Phantom Thread

Paul Thomas Anderson's 2017 feature starring Daniel Day-Lewis in his final film role prior to retirement deals with a romance tale brewing hot in London's couture universe. He's Reynolds Jeremiah Woodcock, a precise, particular, demanding and passionate dressmaker who loves his job and has dedicated himself to it more than anything else in the world. This is the same reason why he isn't married, so what would happen if he falls in love? Welcome to Phantom Thread.

Once his former model turned unfit to serve the purpose, an inciting call arrived for the man to replace her. He meets Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps), an-everyday-looking waitress whom he found a liking for, expressed in a fascinating food-ordering scene. Little did both of them know, their entry into each other's world is about to shift orders for good.

Woodcock, in Daniel Day-Lewis' composed and in-character performance, is a workaholic with fragile attention. The smallest interruption could snatch away his focus from work. He's centric about himself and determined about his taste over others'. Alma's a regular lady who's longing for their time together. Distance is famous between them. Although in his work she is right and perfect, she's actually trapped in the House of Woodcock. Their relationship and privacy has no place of its own, as Woodcock's always surrounded by his job, people or sister Cyril (Lesley Manville). More and all, she might be just a puppet for his art, sidelined whenever she's unneeded. Chances for her to know him in her own way are absolutely ill.

There's a hidden opportunity of course. Woodcock's a child at heart, a very Mama's boy. Whenever he's down and broken, Alma's presence is always needed. Having this knowledge, she takes mild poisoning as a way of having him to her alone. Even though it may seem like a far-fetched action for this character, it's emphatically understandable. And with Woodcock agreeing to it in the climax, we know a balance has been achieved. A complicated relationship has found a resolution. These are personas who couldn't live with and without each other.

Filmmaking wise, Phantom Thread is definitely one of the most posh, classy and gorgeous-looking motion pictures of the year. Pristine production design with the cars, architecture, interior designs, chandeliers and the very costumes itself are amazing! The world is fresh and new to the eyes, dress exhibition and all! Food colors and cinematography are mouth-watering. Strong yet simple scenes such as the dinner surprise fight and cloth removal off the drunk landlady are memorable, with Paul Thomas Anderson's clear visual storytelling transliterated vivid information to the audiences easily!