To See or Not to See: Phantom Thread

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, Phantom Thread, is a quiet probe into obsession and control presented to viewers in an extremely pretty package.

In 1950s London, The House of Woodcock is one of the most sought-after and renowned fashion houses. The man behind all the beautiful dresses is Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis); the woman who helps him run the business and his company of seamstresses is his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville). His muse is usually a young, beautiful girl who lasts only for a few months before he asks his sister to “dismiss” her. Their life is one full of daily rituals and set habits.

Then, one day Reynolds meets Alma (Vicky Krieps), a young waitress at a countryside restaurant and pub. They are both smitten with each other, and soon Alma is living with the Woodcocks as Reynolds latest muse. Reynolds designs Alma dresses; he is invigorated. He subtly molds Alma to fit into his carefully crafted life. He silences her at breakfast, needing absolute silence to start his day. Even the sound of a knife scraping butter on toast is unacceptable. His meals are meticulously prepared the way he likes things (like asparagus with oil rather than butter). His true love is his work, and everything–and everyone–else is secondary. Soon, Alma chafes under such conditions despite being in love with him; she has a strong will that won’t be pushed aside. While Reynolds’ obsession is his work, Alma’s is Reynolds himself.

Phantom Thread is full of luscious visuals. The clothing, of course, is gorgeous. Silk, taffeta, wool, and cotton are draped and sewn into stunning dresses in front of our eyes. Watching the creative process take place and seeing how isolating it can be is interesting; however, it can also be a bit slow-paced and tedious. That is, until, the second half of the film. With a Hitchcock-like twist, there is a level of anticipation and intrigue thrown into the mix that should have been threaded throughout the entire thing.

In spite of the irregular pacing, the character-driven plot provides the perfect vehicle to showcase the talented cast of actors. Obviously Daniel Day-Lewis is a genius. He can convey inner emotions with movements and facial expressions so well that dialogue isn’t even necessary. As his foil, Vicky Krieps is magnificent. Her calm demeanor belies what runs beneath the surface. The dance they play throughout Phantom Thread is mesmerizing.

Watching this film is well worth it: you’ll go in expecting one thing, but emerge having experienced something very different.

★ ★ ★ out of 4

Photo Credit: Focus Features