Phantom Thread Blu-ray Review – Recommended

3.5 Stars Phantom Thread stitches some fine performances into the fabric on Blu-ray .

Phantom Thread stitches some fine performances into the fabric on Blu-ray .

 

Phantom Thread (2017)
Released: 19 Jan 2018
Rated: R
Runtime: 130 min
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Genre: Drama, Romance
Cast: Vicky Krieps, Daniel Day-Lewis, Lesley Manville, Sue Clark
Writer(s): Paul Thomas Anderson
Plot: Set in 1950's London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.
IMDB rating: 7.8
MetaScore: 90

Disc Information
Studio: Universal
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: DTS:X, English DVS 2.0, Spanish 5.1 DTS, French 5.1 DTS
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Rating: R
Run Time: 2 Hr. 10 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy
Case Type:
Disc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: ABC
Release Date: 04/10/2018
MSRP: $34.98

The Production: 3.5/5

Phantom Thread is not the easiest film to watch, but it’s worth the effort, and it’s easily the best film Paul Thomas Anderson has made since There Will Be Blood.   The story follows the life of dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis), his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) and Reynolds’ new flame Alma (Vicky Krieps) as he obsessively works his fashion magic in London in the 1950s.   This is a painstakingly made film, as fastidious about its details as Reynolds is about his.   And it’s a great showcase for three excellent performances, particularly Day-Lewis as the non-user-friendly Reynolds and Manville as Cyril.   (It’s not a surprise that both were nominated for Oscars – although the power of Manville’s acting can be startling at times, as she easily matches Day-Lewis in intensity.)   Fans of Paul Thomas Anderson’s work will have their patience rewarded here.   Fans of Daniel Day-Lewis will no doubt want to see this film, as he’s stated this is his last one. (We’ll see about that…)   For its inherent qualities and the strength of the performances, this is an easy Blu-ray to Recommend for Purchase.

 

SPOILERS:   It’s safe to say that we’ve arrived over time at a more thoughtful period in writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s career.   Where he started with bigger and splashier efforts like Boogie Nights and Magnolia, he’s settled into more focused works that usually center on a single strong performance at the center rather than the kaleidoscope of characters seen in the earlier works. Thus, the tapestry of story he would previously wind together has tended over the past 15 years to now be an examination of a more individual journey – be it Day-Lewis’ magnificent turn as oilman Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood, or Juaquin Phoenix’ more circumspect work in the unfortunate Inherent Vice.   His emphasis has remained consistent throughout his career – carefully examining his characters to find their flaws and their underlying humanity, if any can be found.   A primary character in one of his movies may start the film as a strong personality but inevitably will reveal his or her major malfunctions over the story, until what’s left at the end is someone a lot smaller and barer.   We should also note that Anderson is dedicated to shooting on film, something he shares with an increasingly smaller band of directors, but which lends his movies an organic beauty that many digitally created productions no longer have.

 

MORE SPOILERS: The current film, Phantom Thread, is both a dramatic examination of Reynolds Woodcock’s obsessions in art and life and something much simpler.   To be fair, it’s equally understandable as a love story, in which Reynolds finally meets his match in Alma.   And part of the story does present Reynolds from Alma’s point of view, as we see him initially woo her and then follow his usual pattern of becoming bored with his latest muse and wanting to move on to a new challenge. Except that Alma isn’t having it – she does something Reynolds’ former partners never could do: she finds a way to get his attention in a way he cannot escape.   Given that their relationship began with her serving him breakfast, she now feeds him small amounts of toxic mushrooms, hiding them in his food in the same way that Reynolds regularly inserts “secrets” into his dresses – thus providing us with the phantom threads of the title.   Alma’s induced food poisoning causes him to lose his sense of obsessive control for a day or two and surrender to her care, after which she makes sure he recovers – telling him near the end of the film “I want you flat on your back. Helpless, tender with only me to help. And then I want you strong again.”   Somehow, she’s managed to get his number, because this approach is the one that works for him.   It’s a circuitous path to get to this point, but in the end, the film suggests that the Woodcocks, for all their bizarreness as a couple and a family, have found a way that they can bear to live – a huge achievement in a Paul Thomas Anderson film.   (As a friend of mine put it to me, “Hey, this is their game…”)

FINAL SPOILERS: I note that the production of Phantom Thread is exquisite to watch. It’s beautifully filmed, obviously with beautiful costume designs at the center of the story.   I also note that Paul Thomas Anderson effectively acted as his own cinematographer here. No separate cinematographer is listed in the credits, and the film tests included on the Blu-ray show that the movie’s slates had Anderson’s name placed on the line between the areas for Director and Director of Photography, meaning that he was filling both positions here.   This is not an unheard-of notion. One of Anderson’s idols, Stanley Kubrick, would regularly do this during his career. Steven Soderbergh also does this on many of his films.   In the current film, Anderson clearly set the look for the film, and then relied on gaffer Michael Bauman and camera operator Colin Anderson and others to make sure it all worked. By doing this, Anderson has essentially made sure that every shot of the movie has been framed by his own eye – not a small accomplishment. He is nothing if not an impeccable craftsman. And with this film, unlike The Master or Inherent Vice, he’s once again found a story that rewards the viewer for sticking with it to the end. It takes its time, to be sure. I confess having come to this movie with some reluctance after the last two Anderson features – this one finally gave me a reason to watch another. The fact that this film features strong acting from Daniel Day-Lewis and Lesley Manville finally makes it irresistible.

 

SPOILERS DONE: Phantom Thread was released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 10th. The Blu-ray contains the movie in high definition picture and sound, with some genuinely interesting but brief bonus features in the package, including some camera tests, an assembly of deleted shots, a faux 1950s fashion clip and a collection of Michael Bauman’s on-set photos. Based on the film itself and on the quality of the Blu-ray, I’m going to Recommend this title for purchase – something I admit I hadn’t expected to do when I first put the disc in the player.

Video: 5/5

3D Rating: NA

Phantom Thread is presented in a 1.85:11080p AVC transfer (@ an average of 36 mbps) that brings out the intense detail of the film.   The textures of the various dresses and locations are presented in loving high definition, along with the beauty of the film’s lighting. This isn’t really a film about variations of flesh tones and epic vistas (although there are a few lovely vista shots along the way), but more of a simple story being told in classical fashion.   The picture transfer here is a pleasure to watch.

Audio: 4.5/5

Phantom Thread is presented in an English DTS-X Immersive Audio 7.1 track (@ an average 7.0 mbps, ramping up to 7.8 mbps during some party scenes).  I confess being flummoxed by the notion of this film needing a DTS-X track – it’s a film about quiet dialogue and music, not an action-adventure. That said, it’s a lovely track that presents the dialogue and music clearly and without much fuss. There are also Spanish and French DTS 5.1 tracks and an English DVS track.

Special Features: 3/5

Phantom Thread comes with some interesting bonus features, although not in the manner one would normally expect them.   Eschewing his usual commentary tracks of the past, Paul Thomas Anderson has instead elected to provide a potpourri of materials that give some insight into the production without pulling back the curtain too far.

Camera Tests (8:42, 1080p) – Here we have about 8 ½ minutes of the movie’s initial camera/wardrobe/production design tests, with an option to hear Paul Thomas Anderson’s commentary on what each shot is testing.   Anderson discusses the various lenses and filters he was sampling, as well as how they worked out the proper wardrobe for Reynolds Woodcock (what kind of tie, etc) and the proper paint colors for places like Cyril’s office.   Included in the tests is a pass at what would become the usual breakfast scene between Reynolds and Cyril, only the test has it devolve into an all-out food fight. I confess really being surprised at the sight of Daniel Day-Lewis and Lesley Manville just dumping their breakfast on each other’s heads…

For The Hungry Boy: Deleted Scenes (4:51, 1080p) – This is really just a collection of unused shots from different scenes, and what looks like alternate coverage of the scene where Reynolds and Alma meet.   Jonny Greenwood’s score is laid under the shots.

House of Woodcock (2:47, 1080p) – This is a faux 1950s fashion reel to show off the latest offerings by Reynolds Woodcock.   In reality, it’s the actual coverage of a drawing room/runway scene from the middle of the film, only slightly treated and cropped to 4×3, with narration by British comedian Adam Buxton, who adopts the stuffiest mode he can to describe the Woodcock creations being paraded on camera. Off-hand, I’d say that this is a fairly tongue-in-cheek idea…

Behind The Scenes (11:56, 1080p) – This is a collection of photographs taken on the set by gaffer Michael Bauman, including the cast and Paul Thomas Anderson at various sets and locations. There are some photos in black and white and others in color. The collection is backed by various demo versions of cues for Jonny Greenwood’s score.

 

DVD Edition – A standard definition DVD of the movie is included in the packaging. It contains the movie in standard definition, with an anamorphic transfer, an English Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (@448 kbps) and the same special features as found on the Blu-ray, albeit in standard definition. The DVD also carries Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes and the same English DVS mix as the Blu-ray.

Digital Copy – Included in the packaging is an insert with instructions on how to obtain a digital copy of the movie.

 

The movie is subtitled in English, Spanish and French. The usual pop-up menus are present.

Overall: 3.5/5

Phantom Thread is a fine film, and a solid Blu-ray. It’s thankfully a return to form by writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, with the added bonus that he also acted essentially as his own cinematographer on this film.   The movie features strong performances by Daniel Day-Lewis (perhaps his final one) and Lesley Manville and some lovely, detailed costuming as appropriate for a movie about fashion in the 1950s.   The Blu-ray features quality high-definition picture and sound, along with an interesting potpourri of bonus features.   This Blu-ray is Recommended for purchase.

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Mark VH

Second Unit
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Nice review for the best film of 2017. Have the Blu on my shelf and am now just trying to carve out some time to watch.
 

Ushabye

Projectionist
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I agree with everything in this review, except your take on THE MASTER, which I think still stands as Anderson's greatest picture to date. Having projected both films multiple times in 70mm helped colour my opinion. I haven't seen either on Bluray yet. I wonder if one plays better than the other on the smaller screen?
 

filmnoirguy

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Lon Cross
Nice review for the best film of 2017. Have the Blu on my shelf and am now just trying to carve out some time to watch.
Good to know someone else thinks it's the best picture of 2017. I plan to buy the Blu-ray myself. Cheers~~
 

The Drifter

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Jim
Saw The Phantom Thread on Blu earlier this year. Huge fan of PTA's films, but wasn't sure I would like this due to the subject matter about a dressmaker in 1950's UK. However, at it's core - this was a very well-done & disturbing film about a truly sick & emotionally dependent relationship.

My impression here was that the DDL character was literally being poisoned by his new wife, in order for her to exhibit some kind of control over him - i.e., after his getting sick she would then nurse him back to health. And, then the process would start again. Making this even more twisted, he actually seemed to be aware of what was happening here - and let it continue.
 

Mark VH

Second Unit
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
423
Saw The Phantom Thread on Blu earlier this year. Huge fan of PTA's films, but wasn't sure I would like this due to the subject matter about a dressmaker in 1950's UK. However, at it's core - this was a very well-done & disturbing film about a truly sick & emotionally dependent relationship.

My impression here was that the DDL character was literally being poisoned by his new wife, in order for her to exhibit some kind of control over him - i.e., after his getting sick she would then nurse him back to health. And, then the process would start again. Making this even more twisted, he actually seemed to be aware of what was happening here - and let it continue.

Alternate take: It's a romantic comedy that says, at the end of the day, that all relationships are on some level sick and twisted and being in one means being able to accept the quirks, tics and foibles of someone who at heart is a completely different person from you.

In this case, DDL's "quirk" is that he has serious, bizarre mommy issues (this is clear in the first five minutes of the movie) and needs his lover to effectively become his mommy. It's his "love language." At first Alma fails to understand the depth of his psychosis and tries to love him on her terms - cooking him a nice dinner, which would delight most other men, when this is clearly the last thing on earth he wants - but eventually she realizes how to love him by poisoning him so she can nurse him back to health as his mother would (note that after she does this the first time is when he asks her to marry him). At this point their relationship reaches a happy, mutual understanding.

Gosh, I just adore this movie.
 

Kevin EK

Reviewer
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I have to agree with both of you. I hadn't made all the connections that Mark did, but they are totally valid.

Reynolds is completely aware of what Alma is doing to/for him. He wants her to do it. In fact, he loves her for doing it.
We may look it this as completely twisted - I mean, she's POISONING HIM!!!! - but as my friend repeated to me recently, "Hey, that's their game. It works for them."
My ultimate reaction was to throw up my hands - I figured these people deserve each other for better or worse. At least Cyril doesn't have to deal with him on her own, right?
 

lark144

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mark gross
I must say that I saw this film the day it opened in 70mm, and loved it, but if I had seen those two descriptions above that are not hidden by the spoiler icon, I probably wouldn't have seen it at all. While, yes, in a very vague and general way the two gentlemen above are certainly correct, that's really not what Phantom Thread is about at all, at least from my perspective. It's just an amazing wonderful film on every level, and everyone should see it, and I think the less one knows, the better their experience of the film will be, because at least for me, it took me to places I had no expectations of going. Every time I see it, it's a completely different experience and seems like a completely different film. There's so much in it, and so many reasons to go.
 

Keith Cobby

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I must say that I saw this film the day it opened in 70mm, and loved it, but if I had seen those two descriptions above that are not hidden by the spoiler icon, I probably wouldn't have seen it at all. While, yes, in a very vague and general way the two gentlemen above are certainly correct, that's really not what Phantom Thread is about at all, at least from my perspective. It's just an amazing wonderful film on every level, and everyone should see it, and I think the less one knows, the better their experience of the film will be, because at least for me, it took me to places I had no expectations of going. Every time I see it, it's a completely different experience and seems like a completely different film. There's so much in it, and so many reasons to go.

Thanks for your comments. I had been undecided about this film but will now get the 4k disc.
 

lark144

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mark gross
Thanks for your comments. I had been undecided about this film but will now get the 4k disc.
I hope you'll like it. Though I have the 4k, I don't have a set-up yet, so I watched it in Blu, which is lovely. Seeing the thing in 70mm was really awesome, as this is a stunningly lit film, and watching the light interact with the grain was kind of a religious experience for me. The story is told through the way he uses light, so the grain is really very important to the themes and story of the film at large. The light changes, or is directed in a different way, and as a viewer you realize something about the characters and the situation they are in they haven't figured out yet.
 

Worth

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Nick Dobbs
The film had a handful of 70mm prints, but it was shot in 35.
 

Mark VH

Second Unit
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
423
I have to agree with both of you. I hadn't made all the connections that Mark did, but they are totally valid.

Reynolds is completely aware of what Alma is doing to/for him. He wants her to do it. In fact, he loves her for doing it.
We may look it this as completely twisted - I mean, she's POISONING HIM!!!! - but as my friend repeated to me recently, "Hey, that's their game. It works for them."
My ultimate reaction was to throw up my hands - I figured these people deserve each other for better or worse. At least Cyril doesn't have to deal with him on her own, right?

It’s one of the most sneaky profound (and hilarious) movies about marriage I’ve ever seen and I love it so much for that. I honestly think marriage counselors would do well to show it to (open-minded) couples.

“Are you an agent sent here to ruin my evening and possibly my entire life?” doubles as being both riotously funny and also maybe the most honest line about marriage I’ve ever heard in a movie.
 
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