'Star Wars' nitpickers, Picasso naysayers: When audiences fail artists
Have you ever wondered, can audiences fail art? Chris Borrelli ponders the question.
About midway through Paul Thomas Anderson's "Phantom Thread," every member of the audience who ever failed a work of art - in other words, all of us - should sit up straight and take notice: An English fashion designer played by Daniel Day-Lewis has made an opulent emerald dress for a rich patron who, despite the fastidiousness of the designer and hours of craftsmanship involved, tugs at the fabric and wipes her face with the billowy collar. Then she passes out drunk, still wearing the dress. The designer watches warily, but his muse (played by Vicky Krieps) seethes, urging him to reclaim his toil and sweat. Which is what they do: They strip the gown off the snoring patron, and leave her with a loud promise - never again will they perform for such a lousy audience.
I tell you this because
