Daniel Day-Lewis in Anemone
In 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis made what he said would be his final movie, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread. For eight years, the famously reclusive actor appeared to keep that promise, but a family bond lured him out of retirement.
Directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, Anemone is a sparse and interesting drama starring the Oscar winner and Sean Bean as brothers who reconnect following a long estrangement. What came to theaters was an unusual mix, where the roughness of a first-time director meets the polish of a seasoned veteran. Flawed in places, Anemone remains nonetheless an interesting proposition. A Tense Story About Facing the Past Anemone is set in the North of England, and stars Bean as Jem Stoker, a quiet and religious military veteran. He is married to Nessa , the ex-wife of his brother Ray , with whom she had a son, Brian . Ray has lived isolated in the woods for 20 years following an incident while serving in the army, and now Jem is seeking him out to ask him to talk to Brian, who is also in the military and is faced with expulsion. The brothers reconnect, fight, laugh, and face the demons that made Ray disappear. Related Daniel Day-Lewis Is Finally Back, and This Is the Director He Should Team Up With To Make Oscars History Daniel Day-Lewis has an opportunity to become the celebrated actor ever, especially if he stars in this director's final film. Posts By Sam Barsanti Co-written by Daniel and Ronan Day-Lewis, the film explores the generational trauma that conflict leaves behind. It’s a film about lost souls and how different people deal with the awful things they have endured. Ray shuts out the world that treated him so harshly, while Jem turns to a higher power for comfort. The final battle between the bold old warriors is for the soul of Brian, with Jem not wanting to see the boy, who he has raised as his own, fall down the same path as his biological father.A superb cast underpins a movie that makes some big choices, both visually and in the script. However, not every risk pays off as you would hope. The Debut Director Makes Some Weird Choices With 'Anemone' The film received a mixed reception from critics, many of whom pointed to Ronan Day-Lewis’ direction as a factor in why not everything works as it should. Making his big-screen debut at just 27, the filmmaker comes from a prestigious cinematic family, with his mother being the award-winning director Rebecca Miller . Nevertheless, there were some decisions made, particularly in the film’s visuals, that seem at odds with the movie’s gritty, grounded plot. Symbolism is used a lot in the movie, beginning with a child’s drawings of a soldier fighting in Ireland, representing the reason for Ray’s absence. There are some bigger and at times odder visuals that come into play. During their time in the woods, Ray encounters visions such as a woman floating above a bed and, toward the end, a luminous, four-legged creature with a human face. Such scenes feel like the work of a filmmaker still honing his craft, wanting to add artistic flair to a story that otherwise feels earthy and real. The contrast is jarring at times, but it shows the young Day-Lewis’ willingness to take chances when given the spotlight. Daniel Day-Lewis Is Still One of the Greatest in 'Anemone' One thing everyone who sees the film agrees on is that Daniel Day-Lewis hasn’t lost a step in his time away from acting. As Ray, he is a spiritually twisted being, living alone with the ghosts of his past and the bitterness of lost faith. The things he held dear – his duty, his country – had turned its back on him, and Jem finds him a tortured spirit roaming the wilderness. Day-Lewis has two wonderful monologues in the movie that stand out as the clear highlights of the film. The first is a graphic anecdote, where Ray recalls a repulsive punishment he delivered to an abusive priest. The legend’s ability to hold the camera, as well as the audience, is in evidence as even the coarse nature of Ray’s story feels utterly captivating. Day-Lewis reveals his character to still be desperate for justice for the wrongs done to him, and reveling in a time when he was able to punish the wicked. The second is quieter, more heartbreaking, as Ray confesses to Jem the incident that led to his being discharged from the army. Looking out to the sea, with no music to accompany him or dictate the mood, the actor unloads decades of pain in one moment. The agony of a soldier who has taken a life, done what he felt was the right thing, only to have the army push him away, is enthralling. Neither the director nor Day-Lewis’ scene partner, Bean, needs to do much; both simply frame a star who can bring Ray’s journey to this milestone. Anemone remains a curious entry in the filmography of Daniel Day-Lewis. With the highlights of his career coming at the hands of filmmaking masters such as Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Steven Spielberg, it’s curious to see such a titan exist in a film crafted by the hands of a newcomer. While it may not stand up to its illustrious predecessors, it is nonetheless an intriguing experiment in tone. 5 10 Anemone Like Follow Followed R Drama Release Date October 10, 2025 Runtime 125 minutes Director Bobby Ciasulli Writers Daniel Day-Lewis, Ronan Day-Lewis Producers Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner Cast See All
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