The Master

Any time the name Paul Thomas Anderson and new movie are used in the same sentence, there is reason to be excited. When the names Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, and Amy Adams are linked to this new movie, the anticipation goes through the roof. On top of all of this, the first cryptic trailer was released a few months prior to the movie's release, which gave us a brief look at what promised to be another Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece.

Unfortunately, The Master did not receive a full theatrical release. Only a select few theaters were playing the movie, and none of them were near-by. This wasn't quite the news that I was looking for, but I could wait until it was released on DVD. Six months after the theatrical release, The Master was finally ready for the small screen.

Even with months of anticipation and high expectations, I was not let down. Every shot was beautiful, the story was unique, the acting was unprecedented, and the story was ambiguous. As with most Paul Thomas Anderson films, this movie challenges the viewer in ways that will leave many of them confused, or even off-put. The story is centered around a World War II veteran, Freddie Quell, with many quirks, and a severe drinking problem. After unintentionally poisoning a coworker with his homemade alcohol (made with various chemicals), he takes off to avoid persecution and in his drunken stupor, lands himself on a boat where he meets Lancaster Dodd, the leader of The Cause.

Apparently based on the birth of Scientology (which could have been a movie on its own), The Master instead focuses on the characters, leaving everything else as a backdrop. The three main characters are extremely layered and complex, and their interactions make this movie so full.

This is a multiple viewing kind of movie. I know that I have missed many things in my first run through, and I am excited to watch it again. Don't go into this movie expecting everything to be laid out in front of you, or you will be extremely disappointed when the credits hit. The Master will linger in you thoughts for some time after, and the beauty is undeniable.

4.5/5