by Ben Miller
Paul Thomas Anderson's latest joint, Phantom Thread, has him collaborating for a second time Daniel Day-Lewis (who is reportedly retiring following this film). The Christmas release follows the true story of 1950s London fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock. Tagging along are his muse Alma (Vicky Krieps) and his sister (Lesley Manville).
After a long long wait, the first poster and the trailer have arrived. See them after the jump as we nail down the Yes, No, and Maybe So of it all…
Yes
• I love a subdued DDL. Despite his grandious speeches in Lincoln, a reserved quiet Daniel Day-Lewis is a welcome reprieve. He hasn’t been this (presumably) subtle since The Age of Innocence
• Lesley Manville should be more famous. She seems to have a great ice-queen sister role -- can she finally snag that Oscar nomination that's eluded her?
• Vicky Krieps seems up to the challenge in her scenes, willing to go big while seeming so coy
• Getting The Master feels from some of these shots, which is never a bad thing. Anderson is shooting this himself and Johnny Greenwood is returning for the music score
• If you are a big fashionista (I personally am not), I can imagine the foaming at the mouth you are experiencing
No
• Not much Manville in the trailer…hopefully that isn’t indicative of her role
• My only concern is that this does not seem to be in Anderson’s wheelhouse. But why doubt that stellar track record?
• It is a well-worn troupe of a powerful man and the women he drags along, but this seems to have a lighter touch than most of those stories
Maybe So
• Early buzz has described this as 'Mike Leigh directing Fifty Shades of Grey'. What to even make of that?!?
• Anderson/Day-Lewis are both much beloved, but can veer a little off course now and again
I am firmly in the Yes for this one. How about you? The film opens at Christmas and will presumably go wide by January or February.