The Master is a quirky movie with several fine performances. Loosely based on Scientology, “The Master” played by Philip Seymour Hoffman conducts Q&A sessions with his followers while his wife, played ably by Amy Adams, tries to keep her moody husband under control. Into this mix falls Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), an alcoholic deranged World War II veteran. Freddy and The Master have a contentious relationship. Each man has mental problems. Each man seems attracted to the other. Yet the lack of any sort of a plot weakens this film. The movie lurches back and forth in time. It’s hard to work up any sympathy for these very cultish, flawed characters despite the high level of the performances. GRADE: B
Yeah, something about it didn’t work for me either. The writers did not present a convincing ideology nor a charismatic enough character to push it. The scenes where he tried to “help” Quell were ludicrous. Although maybe those sorts of “self-help” gimmicks are.
A real disappointment.
THE MASTER didn’t hang together for me, Patti. Too many Big Themes–Dominance & Submission, Truth & Falsity, etc.–got in the way.
Paul Thomas Anderson is another “critics’ darling” whose movies leave me cold for the most part. I haven’t seen this and doubt I will now.
Paul Thomas Anderson promises more than he delivers, Jeff.
Doesn’t look any good to me. I bet Cap’n Bob would love it (?!?). By the way, anyone see ARGO yet?
I suspect Cap’n Bob (like many movie watchers) would have to battle sleep as this slow-moving film, Rick
Allegedly PTA and the cast pretty much made the film up along as they went from a skeleton script, a bit like Mike Leigh. For me his best film remains his Neo-noir debut, HARD EIGHT (aka SIDNEY) though I wish he could move on from his father-son obsession – he really should have worked through whatever he issues he has by now, surely …
PTA is no Mike Leigh, Sergio. There’s no doubt Anderson has oceans of talent, but it seems to be wasted on the screen in his last few movies.
I was supposed to see it with my younger daughter but things got in the way. She saw it alone and agreed with the assessments here. Also, she said it had no real ending. I’ll have to see it when it goes to Netflix, if I can ever view the damn DVD I’ve had sitting around here since Hitler had a pair.
The best part of THE MASTER portrays the dynamics of a cult, Bob. It’s well worth watching for at alone.