Director Paul Thomas Anderson and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood have jointly requested that a segment of the Phantom Thread score be taken out of Brett Ratner’s recently released documentary about Melania Trump. The filmmakers say they were not informed about the use of Greenwood’s Oscar-nominated score in the film until after its debut.
While Melania features an original soundtrack by Tony Neiman, it also includes several notable pre-existing songs, including the Phantom Thread music. A representative for Greenwood stated,
“While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement,”
adding,
“As a result Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.”
Additional Music and Controversial Production Choices in Melania
The documentary also incorporates songs by legendary artists such as Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and James Brown. One striking inclusion is The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” heard during the opening sequence. Despite the Stones’ ongoing opposition to President Donald Trump’s use of their music at his rallies, the band does not control recordings made before 1971, including this 1969 track.
Melania, which was released at the end of January, reportedly carried a $75 million budget covering production and marketing. Its steep cost has sparked speculation that Amazon supported the project to gain favor with the Trump administration, particularly considering Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s extensive dealings with the federal government. Amazon MGM, the production company, dismissed these claims, emphasizing they
“licensed the film for one reason and one reason only — because we think customers are going to love it.”
Since its release, the documentary has grossed about $13 million.
Background of Brett Ratner and Production Challenges
This film marks Brett Ratner’s first major directing effort in over a decade, following accusations of sexual assault by multiple women, which he denies. Sources familiar with the production described the process as “highly disorganized” and “very chaotic.” One production member expressed discomfort with the film’s portrayal, stating,
“I feel a little bit uncomfortable with the propaganda element of this. But Brett Ratner was the worst part of working on this project.”
Ongoing Implications for Music Rights and Film Ethics
The controversy surrounding the unauthorized use of the Phantom Thread score highlights ongoing tensions between artists and studios over music licensing and copyright. Paul Thomas Anderson’s and Jonny Greenwood’s demand for removal underlines the challenges composers face when their work is used without proper consultation. Meanwhile, Melania’s high expenditure, association with a contentious director, and disputed artistic choices raise questions about the motivations behind politically charged documentaries and the ethical responsibilities of their backers.
