After Eight Years of Silence, the Greatest Actor of Our Era Returns to Cinema, but the Critics are Merciless
What happens when the most revered actor of his generation returns and the applause doesn’t? A comeback tangled with legacy, risk, and a verdict few saw coming.
Renowned actor Daniel Day-Lewis steps back onto the big screen in “Anemone,” the first feature directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. The family collaboration, co-written by father and son, threads a love triangle through a tightly wound domestic drama. Critics have largely panned the film’s muddled coherence and loaded symbolism, even as they praise Day-Lewis’s presence. At the box office, the numbers tell a similar story, with about 1 million dollars on a 14 million budget since its October 3 U.S. release and a rollout across Europe.
A long-awaited return: Daniel Day-Lewis steps back into the spotlight
After an eight-year absence, Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the most celebrated actors of our time, has finally returned to the big screen. His reappearance alone could have been cause for celebration, but the circumstances surrounding it, stepping into a role for Anemone, his son Ronan Day-Lewis’s directorial debut, were even more intriguing. Yet, what should have been a triumphant comeback has left critics and audiences divided.
A celebrated career and a quiet departure
Daniel Day-Lewis has long been hailed as a master of his craft. With 3 Academy Awards under his belt and unforgettable performances in films like There Will Be Blood and Lincoln, his departure in 2017 left many wondering. Why would an actor at the height of his artistry choose to walk away? Few could have predicted that his return would hinge on a deeply personal, familial collaboration. After eight years of silence, he chose to break it for his son.
Father, son, and Anemone: a story within a story
Anemone is not just another film. It is woven with the delicate threads of family connections and ambition, being co-written by both Daniel and Ronan Day-Lewis. The plot explores the emotional labyrinth of a family drama centered around a love triangle, an ambitious project for a director’s first outing. With such a fascinating dynamic on and off-screen, expectations were naturally high. Yet, as the film opened in U.S. theaters on October 3rd and made its way into Europe, those hopes were dashed for many. Why?
Critics weigh in: brilliance or misstep?
The reception has been, for lack of a better word, unforgiving. While some described Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as “nuanced and magnetic,” others criticized the film’s over-reliance on symbolism and a script described as “meandering” by Wendy Ide of The Observer. Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent echoed similar grievances, suggesting the movie’s layers do not quite add up. For a project with such pedigree, these critiques have been particularly harsh.
The film’s financial reception also mirrored its critical one. With a budget of $14 million, Anemone has only managed to gross $1 million so far, a sobering number for what was likely envisioned as an intimate yet accessible story. Was the bar set too high for a first outing?
A personal milestone, if not a universal triumph
What remains undeniable is the deeply personal nature of Day-Lewis’s return. Whether or not Anemone finds its place as a beloved gem or a poignant misstep, it stands as a testament to his commitment to family and storytelling. Not every chapter of an illustrious career can be a masterpiece, but this latest one is undoubtedly written from the heart. Perhaps, with time, audiences may revisit this film with a more forgiving lens.
