Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: The Master

Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Master - Review

The Master
(2012)
137 min - Drama

Rated: R Graphic Nudity, Sexual Content and Language
Information for parents: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. Read More

Grade: D
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams | See full cast and crew

A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.

A striking portrait of drifters and seekers in post World War II America, Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master unfolds the journey of a Naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman). -- (C) Weinstein

137 min. long and I felt each and every one.

As a general rule: When the critics fawn over a film i.e. the best film of the year, a modern day classic, the best performance of his or her (fill in the blank) career, you can pretty much bet an evening of self indulgent dribble is in store. Throw in some full frontal nudity, crude, graphic references to genitals (and their placement during sex), a heaping helping of the F word and various other profanities, alcoholism, mind games, pent-up angst that leads to violence, and anti-religious messages and the critics proclaim it art, bold, daring, important and meaningful to our times. I guffaw in their general direction! This film throws in a little Orson Wells a little Clockwork Orange working overtime at trying to be an epic classic and it simply isn't. And why must we spend the evening looking at Joaquin Phoenix's nose hairs.

In one extended scene with and Amy Adams close-up she is wearing a dress with an embroidered collar. The embroidery is flawed and poorly done (For years I headed up the embroidery department for the country's largest costume company in NYC, I recognize shoddy work)....the point is, if this film had been compelling, even just interesting, I wouldn't have spent the entire scene critiquing the costume designer's oversight.

In another scene Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is arrested and thrown in a jail cell. In a rage he stomps on the toilet and shatters it, yet no water sprays from the pipes, no water on the floor, not even what would have been in the bowl. (Incidentally, we know there was water in the toilet because Mr. Lancaster 'The Master' Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is jailed in the adjoining cell and after a profanity ladden, F word shouting match between the two of them, we are treated to the sight and sound of 'The Master' peeing into a water filled toilet bowl.) So, who was the continuity director on this film?

2 hr. 18 min. of tedium!

Perhaps you are still interested in seeing this film.

If you find the following 5 clips from The Master interesting and it makes you want to see more...well, 95% of what is in the clips in not in the movie itself. However, if you still find it interesting perhaps this film is for you.

Below is the official trailer for The Master

Synopsis

Freddie Quell is a screwed up alcoholic sailor stationed in the Pacific at the tail-end of the of WW II. He comes home emotionally damaged. He can't hold a job. He can't maintain a relationship with a woman. Falls in love with a 16 year old girl. He leaves to work on a ship and promises to come back in a couple of months but he doesn't return for seven years. While away and drunk he becomes a stoweaway on a private yacht where he becomes prey for a charismatic cult leader (read L.Ron Hubbard and Scientology). Yadda yadda yadda, he becomes a tool and a pawn in their game. He eventually looses his interest and devotion and goes his own way but retains some of their ideas. The majority of the 'Critics' think this sounds super interesting. Not so much. The 'so called' career performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman can't make up for the lame, predictable writing.

Here are more photos from the film

(click to enlarge)