Phantom Thread (2017)

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

If you only see one film this year, please ensure it is not this one. If you want a love story about obsession, passion, even dress making look elsewhere! From the first ten minutes, when the main characters prove themselves to be impossible to sympathise with and hugely unlikable, you find yourself beginning to wonder where the plot will take you. At the film's conclusion, you realise the plot has taken you nowhere and all the despicable characters fully deserve each other. There is no redemption, no deeper understanding of love, relationships or mutual respect. It proves to be utterly without substance and utterly without point.With a soundtrack that appears to be composed for an entirely different film altogether; a script that seems to be, at best, improvised and, at worst, unrehearsed; and a plot that suffers from either too much or not enough editing, you will find yourself scratching your head and wondering how this came to be released without an Alan Smithee credit somewhere. It may be heresy to suggest that Day-Lewis continues to be the most over-rated actor of his generation, and if this proves to be his swan song, it is a poor final act on a career that could, or should, have been so much more productive.As for the 'phantom thread' of the title, I can only assume it is the thread of a plot. Like any kind of spectre, it will appear if you can convince yourself hard enough that it exists. Otherwise, you find yourself looking for something that isn't there!

Daniel day Lewis and Leslie manville were fantastic. But the movie itself is a bit slow and at a certain point you wait for it to end.

Most dreadful and endlessly boring movie made in the last century.

....surprisingly liked the film. I kept waiting for a moment to 'open' my DVR as I did for 'The Master'. Understand I am not saying I would see it again - probably not but it was no where near as dreadful as many here made it out to be. It reminded me of a film Kubrick would have directed - meandering with confusing purpose and a finale that, although possible not very plausible. The repetitive center on Reynold Woodcock (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) is that which Kubrick often times used and for the viewer for very little gain.Alma slowly but determinedly becomes her own woman however the role she plays is (maybe intentionally) confusing in the house. Regardless even allowing for the long scenes of seeing Reynold Woodcock act with horrific arrogance and cruelty the story shows a much needed transformation of him for all involved. Is it a surprise of what Alma decides to do to re-start her seemingly collapsing marriage an act of evil? Remember this is 1950's UK which is the one complaint I had i.e. I doubt very much anyone used the coarse words that Woodcock did per his class and status.It rather reminded me of a Henry James novel which is why such are always better depicted on the screen with actors/actresses rather than having to wade through both dull prose and even duller settings as this certainly would have been in 'book form'.The star for me was the sister 'Cyril' played by the strong but elegant lesley Manville. Her performance was the only truly 'real' person in the film. I would say see it but if you're fortunate get it from the library as 'one setting' is a bit much even for a film a bit longer than 2 hours.