Battles Continue in Film Industry

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, with music by Jonny Greenwood, the documentary titled Melania has stirred up some controversy over the use of scores from Phantom Thread.

The filmmakers behind the first lady’s documentary haven’t been accused of any wrongdoing, yet the duo is humorously insisting that the music be taken down.

So, what’s going on? Paul Thomas Anderson seems to be on a quest for an Academy Award with this project, recasting himself in an unflattering light, seemingly as if he were supporting controversial narratives. It’s almost as if to grab attention, he feels the need to align with a group he perceives as leftist.

The statement from the involved parties explains, “While Jonny Greenwood doesn’t hold the copyright to the score, Universal didn’t consult him about this third-party use, which is a breach of the composer’s agreement.” Consequently, both Greenwood and Anderson have requested its removal from the documentary.

If Universal indeed neglected to consult Greenwood, then it seems they should be the ones facing criticism, not the documentary filmmakers, who presumably followed proper procedures.

This seems like a play by Anderson and Greenwood to appease Oscar voters, making sure they don’t appear out of step with Hollywood’s prevailing attitudes.

As of now, it doesn’t look like any legal steps have been taken against Universal. Even if a mistake was made, it wasn’t by the documentary team.

Anderson and Greenwood appear less worried about the breach of contract and more focused on showcasing their loyalty to what they believe is Hollywood’s leftist agenda. Their silence, in fact, could be interpreted negatively, potentially jeopardizing their careers.

There’s been no word on whether Greenwood plans to return any earnings linked to this licensing. It might be interesting if he chose to donate some funds to support those “leftists who lost their jobs due to the Epstein revelations.”