Who among us hasn’t made a bold career declaration we later had to sheepishly walk back? Sure, maybe not all of us have retired from acting with three Oscars under our belts — but if anyone deserves a mulligan, it’s Daniel Day-Lewis. After his “final bow” in 2017, the man apparently spent eight years pretending he was done pretending — and, lo and behold, he’s back. This time, he’s teamed up with his son, Ronan, who co-wrote Anemone and makes his directorial debut. Talk about a family project with some heavy cinematic DNA.

When I first heard DDL was returning, I was all in — and let me tell you, the man hasn’t lost a step. His performance is mesmerizing, powerful, and (of course) borderline obsessive. The problem? He’s carrying the film on his back like Atlas trying to haul Mount Olympus uphill in the rain. Anemone is beautiful and ambitious, but it’s also slow — at times, glacially slow — and occasionally disappears up its own surrealist imagery. There are moments where I half-expected the screen to pause and whisper, “Do you get the metaphor?” Still, when it works, it really works.

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Now, let’s give credit where it’s due — three standout elements elevate this film:

First, the cinematography. Ronan clearly inherited a painter’s eye, and with the help of a seasoned cinematographer, he’s created a visual experience that is a feast for the eyes. You can practically feel the damp English air and the weight of the fog pressing in.

Second, the soundtrack. We get everything from Ozzy to Neil Young, layered with an original score that sometimes feels like it crawled out of a dream — or maybe a nightmare. It shouldn’t work, but it totally does.

Third, the casting. The chemistry between DDL and Sean Bean (as his brother Jem) is electric. Their scenes swing between tenderness, rivalry, and pure emotional combustion — like Cain and Abel on antidepressants and whiskey.

So, should you spend your hard-earned money on Anemone? That depends entirely on what you want from a movie. If you’re looking for Marvel-style escapism or a popcorn-friendly thrill ride, this isn’t your jam. But if you crave an acting masterclass wrapped in an arthouse fever dream — and you don’t mind pondering the existential meaning of a flower for two hours — Anemone might just be your cinematic therapy session.

Final Thought

Anemone is the kind of film that reminds us why we go to the movies in the first place — not just to be entertained, but to be moved, challenged, and occasionally confused in a good way. DDL’s return feels like watching a retired athlete lace up the cleats once again — not because he has to, but because he can’t not. It’s imperfect, it’s indulgent, it’s brilliant. In other words, it’s Daniel Day-Lewis.

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Grade: B

About The Peetimes: It was rather difficult to identify Peetimes in this film because there are acting performances that simply should not be missed, never mind about the “glacial pacing” of certain scenes.

The first two Peetimes are equally “missable” with the third to be used in bladder-critical emergencies, only.

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Anemone.

Plot
Family bonds between fathers, sons, and brothers are explored as complex relationships unfold through personal journeys and generational conflicts.