The best anemone sighting reminds us of one fact about Daniel Day-Lewis

Warning: This article contains Spoilers For “Anemone”.

Some retirements are less permanent than others, and we thank the movie gods for that. Rumors of Daniel Day-Lewis sailing off into the sunset have been greatly exaggerated. Marked by his grand comeback in “Anemone”. Directed and co-written by his son Ronan, this quiet and moody piece follows reclusive Day-Lewis hermit Ray Stoker, who has been living alone in a ramshackle cabin in the woods of northern England for the past decade and a half. the Why All of this isn’t immediately obvious, though, as the screenplay (also co-written by Father Day-Lewis) leaves just enough breadcrumbs to help us out Piece the clues together at the end. Having left behind his wife Nyssa (Samantha Morton) and now teenage son Brian (Samuel Bottomley), it is up to his estranged brother Jim (Sean Penn) to bring him home at a moment of acute crisis for the fractured family. It doesn’t take long to realize exactly why this setting favors Day-Lewis’ unparalleled acting power.

Since the early parts of “Anemone” appear largely as a series of one-on-one exchanges between the older actors, we’re beginning to get an idea of ​​the structure of this story. Although he’s not one to talk, Ray gradually needles his brother Jim in ways that only lifelong brothers can do. His faith, his decision to essentially step in and fill the roles of husband/father to Nyssa and Brian, and his almost superhuman patience are all targets of Ray’s wrath. After several scenes of minimal interactions between them, this finally emerges in the first of the film’s stunning monologues. As Day-Lewis launches into a haunting tale about a visit from an old priest they’ve known since childhood, steadily rising to a fever pitch of unsettling emotion, it’s as if the star performer has never left at all.

This one scene, arguably the best in the film, is all it takes to remind us of Day-Lewis’ irreplaceable screen presence and his status as our greatest living actor.

It’s practically the golden rule of cinema: if you have Daniel Day-Lewis in the lead role in your movie, you have to give him a speech (or three) meaty enough to sink his teeth into. This is exactly what Ronan Day-Lewis does in Anemone, where he presents his famous father with one fire after another. Focus Features, in turn, has spread awareness of this treatment to movie lovers (Although that was not enough to save it at the box office), where several trailers and clips have been released showcasing all the bombastic dialogue that Day-Lewis has to work with throughout the runtime. With Sean Penn as a secret weapon In the film, the duo expertly reacts to everything their on-screen partner throws at them, and the duo elevates the material to greater heights.

But the various moments teased in the marketing aren’t exactly what moviegoers will remember most once the credits roll. Early on, when Jim first tries to melt his brother’s cold exterior by evoking their past, a tense exchange soon explodes into something else entirely. When Ray learns that an old priest from his childhood has recently died, he is angered as he recalls how this tormentor sexually abused him decades ago. It all culminates in a monologue about how he visited the priest again after being drafted into the army, where he took some nasty revenge by defecating on the predator. As Ray tells it, the story is exciting and terrifying in equal measure… until he casually points out that none of this actually happened, taunting his brother about whether or not he actually believes him.

In just a few minutes, Day-Lewis prepares a meal from the moment and adds an unforgettable scene to his already impressive footage.

Despite all the hype surrounding his lead role in “Anemone,” it’s fair to say that this is as disciplined and precise a role as we’ve seen Daniel Day-Lewis before. No one can cast a shadow of doubt as to whether he has another solid scene-chewing performance in the vein of “There Will Be Blood” or “Gangs of New York.” If all goes according to plan, the 68-year-old actor should have plenty of opportunities to do extreme flips in future appearances. However, not too different from his role in 2017’s “Phantom Thread,” his ability to downplay big moments and deliver enough energy to meet the needs of any given scene goes a long way in “Anemone.”

Even in a film with multiple monologues, the last of which includes a tearful confession of guilt for the act he committed during the war that led him to flee his family in the first place, Day-Lewis gives the exact opposite of a showy performance. Many of Ray’s most telling character moments are presented in complete silence, ironically when he dreams of a ghostly vision of his wife floating above his bed or with a satisfying ending when he finally returns home. His silent dialogue with his son Brian, who sees his father for the first time in his life, says more than any fiery speech ever. Although his dozens of Oscar nominations have tended to reward his more daring and daring acting styles, “Anemone” is a fitting rebuke to the notion that everyone Day-Lewis is able to do this. Which is why, when thinking back on this film, one of the most enduring scenes is Roy’s heartbreaking stare out the window at a nearby pay phone, knowing his wife is on the other end of the line.

“Anemone” is now showing widely in theaters.