The Oscar-winning movie Jennifer Lawrence refused to watch: “I got through about three minutes of it”
Paul Thomas Anderson is known for his sweeping epic stories about love, redemption, family and revenge, with an expansive and precise style that has led him to be recognised as one of the greatest directors of our time. His work is enchanting and hypnotic, exploring the subtleties and nuances of each theme in a way that makes it truly captivating and unpredictable. From Boogie Nights to There Will Be Blood and The Master, Anderson has forever shaped modern cinema with his grand and ell-encompassing tales. However, there is one actor who did not like one of his titular movies and has described her own complex feelings towards this piece of work.
Jennifer Lawrence has always been honest about her work and unfiltered feelings towards the industry, never failing to make people laugh as one of the few relatable movie stars in Hollywood. The actor has spoken about her love for performing and cinema in general while never censoring herself from discussing the absurdities of the business. When asked about the work of Paul Thomas Anderson, she revealed one film of his that she simply couldn’t watch,
Phantom Thread follows a renowned dressmaker in 1950s London whose life is upturned after forming a relationship with a young woman called Alma. We are all too familiar with the narrative of the muse, with woman typically being relegated to this category as they inspire great art from creative geniuses without ever being credited for their own artistry or input. However, Anderson flips this narrative as we slowly see his life being consumed by her presence, becoming so reliant on her that he gives himself away entirely, and Alma becomes the one in control. It shows the wicked tricks we use to make relationships work and the toxicity of this dynamic, which is all flipped as Alma reclaims power.
However, when asked about the film, Lawrence didn’t have great things to say, explaining, “I got through about three minutes of it. I put in a good solid three. I’m sorry to anybody who loved that movie. I couldn’t give it that kind of time. It was three minutes and I was just [oof]”.
While the lengthy runtime might deter some people, Lawrence’s dislike of the film was actually rooted in something more personal, saying, “Is it just about clothes? Is he kind of like a narcissistic sociopath and he’s an artist so every girl falls in love with him because he makes her feel bad about herself and that’s the love story? I’ve been down that road, I know what that’s like, I don’t need to watch that movie”.
The actor has been romantically linked with some other public figures and artists, so perhaps the experience of watching the film reminded her of personal encounters with people like Reynolds Woodcock. However, Lawrence was quick to quell the idea that this statement could be about Darren Aronofsky, who the actor dated during the production of his controversial film Mother!, maintaining that she had nothing but warm feelings towards him after ending their relationship.
Despite not liking this film, who knows how Lawrence feels about his other work, and I’m sure she would slot well into his universe if ever broached about a project.
