What to watch on the big & small screen this week
Drama. With Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville and Vicky Krieps. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. 16LV.
Once again Day-Lewis lives up to his reputation as one of the world’s best actors with a riveting performance that earned him a sixth Oscar nomination. Reteaming with Anderson, who directed him in There Will Be Blood (2007), Day-Lewis plays Reynolds Woodcock, a legendary fashion designer in ’50s London. Together with his cold and reserved sister, Cyril (Manville, who was also Oscar-nominated), he creates dresses for royalty and the super-rich.
Reynolds is a brilliant but temperamental man who’s married to his work. But his structured life is thrown into turmoil when he meets a young waitress (Krieps). After he invites her to come for a fitting, they begin a tumultuous relationship.
Although set in the ’50s, Phantom Thread is a thoroughly modern story. The film explores the meaning of love and examines what happens when it collides with ambition and individuality, while prompting the viewer to wonder what truly gives purpose to one’s life.
Although not based on a real person, like Steve Jobs (2015) this film offers a fascinating glimpse into the perfectionist and eccentric personalities of the pioneers society loves to idolise.
Day-Lewis has said this was his final role as an actor so don’t miss this acclaimed movie, which was nominated for six Oscars and won for best costume design.