Director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood, known for his role as Radiohead’s guitarist, have requested the removal of music from the film Phantom Thread in the newly released documentary about Melania Trump. This issue emerged after music from the 2017 movie appeared in Brett Ratner’s documentary without proper authorization.
Unauthorized Use of Phantom Thread Score in Melania Documentary
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood issued a statement revealing that a segment of Greenwood’s score for Phantom Thread was included in the Melania documentary without their consent. Greenwood, though not the copyright owner of the score, pointed out that Universal, which controls the rights, failed to seek his approval for this third-party usage, violating his composer agreement.
The statement read:
“It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary. 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. As a result Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.”
At the time of this report, Amazon MGM Studios, the distributor behind the Melania documentary, had not publicly addressed the claims of misuse.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Criticism of the Melania Film
Anderson’s negative opinion of the Melania Trump documentary extends beyond the music dispute. At the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards on February 1, where he was honored as Screenwriter of the Year for his film One Battle After Another, Anderson expressed admiration for a particularly harsh review of the documentary by Guardian journalist Xan Brooks. Anderson described the review as
“one of the best pieces of writing. Pretty damn good,”
highlighting his agreement with Brooks’ sentiments.
In his review, Brooks described the documentary as
“a gilded trash remake of Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest in which a button-eyed Cinderella points at gold baubles and designer dresses, cunningly distracting us while her husband and his cronies prepare to dismantle the constitution and asset-strip the federal government.”
Jonny Greenwood’s Accomplishments in Film Music
Jonny Greenwood, recognized worldwide as the lead guitarist of Radiohead, has built a significant career composing film scores. Phantom Thread is one of twelve films he has scored, alongside titles like There Will Be Blood, Spencer, and One Battle After Another. Notably, Greenwood received a nomination for Best Original Score for One Battle After Another at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.
Phantom Thread’s Critical Success and Legacy
Originally released in 2017 and featuring Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread is set in 1950s London and tells the story of a couture dressmaker and his muse. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards in 2018, winning Best Costume Design, while also earning a nomination for Best Original Score. The movie is regarded as a significant work in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography.
Implications of the Music Dispute and Next Steps
The demand to remove the Phantom Thread music from the Melania documentary adds another layer of controversy to a film already receiving harsh criticism. The unauthorized use of Greenwood’s score raises questions about rights management and artistic control in documentary filmmaking. How Amazon MGM Studios will respond remains uncertain, but this dispute emphasizes the importance of transparency and permission in the use of creative works.
