Cecil says: Phantom Thread is
supposedly Daniel Day-Lewis's last film, so it felt like a time to reflect a
bit on him as an actor. And what's funny is that, although he was amazingly
good again in this film, where he's the control freakery tailor designing
dresses for the uber rich of the 1950s, neither of us could remember other
films we'd seen him in, except for Room with a View, where Cecil remains one of
our most loved characters on film.
The thing about
Day-Lewis is that he is a method actor, getting totally into role, living the
life of his character before filming begins. I remember an article about him
preparing to play the role of a boxer and sparring with a professional boxing
champ to get into the experience. I never saw that film, and as I say I can't
remember other films he's been in, but maybe that's because he becomes the
character rather than staying in the mind as Daniel Day-Lewis. And if Cecil in
Room with a View is the exception to that, maybe Cecil IS Daniel Day-Lewis, or
vice-versa…I guess we'll never know.
So to Phantom
Thread. This is all about the relationship between Reynolds (DDL) and Alma
(Vicky Krieps, an actress I didn't know before, but who did a great job as
counterweight to Reynolds) Neither character is especially likeable and both
seem very driven, so it feels as if it can't possibly end well really,
especially with Cyril (Lesley Manville), who I just learnt in writing this
review is Reynolds' sister, gatekeeping and mentoring all in one.
The dress-making is
superb, though the Society crowd they are designing for are an unattractive
lot. And deep down, Reynolds cares nothing for them. His reaction to one monied
lady who collapses drunk in one of his finest dresses is pretty horrible,
though. As are many of his reactions to things Alma does and noises Alma makes
etc. But then Alma too is somehow troubled and controlling. She works behind
the scenes to get what she wants out of the relationship, even while saying to
her confessor that she has given herself totally to Reynolds.
I'm glad we saw
Phantom Thread before it left the cinema circuit. We watched it in the amazing
Star Cinema in Eaglehawk, which is set up with sofas and armchairs only in an
old town hall building. That set-up gives a real lounge room feel, which can
work both ways, as the couple next to us at first clearly chatter their way
through films at home, and continued to do so in the Star. We moved a few seats
away to get ourselves out of earshot.
***
Bea says: Highly
disturbing. I like Day-Lewis, history,
and I am a keen crafter, so thought I would love this period film about sewing
and couture. And I liked some aspects of
it, but I didn’t like any of the characters very much, and that made it hard to
invest in the film. Reynolds is cold and
controlling, Vicky is bordering on psychopathic, and Cyril is remote and
unpredictable. It was well done –
beautifully made, exquisite costuming (although I thought I saw some puckers
that wouldn’t be in such a bespoke garment?
Maybe I imagined them), fantastic performances and well written. But it left me cold; cold, clinical and too
perfect is how I would describe this film, to its detriment, unless that was
the aim (and I suspect it was).
***1/2
No comments:
Post a Comment