Critics Split on Daniel Day-Lewis’s ‘Bleak’ Yet ‘Commanding’ Return to the Screen

Critics are split on Daniel Day-Lewis’s return to the screen in the film “Anemone,” directed by his son Ronan. Some praise the actor’s performance as a marvel, while others call the film a serious misfire. “Anemone,” written by Day-Lewis and his son, is the actor’s first project in eight years. After initially announcing his retirement in 2017 following “Phantom Thread,” he later changed his mind. In the film, Day-Lewis plays Ray, an estranged hermit, with his brother Jem, played by Sean Bean, seeking to reconnect with him.

Adrian Horton from The Guardian gave the film two stars, describing its mood as bleak but only partially effective. However, Robbie Collin from The Telegraph awarded “Anemone” four stars, praising Day-Lewis’s strong monologues and the film’s exploration of generational scarring and forgiveness in family relationships. Rolling Stone also had positive feedback, noting that the film serves as an introduction to Ronan Day-Lewis’s artistic talent.

Contrastingly, David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter felt that the film didn’t fully capture Day-Lewis’s earth-shattering force. He mentioned the director’s efforts to create poignancy but found the drama lacking emotional impact. Day-Lewis expressed that working on “Anemone” with his son reignited his passion for acting after feeling overwhelmed by sadness following “Phantom Thread.”

Day-Lewis and his son developed the characters of Jem and Ray while working together on the film. The actor found joy in collaborating with his son, and their partnership inspired him to return to acting. “Anemone” is set to premiere in theaters on October 3rd, offering audiences a glimpse into the father-son creative process.