Daniel Day-Lewisis an acting institution. The three-time Oscar winner is widely considered among the greatest actors to have ever graced the silver screen. Since his breakthrough in the mid-’80s, Day-Lewis has starred in many now-classic movies, always attracting acclaim for his intense and committed performances. Arguably the greatest representative of method acting in the business, Day-Lewis is revered for his commitment to each of his performances, earning a reputation as a one-of-a-kind, generation-defining talent.
Moreover, Day-Lewis is highly regarded for being selective about the types of movies he makes. In the 21st century, the Irish actor made only six movies, starring in all of them and receiving Oscar nominations for four, winning twice.This list will rank every Daniel Day-Lewis movie in the new millenniumbased on their overall quality, the actor’s performance, and the movie’s contributions to his cinematic legacy. It’s an embarrassment of riches marked by collaborations with geniuses likeMartin Scorsese,Steven Spielberg, andPaul Thomas Anderson, contributing to Day-Lewis' status as an acting giant.
6’Nine' (2009)
Directed by Rob Marshall
2009’sNineisRob Marshall’s second musical after the Oscar-winningChicago. An adaptation of the eponymous Broadway musical, itself based onFederico Fellini’s classic8½, the film follows renowned Italian director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) as he struggles with a midlife crisis in the midst of a film’s production. An ensemble of acclaimed actresses co-star, including Oscar winnersMarion Cotillard,Penélope Cruz,Nicole Kidman,Judi Dench, andSophia Loren.
Nineis probablythe only genuinely bad movie Day-Lewis has ever made. It’s frustrating because the film is overflowing with talent in front of and behind the camera. Alas, it’s all for naught: the pacing is off, the screenplay is paper-thin, andMaury Yeston’s songs aren’t as impactful as they were on the stage. Marshall’s approach to the musical numbers, similar to the one inChicago, places them in Guido’s mind, making him the sun around which everything and everyone else orbits. Unfortunately, Guido is an utterly repellent character, resulting ina bafflingly bad musical. As always,Day-Lewis gives it his all, and his singing is actually quite good, buthe’s ultimately miscast in the role. Similarly, the actresses are all wasted, with only Cotillard getting anything remotely interesting to do.
Directed by Rebecca Miller
2005’sThe Ballad of Jack and Rosesees Day-Lewis assume the role of environmentalist Jack, who lives on a secluded island with his teenage daughter, Rose (Camilla Belle). When he invites his girlfriend (Catherine Keener) and her two teenaged sons (Paul DanoandRyan McDonals) to live with them, Rose reacts with hostility, leading to a complicated dynamic between the newly formed family. The film was written and directed by Day-Lewis' real-life wife,Rebecca Miller.
The Ballad of Jack and Roseisa truly bizarre little movie, exploring complex and taboo subjects with a rather abrupt approach that would’ve greatly benefitted from more nuance. Day-Lewis is solid in the lead role, andtwo-time Oscar nominee Catherine Keenerlends him great assistance. The young cast is far more uneven; Dano convinces, but Belle struggles, especially during the more demanding third-act scenes. Overall,The Ballad of Jack and Roseisan intriguing yet ultimately uneven family dramathat leaves a bitter aftertaste.
The Ballad of Jack and Rose
4’Gangs of New York' (2002)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
In his second collaboration with Martin Scorsese, Day-Lewis delivers one of his most iconic performances. Set in the mid-1800s in the Five Points slum,Gangs of New Yorkfollows young Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), who seeks to avenge his father’s death by taking down his killer, the powerful William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting (Day-Lewis).Cameron Diazco-stars as a pickpocket and prostitute with complex relationships with both Amsterdam and Bill.
Gangs of New Yorkis amongScorsese’s most ambitious yet uneven efforts. This historical epic is grand in scope, but its reach often exceeds its grasp. The narrative falters halfway through, and some of the performances are genuinely off, especiallya woefully miscast Cameron Diazdoing one of the all-time worst Irish accents. Yet, nothing matters when Daniel Day-Lewis enters the scene.The actor is electrifying as Bill the Butcher, delivering a titanic performance that casts an eclipse over everything and everyone around him. Day-Lewis goes beyond scenery-chewing; heabsolutely devours everything on his path, to the point where the movie pretty much disintegrates whenever he’s not on screen. Sprawling and daring yet far too flawed to ignore,Gangs of New Yorkremains one of Scorsese’s most fascinating efforts, largely because of Day-Lewis' tremendous work.
Gangs of New York
3’Lincoln' (2012)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
It seems quite unbelievable that Daniel Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg only made one movie together, but what a movie.Lincolnis a historical epic biopic that chronicles the final months of Abraham Lincoln’s life, especially his efforts to end the Civil War and pass the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery permanently. Two-time Oscar winnerSally Fieldco-stars as his wife, Mary Todd, whileTommy Lee Jonesplays Republican Congressman Thadddeus Stevens.
Lincolnremains somewhat underappreciated in the context ofSteven Spielberg’s impressive career, and it’s a true shame. The film is an excellent historical epic, offeringan engaging and compelling blend of drama and factual eventsthat makes history come alive, literally. At the center of it all is Daniel Day-Lewis in the performance that earned him his third Oscar for Best Actor. Yes, the Irish actor nails the voice and brings gravitas and dignity to the portrayal. Yet, it’s what’s behind the facade that makes it such a spectacular performance.Day-Lewis effortlessly captures the wearinessof a man who spent most of his life in constant battle yet never bent or broke. You can see the pressure mounting on Lincoln’s shoulders in pretty much every scene, especially the quiet ones, where it’s justDay-Lewis' face captured by Spielberg’s revealing camera.
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Day-Lewis' second collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson is the riveting romantic psychological period dramaPhantom Thread. The three-time Oscar winner plays Reynolds Woodcock, a prestigious and renowned haute couture dressmaker in 1950s London, running a successful business with his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville). His life changes when he meets young waitress Alma (Vicky Krieps), who becomes his muse and lover, leading to a complicated romance.
Phantom Threadisthe most romantic yet off-putting drama of the 2010s, and I mean that in the best possible way. A fascinating depiction of the intricacies and trappings of the human mind, the film is as much a character study as a love story of intoxicating love. Day-Lewis achieves a perfect balance of aloof coldness and unexpected warmth with just enough flashed of dry humor,embodying Reynolds' genius rather than merely playing it. His chemistry with Krieps is exhilarating, further amplified by Anderson’s subtle, almost lethargic approach. The camerawork is seductive and inviting, building a constant atmosphere of tension that never breaks.Phantom Threadis a triumph andone of Daniel Day-Lewis' finest hours, proving that PTA was probably the director who best understood his intense yet infallible artistic sensibilities.
Phantom Thread
1’The Will Be Blood' (2007)
Daniel Day-Lewis won his second Oscar for Best Actorfor his tremendous performance as oil baron Daniel Plainview in Paul Thomas Anderson’s WesternThe Will Be Blood. Based onUpton Sinclair’s 1927 novelOil!, the film chronicles Plainview’s ruthless rise from a silver miner into an oilman during the Californian oil boom of the late 19th century. Paul Dano co-stars in dual roles as twins Eli and Paul Sunday, whose paths cross with Plainview’s.
There Will Be Bloodis a modern masterpiece, there really is no other way to put it. A brutal, unrelenting depiction of human corruption and unbound ambition, the film is as much a character study of one of cinema’s most fascinating aintheroes as it’s an acting showcase for Daniel Day-Lewis.The actor is capitalism embodied, displaying Daniel’s unforgiving resourcefulness with boundless intensity, crafting a reprehensible yet utterly magnetic character who is as compelling as he’s treacherous and ruthless. It’s a tremendous, towering performance thatkeeps getting better with age, a frightening depiction ofunchecked and ultimately unhinged ambitionthat is more relevant now than ever before.
