"The Phantom Thread" with Daniel Day Lewis - Fascinating Film Set in London in the 1950s

 "The Phantom Thread" is set in post-war London where the aristocracy & royalty are ready to flaunt their wealth, fashion, grace (or lack thereof).  Dir/screenwriter Paul Anderson (b Amer 1970) is also the crafty cinematographer of this sumptuous looking film & sinister character sketch.  Anderson ("Punch Drunk Love" & "Inherent Vice") dons the film with a chic & stunning veneer.  For added luster, Anderson assembled a star studded cast including 3 time Acad. Award winner Daniel Day Lewis ("Lincoln").  Reynolds Woodcock (Lewis in a tour-de-force role) is the head of the Woodstock haute couture fashion house that designs & dresses the very wealthy & the monarchy.  The film is padded front & back with a fireside chat between an enigmatic man & young woman.  The woman describes for her attentive  companion her relationship with an unbeknownst man, "I give him everything he desires which is my complete self forever."  The man referred to is Reynolds whom we first meet in his meticulous, ritualistic grooming & again at breakfast where he summarily dismisses his mistress & delegates his sister, Cyril (British actress Lesley Manville "Another Year") to have her removed.  Reynolds & Cyril are tightly hemmed together.  They reside at their fashion/townhouse & country estate.  Reynolds eccentricities are forgone sovereignties.  He's a talented workaholic.  He's charming but mainly controlling, obdurate & harsh with an overdrawn sense of his omnipotence.  After a stressful week he drives at a reckless speed to their rural estate.  It's on this trip he becomes  smitten by a waitress who trips over herself but she doesn't let herself be ruffled.   Reynolds invites her to dinner as so the yarn of their passionate & tumultuous relationship unravels.  Reynolds brings Alma back to London with him.  There he transforms her into a glamorous, high fashion model.  Soon Alma's true measure & girth materialize.  The power play triangular relationship between brother/sister, Alma/Cyril & Reynolds/Alma adorn the film overflowing with intrigue & intensity.  Getting the last word is a never ending battle of wits and endurance.  Reynolds & Alma are well suited for each other.  I loved every stitch of this bewitching creation.