Barry Jenkins Adores ‘Phantom Thread’: It Feels Like the Evolution of My Favorite Paul Thomas Anderson Movies

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread” has quickly become a favorite among some of our favorite directors, including Edgar Wright, Rian Johnson, and now Barry Jenkins. The “Moonlight” Oscar winner finally caught up with the romantic drama in the new year and had nothing but raves to share with his social media followers.

Read More:Paul Thomas Anderson’s Beautiful Struggle: Trump, Retirement, and Death Made ‘Phantom Thread’ One of His Hardest Films

“‘Phantom Thread’ is just exquisite, an unfiltered work; a sublime object,” Jenkins wrote about the film. “Object in the sense that, when viewed from different angles, in varying moods, it reveals more and more of itself, other emotions and, for a film overrun with aesthetic objects, deepened ideas.”

Jenkins was particularly impressed with the fact Anderson was able to pull off such an achievement while handling so many on-set duties. “Phantom Thread” marked the first time the director worked without a cinematographer. Instead, Anderson worked with his crew to shoot the film himself.

“This was his most difficult film to build,” Jenkins said. “And yet his hand is invisible here, an effortlessly deployed aesthetic, at once delicate and exacting, lilting and amorous — serene, confident, clear.”

Jenkins calls “Punch-Drunk Love,” “There Will Be Blood,” and “The Master” his favorite Paul Thomas Anderson films and refers to “Phantom Thread” as “the evolution” of these three masterpieces. Only at this point in his career could Anderson make this movie.

Oh, and Focus Features should probably get a copy of Jonny Greenwood’s score on vinyl and send it Jenkins’ way ASAP. “Phantom Thread” is now playing in theaters.

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