To be on the fashion runway in place like Paris or New York is a dream for many people, but I have always wondered if it is worth it from the pressures of facial to body looks and even the politics of the industry itself. Modeling seems to be the most full-time job there is because literally every decision you make affects your entire career. And it has ALWAYS been like that.
“Phantom Thread” is the new film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood). Starring Daniel Day-Lewis (In the Name of the Father, The Gangs of New York), Vicky Krieps (Hanna, Colonia), Lesley Manville (Maleficent, Ashes), Camilla Rutherford (Gosford Park, The Fifth Estate), Gina McKee (Atonement, In the Loop), Richard Graham (Titanic, The World’s End), and Brian Gleeson (Logan Lucky, Assassin’s Creed), it takes place in 1950s London with fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock (Day-Lewis). The elite and royalty from around the world will come to get one of his dresses as he runs the business from his main home in London along with his sister, Cyril (Manville). Known as a “confirmed bachelor” who has had women come and go throughout his life (mainly due to his eccentricities), he meets up with Alma (Krieps), who he adds as a model and starts a relationship with. However, Alma is different from the other women from his past because she is very strong willed, bringing both of them to all of the emotional highs and lows.
“Phantom Thread” shows London and the English countryside well without and is very time period correct on the sets and props. When it comes to the acting, there are basically three characters in this film: Day-Lewis’, Krieps’, and Manville’s. You know what you are going to get with Day-Lewis, and he does well and plays Woodcock well, but this if far from his best role in his career. If you do a highlight of his career, this role will not be on it. The other leads do fine with Krieps doing especially well showing a strong-willed lady.
Plain and simple: this film is long, very slow-moving, and very boring. The basic plot is exactly that: basic! And at two hours and fifteen minutes long, it just goes on and on and on with no end in sight. I know there have been Golden Globe nominations for this film, but this is one of those “darling and foo-foo films” which fits the mold of what academy-type voters look for, reminiscent of “The English Patient”: it won the awards, but it was just long and boring. Even Day-Lewis cannot save this film. Don’t get me wrong: I have enjoyed films in its realm before like “Gosford Park”, but this just does not cut it. If you want a long and slow moving film about two people who fall in love, this is your film, but I will not recommend this film or ever see it again.