Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread is a patient, meticulous work of craftsmanship. Just as Reynolds Woodcock is a master dressmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson is a master filmmaker. The film is textured not only visually, but in its content, too. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers perhaps his best performance as Woodcock, and Vicky Krieps stands toe-to-toe with him as Alma. People don’t talk enough about how amazing Alma is—gentle, yet powerful and determined. Watching her stand up to the controlling, almost abusive Reynolds Woodcock is deeply satisfying, and seeing how their relationship develops is nothing short of breathtaking. Phantom Thread is twisted, yet strangely romantic—it must be seen to be believed. What begins as a relatively simple, well-made period piece slowly transforms into something disturbing, yet addictively enjoyable. Jonny Greenwood fully understood the assignment with a score that evokes all the right emotions. The cinematography and production design look like they belong in a museum, and PTA’s direction is the cleanest it’s ever been. In short, there’s nothing I would change about Phantom Thread. It’s flawless down to the last detail—a film about craftsmanship that is also one of the most well-crafted films of the 2010s. In my opinion, it is Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus.