Daniel Day-Lewis movie return in Anemone is savaged by critics

If Daniel Day-Lewis was ‘overwhelmed by sadness’ after announcing his retirement from acting almost a decade ago, God only knows how he feels about the dismal response to his unexpected return in Anemone. 

Bad actors don’t have three Academy Awards sat on their mantelpiece, and the Irish star has rightly earned his reputation as one of the finest actors of this, or perhaps any other generation thanks to a series of mesmerising roles. 

Indeed, from his harrowing portrayal of a cerebral palsy stricken artist in My Left Foot, to the embodiment of America’s 16th President in Lincoln, Day-Lewis, 68, enjoyed near consistent praise before announcing his retirement from stage and screen in 2017. 

It took a screenplay co-written his with own son – who also directs the new film – to coax him back, but the award winning star would be forgiven for wishing he hadn’t bothered after the reviews landed on Tuesday.

Arguably as bleak in tone as Anemone’s subject matter, early viewings have been universally negative, with the San Francisco Chronicle’s withering assessment seemingly leading the charge. 

‘Daniel Day-Lewis has emerged from retirement to do something he has never done before – make a truly horrible movie,’ reads one extract from its recent review. 

‘For “Anemone,” he wrote the screenplay himself, in collaboration with his son Ronan. And then, as if to ensure that no ameliorating outside influence could penetrate, he had Ronan direct the film, too.’ 

Reviewer Mike LaSalle adds that ‘“Anemone” is not even a pair of twos. It’s a total-nothing hand, the worst film Daniel Day-Lewis ever made and the worst he ever will make, unless he and his son are planning a sequel.’ 

Anemone sees Day-Lewis return as Ray Stoker, a former paramilitary soldier who retreats to the woods after suffering an unexplained trauma more than two decades earlier. 

Co-starring fellow stars Sean Bean as Ray’s younger brother Gem, and Samantha Morton as Gem’s wife, Nessa, the film isn’t short on established talent. 

The limited cast also features promising young actor Sam Bottomley, but according to RogerEbert.com, the performances on show – notably two powerful monologues from Day-Lewis – are the least of its problems. 

‘Day-Lewis and Bean are excellent – their previous work can attest the men are practically incapable of turning in a bad performance – but the film’s writing and direction leave much to be desired,’ writes Monica Castillo.

‘As incredible a performer as he is, Day-Lewis can’t shake the repetitive nature of Ray talking to his silent brother, who seems almost unwilling to engage the man in conversation. 

‘Less is given to Samantha Morton as Nessa beyond looking concerned for her son and eventually, explaining the truth behind their family history.’ 

Elsewhere, Variety reviewer Owen Gleiberman writes: ‘They used to say that Laurence Olivier was such a great actor that he could read the phone book and leave you entranced. 

‘But I’m not sure that even Laurence Olivier could deliver this speech in “Anemone” and make you want to listen to it. Daniel Day-Lewis certainly can’t.’

He adds: ‘I think it’s touching that Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement to launch his son’s movie career. That’s a dad for you! And I have no problem with the nepo babyness of it all. 

‘But “Anemone” is still a dud of a movie – aridly pretentious and static, with too much self-conscious art photography and gloomsday indie rock and not enough drama.’ 

Despite describing the film as a ‘painful misfire,’ The Guardian’s Adrian Horton offers a more optimistic take in her two star review. 

She writes: ‘The younger Day-Lewis shows promise as a filmmaker – Anemone certainly looks serious, the correct scowls and swirling skies and wordless, eerie montages to suggest weighty themes, big emotions and ominous suspense.’ 

Day-Lewis originally announced his retirement in 2017 after starring in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread.  

In a statement shared at the time, his representatives simply said he was ‘immensely grateful for his collaborators and audiences’ and would not be making any further comment.

It said: ‘Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years.

‘This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.’

A few months later in an interview with W magazine, the actor acknowledged he felt ‘great sadness’ at the decision but explained he felt compelled to take it.

‘The impulse to quit took root in me, and that became a compulsion. It was something I had to do,’ he said.

 ‘Do I feel better? Not yet. I have great sadness. And that’s the right way to feel.’

Now, as he returns to screens in Anemone, he has admitted that he was just ‘intending on doing other things’.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Daniel explained: ‘It just seems like such grandiose gibberish to talk about. I never intended to retire, really.

‘I just stopped doing that particular type of work so I could do some other work.’

Psychological drama Anemone is set for release October 3 and features Daniel in the lead role alongside Sean Bean and Samantha Morton.