Phantom Thread (2017)

Since I saw The Master five or six years ago, I have evolved. My taste has changed and I've learned to appreciate different kinds of movies. I think it might be time to revisit The Master, widely praised as one of the greatest films of the century (for some reason). I clearly was too young to appreciate Paul Thomas Anderson back then. And now? Well I didn't hate Phantom Thread; in fact, I really liked it. Anderson is so carefully deliberate in crafting this film with a delicate hand as Woodcock crafts his dresses. The sumptuous orchestral score by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood paired with Daniel Day-Lewis's effortless acing is just marvelous. I'm not sure how they play together so well if it was Greenwood composing in Day-Lewis's style or vice versa. More likely it is Anderson's meticulous direction. Early on in the movie, there is a delightful scene in which Woodcock is ordering food at a restaurant and it's difficult to explain why but the combination of the music and acting just make me smile. What I liked most about the film is the tone that it evokes through these elements. I don't know how he pitched the movie because I'd have a hard time telling you what it's about. The trailer for the movie put forth a premise of a dressmaker hiding things in his dresses--maybe I missed the point but it turned out to be a relatively minor part of the movie. At its core, the movie is a romance and the fashion setting, while gorgeous, is secondary. Perhaps most baffling is the left turn it takes in the last fifteen minutes. I don't want to simply chalk it off to love is strange but romance is strange, isn't it?

My Left Foot (1989)

This true story about Irish writer/artist Christy Brown is an inspiring and emotional vehicle for method actor Daniel Day-Lewis.  He plays a man born with cerebral palsy with limited mobility and speaking ability.  He learns to use his left foot to write and paint, and with some speech therapy he learns to talk.  Reportedly, Day-Lewis had difficulty using his left foot, and so he used his right foot and scenes were filmed in a mirror.  His mannerisms and speech are obviously the product of months of research and practice.  And this performance would earn Day-Lewis his first Oscar.  Brenda Fricker, too, won an Oscar for her performance as Christy's mother. She is strong despite poverty and a drunkard husband and perseveres to care for her many children.