Daniel Day-Lewis delivers a mesmerising performance in the period drama 'Phantom Thread,' a psychological thriller set in 1950s London that delves into the destructive nature of love. The film is now available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Plot and Cast
Released in 2017, 'Phantom Thread' follows Reynolds Woodcock, a highly respected fashion designer portrayed by Day-Lewis, whose creations are worn by royalty and high society women. His complex relationship with a young waitress, Alma Elson, played by Luxembourgish-German actress Vicky Krieps, becomes central to the story as she becomes his muse. Lesley Manville, known for her role in 'The Crown,' portrays his sister Cyril Woodcock, who manages the fashion house.
Production and Direction
The film was written and directed by American filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, marking his first movie shot outside the United States and his second collaboration with Day-Lewis after 2007's 'There Will Be Blood.' Filming took place across various UK locations, including Owlpen Manor near Uley and Dursley in Gloucestershire, which served as Reynolds' rural hideaway. Owlpen Manor has previously appeared in 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' (2008), 'The Other Boleyn Girl' (2007), and an episode of 'Escape to the Country.' Additional production occurred in North Yorkshire, with scenes captured in Lythe, Staithes, and Robin Hood's Bay near Whitby, as well as at Grosmont Station on the North York Moors Railway and the coastal clifftops of Ravenscar within the North York Moors National Park.
Critical Acclaim
'Phantom Thread' holds a 91% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received numerous award nominations, including several Oscar nods. On IMDb, viewers have praised the film. One reviewer gave it a 10/10, stating, 'The writing and directing is impeccable - P.T. Anderson's legacy continues, it's fire burning brighter than ever. Yes, this is a masterpiece.' Another described it as an 'intimate, delicate, and a beautifully crafted masterpiece,' adding, 'Magnificent lead performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps, a strong and often overlooked supporting performance by Lesley Manville, and a sharp, dense original screenplay written by Paul Thomas Anderson himself.' A third top-rated review called it a 'divine phantom' and noted, 'One of the most beautiful and most interesting films seen recently and the standout so far of the 2017 films released here this year. Also consider it Anderson's best film since 'There Will Be Blood' and one of his very best.'
Availability
Phantom Thread is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
