By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Roman Day-Lewis
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis | Safia Oakley-Green | Samantha Morton | Samuel Bottomley | Sean Bean
Year: 2025
Running time: 125
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33549447/
Diane says: “I’d seen the gist of a few reviews for ANEMONE (Ronan Day-Lewis, director; Ronan and Daniel Day-Lewis, screenplay; Daniel, actor) so was predisposed to be disappointed. Critics were so excited to see DDL back on the screen that they’ve gotten very angry at the outcome. One critic called it the worst movie DDL has ever made–but we know that was STARS AND BARS.
“After decades without communicating, Ray (Day-Lewis) is visited by his brother Jem in his cabin hidden deep in the woods (luckily within walking distance of a pub). Most of the film is the week of days in which Jem’s presence causes Ray to negotiate his past (military tragedy, abusive father, abusive priest).
“The big downfall of ANEMONE is the screenplay. To my mind, the real story proposed by the film is the one that starts in the final scene. Just about the only elements I liked were a couple of seconds-long hallucinatory images–very powerful and surprising. Sadly, even a wild dancing scene cannot save ANEMONE. 2 cats”
Anemone