The first Phantom Thread trailer shows Daniel Day-Lewis in his final role. Will the acclaimed actor go out with a bang or a whimper?
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread stars Daniel Day-Lewis as a type-A dressmaker in high society, Reynolds Woodcock, who falls for a young housekeeper, Alma (Vicky Krieps). Alma becomes Reynolds’ lover and muse, but, the trailer suggests, Reynolds has a mysterious past that complicates their relationship.
Everything we know so far about the film — 1950s period piece, Anderson in the director’s seat, Day-Lewis starring, a Dec. 25 release date — screams Oscar bait. However, it would likely not have generated as much press coverage if it wasn’t known to be Day-Lewis’ final acting role.
In June, a spokeswoman for Day-Lewis’s released a firm statement to the media, stating that Day-Lewis would “no longer be working as an actor.” She added, “This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”
The announcement came as a surprise to many at the time, but the news that Day-Lewis’s last film would be another collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson seems quite fitting. Their prior work together on There Will Be Blood was arguably the peak of both Day-Lewis’ and Anderson’s careers.
The most striking element of the trailer may be the music, which suggests a sinister undertone to the relatively straightforward story being put forth. It offers a promising sneak peak of the score composed by Johnny Greenwood, the lead guitarist and keyboardist for Radiohead. Greenwood and Anderson’s previous collaborations include The Master and Inherent Vice.
Overall, the trailer brings about mixed feelings. On one hand, the reunion of Anderson, Day-Lewis and Greenwood marks a meeting of minds that have produced brilliant work together before.
On the other, if I were unfamiliar with these collaborators, the trailer would smack of a Jane Austen-esque snooze-fest and unabashed Oscar grab.
Furthermore, given Day-Lewis’ tendency to completely transform for a role, the role of Reynolds Woodstock — a relatively regular, old British guy — seems like a cakewalk for the acclaimed actor, and perhaps even an anticlimactic finish to his carefully curated filmography.
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Ultimately, though, Day-Lewis could pull off a great performance in his sleep, and Paul Thomas Anderson tends not to disappoint. We’re betting those sinister undertones will develop into something far more complex and compelling in the film.