So absolutely. "I just want to fuckin' smash your face in with a sledgehammer." The dialogue clearly takes place after the events of the film, given Almas description of Reynolds being poisoned and the aftermath. It can really mess you up if you pick the wrong kind of mushrooms!, And Almas use of poison isnt a one-and-done situation, either. Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, and Magnolia are all talkier films, the latter two owing visible debts to Anderson's inspirations, directors like Martin Scorsese and the late Robert Altman. The ending of Phantom Thread in the theater was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. I thought it was terrible overall. His sister, who aided him, is still single. He wants rid of the woman who wont shut up, even as his sister, for once, sides with her. The connection between Reynolds and Alma is instant and strong, with both enchanted by the other for completely different reasons. Though it isnt clear what makes Alma talk to Dr. Hardy so candidly having only met him on a few occasions it seems like there isnt anyone else she can discuss her relationship with. I saw the original film a million years ago, but didnt even remember there was a mushroom poisoning in that. Hes met his match, and theres a release for him in admitting, Ive been beaten. Club's A.A. Dowd gave the film an A, calling it a "charitable and even poignantly hopeful take on the subject [of being in a relationship with an artist]" and wrote that "in the simple, refined timelessness of its technique, Phantom Thread is practically a love letter to classic aesthetic valuescinematic, sartorial, or otherwise". The film follows renowned and eccentric dressmaker, Synopsis Plot of The Movie Phantom Thread (2017), The scene then shifts to an ordinary morning at the home of renowned dressmaker, Reynolds intermittent expressions of affection, mixed with his nitpicking of Almas routines (such as too much . In Master I didn't always understand why the characters acted the way they did, and this lack of understanding increased as the film progressed. To understand this dynamic further, Im going to have to go into spoiler territory. And she responds, "I want to chew your face and I want to scoop out your eyes." Anderson and Bauman pushed their 35 mm film stock and filled its frames with "theatrical haze" to "dirty up" their look; according to Bauman: "One of the first things [Paul] said was, 'Look, this cannot look like The Crown. Here, its a smile that we get at a dinner table a small look between two lovers. Eventually they marry, and he expectedly reverts to his old ways. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. So too is the case for Reynolds and Alma, though at first, Alma finds the older man to be off-putting, prickly and childishly nasty, even as she is attracted to him. It is only when he is broken that he becomes tender and opens his affection to her. The film follows renowned and eccentric dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his unlikely muse Alma (Vicky Krieps), whom he meets at a restaurant and later marries in 1950s London. With the focus Reynolds reserves for sewing gowns, she chops and crushes them into his tea, and quickly becomes his adoring nurse once he becomes too ill to even move. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He refuses to see a doctor and spends a couple of nights in delirious fever before recovering. Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock . They may not always want it, but in the end, they oftentimes know that they need that balance, because they can only go so long at that pace. 'Phantom Thread' Review - The Hollywood Reporter But Phantom Thread suggests that the ups and downs between its two combatants can only be resolved if they are forever connected to each other. What did Elswit think of Anderson's "Phantom Thread" cinematography? What the other partner will often say is, Why is this all of a sudden a problem? The film ends with glimpses from the future, in which the couple has a child and grows old together, before returning to the present, where Reynolds, claiming to be hungry, begins to dress Alma, his eager muse. (Its an ending that Coppola preserved from the original Thomas P. Cullinan novel, as well as the 1971 film version starring Clint Eastwood.) This interview has been condensed and edited. Read More:Is Phantom Thread Based on a True Story? Reynolds is first seen having breakfast with his devoted sister Cyril (the wonderful Lesley Manville) and Joanna (Camille Rutherford), the latter in a state of perpetual frustration. Is this a real fetish that people might have? It has a long history in movies and books; theres a great Shirley Jackson book, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, thats got some mushroom poisoning in it. Though the way that it happened is not ideal. Reynolds has no idea what has happened to him the first time he gets poisoned and claims to be sick like he has never been sick before. Phantom Thread Ending Explained: Dressing Down The Dressmaker Image Credit: Laurie Sparham/Focus Features, acclaimed dressmaker Reynolds Woodcocks residence. Nothing Is Quite As It Seems in 'Phantom Thread' - The Ringer The context of their conversation is not elaborated on, but a few hints can be gleaned from the interaction. The ending of PTA's The Phantom Thread: did it work for you? We never talked about it, she remembers. Though I think ideally, if you meet someone and that naturally slows you down, it would be more ideal than poison. As she makes clear in the films climax, she merely wants him to be helpless and tender so that she can care for him. While working on the skirt, she finds a small tag sewn into its hem with the words Never Cursed embroidered on it. The film closes with scenes of a future in which the couple has a child and grows old together before coming back to the present where Reynolds, saying he is hungry, begins to fit another dress on his willing muse, Alma. The ending is "happy" in a very dark way. No way he died. Phantom Thread - Wikipedia Spoilers: A '47 Meters Down' Ending Explanation, Matt Damon Addresses Ben Affleck's Back Tattoo. Though he willingly eats the poisonous mushroom-laced omelet and even gallantly asks his wife to kiss him before he falls sick, he seems to have embraced the subsequent sickness and doesnt appear to be dying of it. [39] Michael Wood, writing for the London Review of Books, saw the film as unsuccessfully referencing other gothic films such as Rebecca from the 1940s. She recalls her husbands severe demeanour as well as extremely touching moments, even joking about poisoning him. His wife, on the other hand, poison him on a semi-regular basis, leaving the spectator to wonder whether the talented dressmaker is cursed. Cyril may remain by his side, and she will salve his ego when need be, but shes not above telling him to shut up. "[35] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 51 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Yet they all fit as fascinating, imperceptible dark heroes of a sort. Reading this review so far, Im sure many will be dismissing the film as another peacock-strutting festival of adored male egos. Though that is clearly a figment of her imagination, we do see Reynolds begin to fit his muse with another one of his creations at the end of the film, telling us that he has likely survived his second dose of poisoned mushrooms as well. Alma returns to her mushroom game, but this time he is savvy to her plans. But Punch-Drunk Love is the start of two notable elements that have recurred in a few other PTA films, including Phantom Thread: implacably mysterious lead characters, and the battles of wills that occur between them and others. Watching their relationship was definitely like watching a chess match, and I think early on in a relationship thats really common as well. Why do you suddenly have a problem with it? Thats why its important to do the internal work, to be sure that you know and youre clear on what you are and are not willing to compromise on, what youre looking for in a partner. A father of two daughters, a dog lover, a gym rat, a coffee connoisseur, and an all-around doughnut snob. Phantom Thread is a 2017 romantic drama about what it is to be in love with an artist. [9] The film received acclaim for its acting, screenplay, direction, musical score, costume design, and production values. She tells him, so sweetly but with that icy edge, that their future will be a good one together. When he recovers, the so-far detached dressmaker realizes how important his muse is to him and asks her to marry him, to which she agrees. So, he was still in control of it at all times. 'Phantom Thread': If This Isn't Toxic Masculinity, What Is? - Variety However, the second time Alma poisons him, Reynolds appears to be aware of what is going on and willingly participates in his own poisoning. Following a pleasant honeymoon in Switzerland, however, Reynolds and Alma start bickering again as Reynolds's domineering personality reasserts itself. Despite some extreme situations and unusual things happening, what I really noticed is both of their attempts to compromise. This is my life, you knew this is my life. Not polished and refined. Sofia Coppolas Civil War-set drama, The Beguiled, ends with the women at a Virginia boarding school poisoning the Union soldier theyve been protecting (Colin Farrell) at a dinner thrown in his ostensible honor. They speak to the differences between the two movies, he explains. It's the natural extension of Barry and Lena in Punch-Drunk Love, this revelation that a) Alma wants a sense of domination over her lover and b) Reynolds is all too happy to comply. Support the Show for $1:. Day-Lewis may not seem like a particularly funny actor, but his repeated line, "Show me your gun" is weirdly very funny, adding a layer of bristling tension to the argument.) Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. [6] It marked Day-Lewis's final film role to date. I thought it was an excellent film and very much his usual high standard. When he regains consciousness, the formerly detached dressmaker understands how important his muse is to him and proposes to her, which she accepts. What is the Meaning of Phantom Thread Title? - The Cinemaholic A post shared by Phantom Thread (@phantomthread). His clients view him as a genius whose creations enable them to become their best selves; but his creativity and charm are matched by his obsessive and controlling personality. I'll admit, it took me multiple tries to feel like the ending worked, which wouldn't be the first time I've walked out of a Paul Thomas Anderson movie wondering if the magisterial work of . Almas frustration is further exacerbated by how quickly his dictatorial tendencies are accepted by others. It seems like eating the poisoned omelet is an extension of the theme, and Reynolds accepts the eccentric (and potentially murderous) way his muse expresses her own brand of love for him through food. As a result, it appears that Reynolds has some superstitions regarding manufacturing bridal gowns, as seen by the words , Eternals (2021) Sets New Record For Biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe Film Debut On Disney+. By Kayleigh Donaldson | Film | March 23, 2018 |. This is a classic story of an artist and his muse, but with an acidic bite that reminds us of how pitiable that stereotype really. The Best Street Style From Paris Fashion Week. However, while that theme recurs in many of Anderson's films, it's utterly remarkable to consider how much he's pushed himself upon the release of his eighth feature. He is obsessed with movies, comic books, and television shows, and he spends much too much money on collectibles. Its easy to get caught up in the admittedly enthralling aesthetics of the film: The clothes are sumptuous, the breakfasts indulgent, Day-Lewis has never looked hotter, and the House of Woodcock will inspire many a case of property envy. Alma sits by a fire in the films opening sequence and then sporadically throughout, recounting her connection with Reynolds to an unseen individual. [38], Christy Lemire of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association placed the film second on her list of ten best films of 2017, describing it as "captivating" and "one of Paul Thomas Anderson's absolute best", as well as singling out Jonny Greenwood's score as "intoxicating". Her companion characterises the dressmaker as a demanding man, and she claims to have given him everything. Phantom Thread follows the tenuous romance that blossoms between an eccentric dressmaker and his muse, leading them to a remarkable conclusion. Dressed in only the finest, she is paraded around more as an accessory than Reynoldss lover, and everyone around her seems to be waiting for the inevitable moment when Cyril asks her to leave. Cyril, his sister, manages the day-to-day operations of his fashion house and tries to protect him from anything that might distract him from his work. I think thats a really universal thing that happens in any relationship. Phantom Thread is a 2017 American historical drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville. The changeable moods, strange habits, and continual concentration with his profession make loving Reynolds a difficult and demanding endeavour one Alma takes on with more zeal than most. I was expecting a similar tone from Phantom Thread, but found I was involved in the drama much more in the 'traditional' sense. As a result, Alma poisons Reynolds twice in the course of the movie. The Phantom Thread demonstrated a slightly new approach for PTA. [31][32], Phantom Thread grossed $21.2million in the United States and Canada, and $26.6million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $47.8million, against a production budget of $35million. I think she compromised up front, but in the end he compromised a bit more as well and they kind of were able to meet each other in the middle.