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DVD cover for Phantom Thread
DVD cover for Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread,

directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

(R, 2 hours, 10 minutes)

Paul Thomas Anderson reunites with Daniel Day-Lewis (you remember 2007's stunning There Will Be Blood, don't you?) to assemble a love story that's articulate, intelligent, and almost maddening in its complexity and oddness.

Phantom Thread concerns obsessive, outrageously successful couturier Reynolds Woodcock (Day-Lewis, simmering with intensity as always, whose designs adorn the highest-ranking denizens of 1950s-era London society. Although there are many superfluous women accessorizing his life, Woodcock's only real relationship is with his devoted sister Cyril (Lesley Manville), an efficient, no-nonsense personal assistant to the great artist.

Then he meets Alma (Vicky Krieps), a waitress at an inn near his country estate. He's intrigued. So is she. And the dynamics of their relationship eventually undergo a shift of power. He's the lord of his fashion realm, and the master of his obsessive work habits. But he's no longer in charge, not of this woman, who somehow becomes pivotal to his existence.

It's a beautiful film, graced with a gorgeous soundtrack by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and filmed with a painter's eye that incorporates glowing light and nubby textures.

Most compelling is the almost mystical hold that quietly determined, fearless and focused Alma has over her bossy, detail-oriented, chaos-dreading partner. Is this true love? Or something more insidious, more disruptive? The viewer can decide. With Richard Graham, Camilla Rutherford, Brian Gleeson.

The Party (R, 1 hour, 11 minutes) A dark, tasty but not entirely satisfying comedy in which an intimate gathering of friends goes haywire when an unexpected announcement sets off a chain reaction exposing secrets, sex and betrayal. With Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall; directed by Sally Potter. The DVD includes a making-featurette and photo gallery.

Peter Rabbit (PG, 1 hour, 35 minutes) Beatrix Potter's bunny gets big-screen play via computer animation and live action, with uneven results. Peter Rabbit (voice of James Corden), along with sisters Flopsy (voice of Margot Robbie), Mopsy (voice of Elizabeth Debicki) and Cotton-Tail (voice Daisy Ridley) and cousin Benjamin Bunny (voice of Colin Moody) set out to raid the vegetable garden of uncooperative McGregor (Sam Neill).

He puts up a fight, but, being old, mortality does him in, which allows his great-nephew Thomas (Domhnall Gleeson) to employ orderly management practices to take over the garden. Animals are not fans of order, though, so disruption ensues. Neighboring artist Bea (Rose Byrne), who loves Peter and his pals, attempts to intervene. Pratfalls and physicality are much in evidence, but fail to capture the charm of Potter's sweet story. Directed by Will Gluck.

John Mellencamp: Plain Spoken (not rated, 1 hour, 20 minutes) This musical odyssey features voice-overs from John Mellencamp with live footage of the legendary singer-songwriter performing with his band at the historic Chicago Theatre, just 250 miles from his native Indiana, on Oct. 25, 2016. The performance, which includes guest Carlene Carter, showcases Mellencamp performing some of his best-known songs such as "Small Town," "Minutes To Memories," "Pop Singer," "Cherry Bomb," "Longest Days," "Authority Song," and "Pink Houses," along with material from his recent album Sad Clowns And Hillbillies.

Fifty Shades Freed (unrated, 1 hour, 45 minutes) Trashy, silly and clumsily plotted, this latest addition to the Fifty Shades franchise indulges in high-dollar visual porn (instead of the sex kind) -- a dreamy fantasy wedding, luxury residences, exotic cars, couture duds, and lots of product placement. It concerns now-newlyweds Christian (Jamie Dornan) and Ana (Dakota Johnson) who intend to embrace their weird connection and share a life of luxury. But new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it begins. Bonus features include a conversation with producer E.L. James and actor Eric Johnson, music videos, deleted scene, and making-of featurettes. With Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Brant Daugherty; directed by James Foley.

MovieStyle on 05/11/2018

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