.' I'm not hating on PTA, I mean he did There Will Be Blood, one of my favorite movies.

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the best, if not the best actor ever and continues to show it. There's not a scene of his acting that I can complain about. I expected such going in.

Vicky Krieps plays the female lead, Alma, and can't hold a candle to Lewis and in such her performance is easily criticizable. She has two good scenes in the film, and the rest feel as if you're watching paint dry. She pauses for about three seconds before answering any question. After fifteen minutes of that, I was already tired of her.

Lesley Manville plays the sister of Lewis, Cyril, and has an easy role for an English woman to fill. She does a decent job, but nothing out of her wheelhouse.

The first third of the movie is the most boring, and it's intentionally boring. I'm serious, it's apart of the symbolism in the film that will make sense later. The dialogue is good and befitting. The choice in camera usage was offputting at some points. A particular scene went from shaky handheld to stationary, then to steady cam. The abrupt changes were something most of the movie-going audience won't notice. Then again most people won't go out and watch this.

Result: B (Unless you're a movie buff, you're gonna get bored.)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nobody 2 (2025)

Nobody 2 comes with a change in creative leadership, as Timo Tjahjanto takes over directing duties from Ilya Naishuller . The difference is noticeable, with the sequel lacking the same energy and spark that made the first film stand out. The script, written by Aaron Rabin , suffers from uneven pacing and tonal issues. While he avoids some of the pitfalls that bogged down his work on Marvel’s Secret Invasion , his late-game writing choices undercut the story’s tension and credibility. Bob Odenkirk once again commits to his role, doing the best he can with a weaker script. His physicality and dry delivery still make him a compelling lead, but the film doesn’t give him much new ground to cover. You'll remember Bob from Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad . Connie Nielsen is underwritten, with her character lacking individuality or meaningful development. She feels more like a placeholder than a partner to Odenkirk’s character, which is disappointing given her talent. You'll r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Americana (2025)

Americana (2025) is written and directed by Tony Tost , best known for his work on Longmire . His approach here focuses more on character work than plot, with the script itself being serviceable but not remarkable. Still, it provides a strong platform for the cast to showcase their abilities. Sydney Sweeney delivers an impressive performance as a waitress with a stutter, bringing nuance and empathy to a role that could have easily felt one-note. It’s one of her more grounded performances and a highlight of the film. You'll remember Syd from her American Eagle commercial. Halsey is nearly unrecognizable in her role, playing with a fierceness that stands out and proves her versatility outside of music. Her presence commands attention whenever she’s on screen. I was first introduced to her from MGK 's music video Forget Me Too. Eric Dane takes on a villain role and succeeds at being thoroughly hate-able, leaning into his darker side effectively. His work gives the film muc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Barbarian (2022)

  Barbarian is about a woman staying at an AirBnB and discovers that there is more to the house she has rented than what was expected. Written and Directed by Zach Cregger, Barbarian is the third film behind Miss March and The Civil War on Drugs. Both were forgettable and both were before Cregger knew really how to direct. This change is night and day, almost like how Ben Affleck made the switch over from doing Gili in 2003 to The Town in 2010. The writing is just shy of great. A great horror film will keep you wondering just how things will end. There certainly were moments I was wondering just how Cregger would end this film. There are some predictable scenes and certain directorial choices make you believe for a second that something else is happening entirely. There is one scene of exposition I despised and didn't help the storyline at all except pander to audiences that aren't intelligent. Georgina Campbell plays Tess, the main character. She is expressive and carries the ...
Post a Comment
Read more