Phantom Thread (2017)
On the surface, much gentler and softer in its expressions than usual from Anderson, but beneath there is still a fierce lust for control and power. Woodcock is a bit of Steve Jobs like figure, clearly brilliant in his game, but extremely astute in his way and generally not very pleasant to be around. Alma is drawn to him, and him to her, for sort of the same reasons at first. They like how the challenge each other. Their first meet over his breakfast order is marvelous in establishing their characters. Their relationship devolves into a twisted sadistic weird way of showing love, Alma wanting control, Woodcock trying to keep but deep down he wants to be submissive. My feeling for this was similar to <a href=”https://letterboxd.com/jwldk/film/the-master-2012/>The Master</a>, as I mostly enjoyed the acting and the interesting layers of complex power dynamics, but it didn’t really get under my skin as such, as I never quite believed they really needed each other.
Rating: 3.5