Phantom Thread

This movie is probably about the most insane kink and love known to mankind. Phantom Thread might possibly be my favorite Paul Thomas Anderson film. Strange to say out loud but here we are. A movie that makes perfect sense and also none at all, examines how far someone will go to keep love alive, to keep life interesting... how love becomes the only power strong enough to break through obsession. Sometimes that means enduring physical pain, sometimes it means manipulating the person you adore, sometimes both at once. The whole affair is so silly and twisted in the highest fashion by both parties, especially funny given the film kinda fits the typical formula of a studio romcom, albeit better than every single one. Not always outwardly comedic but not many scenes pass by without a greatly placed satirical line or two. Daniel Day-Lewis is obviously one of the best actors of all time, but Vicky Krieps. Fuck. She matches him, sometimes exceeds him. The facial expressions alone, these tiny shifts that let you see exactly what they're thinking, feeling, wanting. Their push-pull relationship is extreme, though extreme might be an understatement... a never-ending struggle between creative ambition and the needs of a partnership, the balance of control constantly shifting, neither willing to fully surrender. Reynolds projects his idealistic image, manipulates everyone to meet his standards. Alma refuses to let his tendencies rule her, takes matters into her own hands to get what she needs. Not a conventional love story. One that made me think, ask questions I didn't expect, examine power and compromise in ways that felt... I don't know, necessary to understand. Greenwood's score isn't my favorite of his work. There Will Be Blood had more punch, more direct emotion, the kind that grabs your soul and doesn't let go. But this one does exactly what it needs to, hidden and lightly guiding you, making love exist even when circumstances suggest it's gone. That's not a criticism, just my taste leaning toward louder scores, the ones that announce themselves. The precision here is ridiculous. Every detail, every color. The naturalistic cinematography that somehow feels distinct in ways I can't fully articulate, something hidden in plain sight. A project with so much to see; the more you watch, the more you discover. It created an intimacy between me and these characters that felt strange, like I could see into their souls, understand their thoughts without them saying a word. There Will Be Blood is a masterpiece but this examines emotion and relationships more deeply, brings more thoughts to life, makes you feel more connected to people doing absolutely unhinged things to each other out of love. A monumental film. One I'll remember for a long time.