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If it takes a movie like Anemone to pull Daniel Day-Lewis out of retirement, then so be it. DDL returns to star in the Irish drama directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis, a slow burn built on meditative camera angles and a few powerful scene-chewing monologues. DDL, as you’d expect, delivers his given dialogue with grisled gusto. It’s just a shame there isn’t more for him to say.
Capsule Review: Anemone isn’t as dull or as boring as I feared, but it’s hardly a stimulating feature either. Ronan has a message to tell and his ability to round up his dad along with Sean Bean and other prominent cast members should be commended. Further, the climax holds some intrigue. Still, neither the movie’s themes or its literal storytelling approach make for the most compelling of pictures, even though it comes closer than you’d expect for a rookie venture.
Best to avoid unless you’re into really esoteric films, or so utterly obsessed with Daniel Day-Lewis and desperate for new material that you can’t possible miss out on even his lesser works.
Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.