The Melania doc has prompted criticism after filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and musician Jonny Greenwood objected to the film’s use of music from their Oscar-winning movie Phantom Thread. The pair are calling for the track’s removal, saying the documentary used it without proper consultation.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood on Melania doc’s use of Phantom Thread music
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood said the Melania doc included a piece from Phantom Thread. “It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary,” they shared in a joint statement.
“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.” They added, “As a result, Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary (via Entertainment Weekly).”
For those curious, Anderson wrote, produced, and directed Phantom Thread. It starred Daniel Day-Lewis as a meticulous fashion designer inspired by a young waitress. Greenwood composed the film’s score. The 2017 movie earned six Oscar nominations and won Best Costume Design.
Now, the Melania documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, is about the First Lady’s life in the 20 days before her husband’s re-election campaign. Despite a strong $7 million opening weekend at the box office, its ticket sales plummeted shortly after.
As of writing, the film holds a ten percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It has also been the subject of jokes by late-night hosts questioning its financial performance. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million to acquire the film and a related docuseries, plus an additional $35 million for promotion.