The lead male hero in “Phantom Thread” is a tailor of the high society ladies in a city of London vaguely located in time sometimes after WWII. It is seldom that I am in such a disagreement with the opinions of the majority of the film critics and of many of my friends whose opinions I appreciate. I cannot refrain myself however to express my feelings about this film by quoting the famous short tale by Hans Christian Andersen about the tailors that sewed the “emperor’s new clothes”. I need to shout: “The emperor is naked!” “This film is bad!” Not even Daniel Day-Lewis can save it. IMHO, of course.
source http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5776858
I need now, of course, to explain. I will try to do it without committing the sin of writing a spoiler. It’s the love story between a man well over 50 and a young woman in her 20s. Their are separated not only by the age difference, but also by a social gap (he is a famous tailor of the rich and famous, she is a servant in a country inn) and a difference of nationality left vague in the story. He is one of the best tailors in the world, totally dedicated and immersed in his art. He picks the young woman more like an instrument that fits his artistic model and goals, while the young woman (acted by Vicky Krieps) is completely falling in love with him. In order to draw his attention she will do something terrible which I will not reveal, not once but twice. The result is his complete surrender first into marriage, later into parenthood. His creative power seems however to diminish, and the final is actually vague again about his continuing artistic path. The story is outrageous (and I do not allow myself to be outraged to easily), non-credible and ridiculous.
(video source Focus Features)
I liked a lot Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “There Will Be Blood” and especially “The Master“. I am quite astonished about his latest works including this film. He probably intended to bring to screen a story of love and horror, of passion not shared, of a relationship that is based on a terrible lack of balance. The story he created and the solutions he found did not work for me. I am even more disappointed because of the superb acting of Daniel Day-Lewis who is again investing all his acting style and talent in order not to act but to become his character. I will be very sorry it this is the last film of his acting career. Maybe he will change his mind. What about the role of a great artist like Leonard Bernstein or Herbert von Karajan? While watching “Phantom Thread” I was thinking about these two great music conductors as characters of the same huge talent and intensity as the one of the hero he brings to screen in this film. Daniel Day-Lewis deserves a better final.