Most men, when trying to woo a woman, are looking to take her clothes off. Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread, however, looks to put more clothes on. In his final role before his supposed retirement from film, Day-Lewis plays Reynolds Woodcock, an enigmatic fashion designer in 1950's London who is consumed by his work. He is the most eccentrically elitist dress maker you could possibly find. If you eat your toast too loud during breakfast, you have ruined his entire day--that's the kind of man we're dealing with here. And this presents a challenge for Alma (Vicky Krieps). She is in love with this man because of his idiosyncrasies and his dedication to his craft, but those are the exact things keeping them apart. A conversation they have drastically changes her approach to winning him over, as she begins to play the same "game" she perceives him to be playing. And with this comes a fascinating back-and-forth over who will dominant their relationship. Phantom Thread presents a truly interesting look at the relationship between an artist and his art, and how that relationship affects those close to him. Simultaneously, it also showcases a rather toxic partnership between a man and a woman, and the extents they will go to to manipulate each other...
Review of Phantom Thread
