Cast: Joaquin Phoenix,Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson.
The
Master is a story about the relationship that an eccentric naval war veteran (Joaquin
Phoenix) shares with the leader of a movement (or cult) (Philip Seymour
Hoffman).
Set
in 1950, The Master begins with Phoenix returning from the navy to lead a
normal life. Because of the kind of stress he has gone through while in the
navy along with some other personal problems and alcoholism he finds it hard to
get back to normal life. He is charmed by Hoffman (The Master) who is “a
writer, a doctor, a nuclear physicist, a philosopher and above all a man just
like you” as he himself puts it. Hoffman brings him into his organization in a
bid to help him. Amy Adams plays Hoffman’s wife.
What
would interest you the most about The Master is the performances; the terrific
Phoenix and the subtle Hoffman. If the sessions between them in the first half
are electric the second half lends more of a psychological angle to the whole
affair. Undoubtedly this is one of the best performances of his career by Phoenix,
if not The best.
The
film moves at a slow pace and there is a fair chance that the average viewer
might find the content of the film confusing (especially with respect to the
character played by Hoffman), dragging and a bit disturbing. The runtime of 144
minutes seems a little excess, a defter handling of the screenplay would have
proved commercially better for the film.
Cinematography,
just like Argo, gives you the perfect feel of the era that the film deals with
and that is a good move by the director. Costume design and art direction
should also be mentioned in particular for the wonderful job done.
Iam giving a 3.25/5 for The Master. Watch
it if you like slow moving films.
IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/?ref_=sr_1
Rating
Scale (Out of 5)
Less
than 2
-
Unwatchable.
2
to 2.25
-
Below average.
2.5
to 2.75 -
Average.
3 to
3.25 - Good.
3.5 to 3.75 - Great.
4 to
4.25 - Exceptional.
4.5 and
above - Extraordinary.
