When Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln came out in 2012, Daniel Day Lewis tried to say that it would likely be his final role. Five years later, he appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread, and he became so f–king obsessed with dressmaking and couture that he said: okay, this time I really mean it, this is my last film. He kept to his word for eight years. But now Daniel Day Lewis is back in Anemone, a film co-written and directed by his son Ronan Day Lewis. Did you know he has three sons? True story. Well, Ronan is only 27 years old and he’s directed his feature debut starring his dad… and Sean Bean. And always-underrated Samantha Morton! The trailer just came out this week:
It looks good, albeit sort of confusing? If I had to guess, I’d say that Bean and DDL aren’t really biological brothers, but brothers-in-arms. I think they did some war crimes together when they were both soldiers (or mercenaries??) and whatever it was, it was so bad that DDL walked into the woods and never came out, effectively abandoning his wife and son? What a story for a father and son to cowrite, and for a son to direct his father in? Oh wait, THR says that Bean and DDL are playing actual brothers??
He’s back: Daniel Day-Lewis has returned to acting in the first trailer for his father-son indie drama Anemone. The intense and moody footage (below) teases the story of a middle-aged man (Sean Bean) who sets out from his suburban home on a journey into the woods in Northern England, where he reconnects with his estranged hermit brother (Day-Lewis).
The project from Focus Features is set to have its world premiere at the the New York Film Festival —which kicks off Sept. 26 and runs through Oct. 13 — and marks the return of the three-time Oscar winner after an eight-year “retirement.” The film is the feature directorial debut of Lewis’ son, Ronan Day-Lewis, and was co-written by both men.
The official description of Anemone calls the film “an absorbing family drama … about lives undone by seemingly irreconcilable legacies of political and personal violence … bonded by a mysterious, complicated past, the men share a fraught, if occasionally tender relationship — one that was forever altered by shattering events decades earlier. An emotional powerhouse, this directorial debut is assured in both small details and grand gestures as it charts the path toward familial redemption against all odds. In addition to its unflinching lead performances, Anemone features standout supporting work from Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley, and sensationally expressive widescreen cinematography by Ben Fordesman.”
Okay. Well, I’ll watch it. Honestly, while I’m always going to want to see more of Daniel Day Lewis, I thought Phantom Thread was an incredible “last film” to go out on. He was absolutely brilliant in that. I wonder if Anemone is a one-off or if Daniel is basically announcing that he’s open to taking more work after an eight-year hibernation. Someone get Paul Thomas Anderson on the phone!
PS… Sean Bean could still get it. I know, I know, but I love that man. It’s so cool to see them share the screen!
Screengrabs courtesy of the ‘Anemone’ trailer.
That’s a terrible title! I don’t know how to pronounce it or even know what the f-ck it means. Otherwise it looks good and worthwhile! It’s so great that DDL is making a movie with his son and that he was willing to come back from retirement for it. Just wish it had a better title!
A-nem-oh-nee ☺️
I took some time off from my Sean Bean crush, but I am back on board. Watched him in Time just a few weeks ago and it pulled me back in. That show is so good, HE is so good in it and he could still get it – no questions asked.
I’ve adored ✨️ Sean Bean’s acting since 1988’s “Stormy Monday” & I’ve adored Daniel Day Lewis PERIOD ✨️❤️✨️ since 1971’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday”…it will be 😍 to see to these MAGNIFICENT actors who came up during the same time period doing “Fine Art Films” working together…the ONLY one missing from this is Julian Sands 🥀💔 And including Samantha too? MY G-D…A FEAST OF TALENT❣️
I remember being flabbergasted to discover Daniel Day Lewis and Isabell Adjani had a child together and that there had been a huge messy breakup. I’m a fan of both and generally keep up with the gossip. Must have been a busy time in my life and stayed off the covers of the magazines.
Phantom Thread is one of my all time favorite movies. Coming out of retirement to star in a film sets off my Spidey sense, but I’ll keep an open mind.
Don’t sleep on Ronan’s mother — the filmmaker Rebecca Miller, daughter of the great American playwright Arthur Miller. There’s a lot of dramaturgy experience in that family …
There’s so much good work coming out of Ireland about the ripple effects of the Troubles. Good on Ronan — this looks beautiful and interesting.
I’ve never gotten DDL’s charm. I usually find him the most forgettable actor in the few films of his I’ve made it all the way through.
I really like Sean Bean, but I have no interest in watching him die again. If I hear that he survives, I might watch the film.
You may change your mind if you start with some of his early films like “My Beautiful Laundrette.” A real presence.
For me, first time seeing him was similar to my first time seeing Emma Thompson (“Impromptu”). Sort of sit-up-in-your-seat-“Who is that?!” feeling.
Have you seen The Last of the Mohicans?
I gotta be honest. The giant fish really confused me.
i loved Phantom Thread… i will def watch because is DDL 🙂
I think I have seen every movie DDL has been in and would watch him read the white pages. He is a phenomenal actor.
The first time I was introduced to Daniel Day Lewis, I had never heard one of him, had no idea who he was, and he got the Academy Award for My Left Foot. I sat straight up and I said “what? who is that!!!!!!” And they showed the clip from the the movie and I told my friend, that is phenomenal. And rented the movie, and read the book. I’m still blown away by DDL. I still fantasize about having a pair of leather shoes made by him. I loved him also as the fop in A Room with a View. So, I am confused by the clip, but glad to see him acting in anything.
So, one day, I was on my way to see a movie at the Paris theater in NYC, and a guy exposed himself to me on the subway and was arrested. I finally arrived at A Room with a View, and it was so excellent it improved my state of mind greatly! The second DDL movie I saw was Last of the Mohicans, and I didn’t even recognize that those two characters were played by the same person!
He was amazing as the foppish Cecil Vyse in A Room With a View. One of my favourite movies and books. I was so taken with it when I was in Florence years ago I found an ancient B&B with an actual view of the Arno and spent half a day at Santo Domingo church browsing the art and Carravaggios. Julian Sands was so hot, such a sad end to his life.