THE MASTER (2012) P.T. Anderson's film on the origions of Scientology (sort of), Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, and Laura Dern

http://i48.tinypic.com/23r1ee8.jpg

nice

love that

http://www.slashfilm.com/the-master-early-buzz-sneak-la-screening-yields-advance-raves/

Here’s why you should go out to the movies on a Friday evening: last night at the Aero, in Santa Monica, audiences who turned up to see The Shining were told that Kubrick’s movie would be followed by a surprise double-feature. That second film was Paul Thomas Anderson‘s The Master, and it was projected in 70mm.

What a cool move on Anderson’s part — not a test screening, but just a low-key surprise for people who were in the right place at the right time. (This is a bit like his choice to premiere There Will Be Blood at Fantastic Fest, when that festival was a lot smaller.) Opinions are starting to filter out about the movie, and while they’re largely from people we don’t know — so we don’t know their taste in film in general — there are some comments that you’ll probably want to read.

In Contention was first on the scene with a report of the screening, so thanks to them right off the bat.

Jeff Wells got an email from someone named “Bobfilm” who was at the screening, and he printed the most useful take on it so far:

I’m still digesting everything I saw, but it was pretty amazing. It was like a strange fever dream. (But) not audience friendly AT ALL. An ambiguous ending and not one likable character. And without any ‘milkshake’ lines, it probably won’t have the breakthrough that There Will Be Blood had… There are three or four scenes between Phoenix and Hoffman that are barn burners. It also containts the best work Amy Adams has ever done… Phoenix WILL win Best Actor unless Daniel Day Lewis blows us away with (his) Lincoln performance. This is Raging Bull territory for him. Believe it or not, his performance is stranger than that fake doc he made.

And The Playlist collected tweets from 16-year-old cinephile Victor Escobar:

“Don’t want to say more than a few words about it but it is an all around excellent film. I’ve yet to see one bad PSH performance but this one may be his best. 2hrs 10 min. Will get nods for Picture. Good chance of winning original screenplay and acting awards. If it were me, I’d put them both in the Best Actor category but if one them is getting the supporting nod, its Hoffman. It will have its fair share of detractors and its not a “safe” choice. If you guys can, see The Master in 70 mm. Looked gorgeous and its the way P.T Anderson wants you to see it. “

Here are some more tweet reactions, some of which are, sadly, also obsessed with predicting whether or not the film will win awards:

@TotallySketch “Just saw ‘The Master’. A movie has never made me feel quite like this one did. I can’t describe it or even rate it. I am speechless.”

@aaldere1 “The Master was amazing. Oscars all over this one.”

@LoganDoe “@prfessorbigsock Hoffman is one of the finest actors alive. The Master is (more) proof. #themaster”

@pillowfightin “@cigsandredvines Saw The Master in 70mm at the Aero Santa Monica. Surprise screening after The Shining. Its like nothing yvever seen before.”

@jessecrall “The Master: B+ hazy, meandering story with beautiful staging and headed by Phoenix’s brilliant, year’s-best performance. @kristapley”

@Super_Matts “THE MASTER is…interesting…I’ll be thinking about it for days #THEMASTER70MM J Phoenix and P S Hoffman are out of this world”

The official premiere of The Master will be in Venice on September 1st, then it will hit TIFF, and go into in limited release on September 14th with expansion to follow.

And without any ‘milkshake’ lines, it probably won’t have the breakthrough that There Will Be Blood had

Anderson you fool

No drainage? Count me out!

"we like it Paul...but where are the catchphrases? We need something to hang the merchandising on"

"I.....Eat....Your....THETANS.....I EAT THEM UP!"

but will it win any oscars??????

If you guys were the inventors of Scientology, you'd have invented Scientology.

#themaster

if there is no catchphrase scene I'm gonna be so damn happy

it puts the xenu in the basket

Here's auditing you, kid.

There's no crying in Seaorg!!!

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/master-trailer-screening-chicago-scientology/

new clip here

I guess this touches on the post ww2 era of people having serious ptsd that everyone likes to pretend never ever happened

they're looking real kraftwerky in that poster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Col9wnE_E

ok so they're talking about "processing," doing word clearing and and a bunch of other Scientology stuff. Could be about the Process Church, but that would be... unexpected.

Process Church dudes started off as Scientologists tho

This was really good, I thought. Phoenix's drawl is impenetrable at times, and it has a sort of dreamlike rhythm that might seem bullshitty to people who hated Tree of Life or There Will Be Blood, but I love those movies so ymmv. Lots of great images that deserve to be viewed as large as possible.

any thoughts on the soundtrack?

It was not as outre as TWBB's. It felt informed by the period.

How is it that you saw it, polyphonic? I thought it wasn't opening for a few weeks.

There was an advanced screening at the Castro Theatre that benefited The Film Foundation. In 70mm. Also no trailers and no credits, and no speeches. It was blissful.

damn

Yeah Chaki said something about that last night. I am beyond envious of you bastards.

so there were tix at the door after all!

Nah, my friend who needed the ticket was outta luck. Huge line of people at 6, and apparently they mostly went home unhappy.

Couple of Venice reports:

http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/venice-the-master-and-joaquin-phoenix-draw-raves-but-pic-is-hard-nut-to-crack-trailer-scenes-missing/

http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/venice-paul-thomas-anderson-philip-seymour-hoffman-talk-the-master-joaquin-phoenix-not-so-much/

Curiously, a scene that was part of one of the original trailers for The Master in which Phoenix’s Freddie Quell screams at Dodd, “I know you’re trying to calm me down, but just say something that’s true!” was not in the version screened in Venice this morning. Nor was a scene in which Quell is being questioned about “an incident.”

this is making me lol

http://i.imgur.com/NkxLf.jpg

Phoenix didn't realise that PTA was doing a twofer, filming 'Popeye' at the same time.

Just like his hero Altman.

DCilxors: will be screening in 70mm at the AFI Silver

Aye, starting on the 21st of September. 70mm screenings will only be on the weekends though.

Look again; it's 70mm weekends and weekday evenings

aaah. good news.

Yessssssss

is it just me or does joaquin look like joe pesci in that pic gr8080 posted?

i was trying to think who it reminded me of! totally a pesci expression.

didn't realise he'd called the master's wife mary sue, just like l ron's "main wife".

Peripherally related, when I went to Star Wars Celebration last weekend, I attended a panel on sound design and editing with Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood and David Acord of Lucasfilm. Someone in the audience asked what their favorite non-Lucas, non-sci fi projects to work on had been, and Wood and Acord said "There Will Be Blood" and "The Master," respectively. (Wood was nominated for an Oscar for TWBB.) Doing sound for P.T. Anderson must be a rewarding experience.

good reviews at venice

Can't win 'em all in Venice:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-controversy-jury-yanks-top-the-master-368892

bureaucracy gone mad. this country!

film festival rule reform now!

I can't tell if this is the best or the worst thing ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5bBOhxhea0&feature=player_embedded

haha