Phantom Thread

Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread is easily one of the most intoxicating films that I've seen this year, and maybe ever. I feel more than comfortable calling it a masterpiece, given the excellence of every aspect of the film. 

The Reynolds/Alma dynamic is one of the more intriguing relationships that I've ever seen up on screen. Daniel Day-Lewis is able to intimidate people in a number of ways; on this occasion, his acerbity is much quieter than it was with his Bill the Butcher and Daniel Plainview characters. And unlike those other guys, Reynolds Woodcock finally meets his match, in the form of Alma (Vicki Krieps). Krieps' performance is my favorite of the year, and I can't imagine what this film would be without her (though still pretty great, I'm sure).

I love that Alma knows her worth and who she is. As we find out within the first ten minutes of the film, women/relationships are all part of a disposable cycle for Reynolds. He hasn't the faintest idea what happened to the wedding dress that he made for his mother, and he probably has no idea where all of his former lovers have gone after being kicked out of the House of Woodcock. Alma enters his world and insists on pushing back and breaking from this routine. Early on, she tells Reynolds that if he wants to have a staring contest with her, he will lose. There's a certain flirtatious nature to Alma, but she's also not afraid to poison you when you step out of line.

Honestly, I'm not sure what to think about relationships after having watched this movie. Are we really meant to merge our lives into one? After their marriage, Reynolds describes the house as having a smell of certain death. Alma is always there and is someone that he has to account for. While married couples certainly aren't as responsible for each other as they are with any children they might have together, there's still so much to navigate and tend to.

I don't know if the Reynolds/Alma relationship is healthy or not. There's probably no need for me to figure that out anyway, but I guess I don't even know what a successful relationship looks like anymore. How do we live with anyone for a long period of time without hurting them or getting caught up in something else that sucks up so much of our time and energy? The mushrooms are Alma's way of saying, "remember, asshole, there will come a time when you'll need me." And while it is nice to have that one person who will be there for us when we are "flat on our backs, helpless and tender," that should never be the sole reason to stay with anyone. I suppose the reason why we root for Reynolds and Alma is because they're both equally flawed and puerile, on top of them both expressing a love and facisnation for each other.

One of my favorite scenes is the surprise dinner that Alma throws for Reynolds. It's masterfully hilarious and uncomfortable, and really delivers more than we deserved. But in that confrontational scene, Reynolds expresses that he's being ambushed in his own home. He doesn't understand where Alma's line of questioning is coming from--a common occurrence with most relationships as we don't always know what's going on inside the other person's head. Alma explains that she's just waiting for the moment when he finally decides to cast her out. Again, another relatable feeling--our own insecurities often cause confrontation. When you're with someone, you want to feel wanted. Reynolds argues that his time is his own, and with so little of it, he wants to be in control of how he spends it. Our time is valuable (or should be anyway) and by sharing it with someone else, it is no longer only ours to control. Shared time can be equally destructive and wonderful.

Clearly this film has me thinking about love and relationships in a different way. I've been turning the characters and events over and over in my head for weeks now and I still haven't figured much of anything out yet. For me, that's a sign of something special. 

PTA Ranked:

There Will Be Blood

(very slim gap)

Phantom Thread 

The Master

(very slim gap)

Punch-Drunk Love

Boogie Nights

Inherent Vice

Magnolia

Hard Eight