The Master

Joaquim Phoenix, Phillip Seymour Hoffman    d/ Paul Thomas Anderson

This may be the most unpleasant, big-budget movie I've seen in years. Ostensibly built around a cult leader who emerges in the 50's...a la L Ron...this scratched around the surface without reaching deeply enough to give us a sense of revelation or enlightenment.

We follow a deeply damaged ex-sailor (brilliantly played by JP) running from his demons into the arms of a benign (?) monster who has created an organization designed to serve him...the others be damned. All hail his mumbo-jumbo as revealed wisdom...those who don't are treated to violence.

Tech aspects were first rate...particularly lighting, set design and creative use of music...but the overall tone was nasty, squirmy and never let up. No release here...life just sucks.

Anderson's films get high praise in some circles but to me they always fall short...he doesn't have the deep understanding of human nature that makes serious films resonate. His insight is surface-deep and fails to satisfy. Too bad...there's a great film here lurking in this topic...this one didn't find it.

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