Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have noticed that music from their film “Phantom Thread” was used in “Melania,” and they want its immediate removal from the film.
Here’s their statement (via Variety) — it reads as though the pair are seeking to nix the inclusion of Greenwood’s “Phantom Thread” composition due to Universal’s failure to notify them about its use.
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.
The Phantom Thread song in question is “Barbara Rose,” which Greenwood composed for the movie.
Brett Ratner has recently spoken about how the $40 million-budgeted “Melania” spent a significant amount of money on music. At the documentary’s premiere, Ratner said the project had “spent more money on music in this than I did on Rush Hour.” That was his way of saying that expensive music licensing and production were part of why the film cost so much.
There’s zero chance Ratner and Amazon/MGM adhere to Anderson and Greenwood’s request. Zero. The film is currently playing in theaters, and if Greenwood and Anderson want to take this up with anyone, it would be Universal, which by all accounts sold the rights allowing the music to appear in Ratner’s film.
Other musical cues that appear in the film include The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” and James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”