The Master

When word of The Master first started circulating, the rumor was that it was going to be a history of the beginnings of Scientology, looking at the early days of L. Ron Hubbard's work. Director Paul Thomas Anderson has apparently said that Lancaster Dodd (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman) was inspired by Hubbard, but that this was not intended as a biography of Hubbard. Instead, this seems to be a study of two main themes: the destruction of a man's identity in the wake of war (Joaquin Phoenix's Freddie Quell) and the creation of a cult organization known as The Cause. Quell is a man filled with rage and seemingly uncontrollable animal urges. Consumed by alcohol and sexual desires, he happens to stow away on Dodd's boat, beginning the weird relationship between the two.

As we watch the movie unfold, we see Quell do his best to try to fit in, taking the processing tests that Dodd seems to make up out of thin air. He alternates between fervent support and unbridled anger. Dodd meanwhile seems to have found a way to latch onto Quell's insecurities, luring him closer and closer. At its best, it's a fascinating look at the pull and magnetism that some leaders seem to have on their followers. Dodd isn't portrayed as a perfect individual, yet people are simply drawn to him and his mix of psycho-babble and pseudo-philosophical sayings. He's constructing this thing out of thin air and people drink it up.

Regardless of how you feel about the story that this film tells, there's no denying how beautiful it looks. Shot on 65mm film, there's a vibrancy that practically jumps off the screen. The Blu-Ray transfer looks gorgeous, with a clarity and detail that puts some other Blu-Ray releases to shame. The bonus features are solid: outtakes and additional scenes, a behind the scenes featurette, and a 1954 documentary by John Huston about WWII vets.

In the final analysis, your enjoyment of The Master will likely depend on whether or not you're content with solid performances, even in the face of a story that's somewhat weak. It's also worth pointing out that these aren't pleasant characters that we're getting to know. That said, I'll watch Hoffman and Phoenix in just about anything, so it's a real treat to see them at work in this. Not for everyone, The Master is both challenging and frustrating. Check it out if you're in the mood for something different.