What an absolute mindfuck. A movie like The Master rarely comes along. I was reading a short article that mentions, "The movies that are the most entertaining are the ones with ideas that you entertain" or something along those lines and that made me think of this movie. Weeks later I still can't stop thinking about it.
The Master is such an absorbing spectacle it's really impossible to get it out of your head. The performances from the talented trio are pitch perfect. Joaquin Phoenix's character is Freddy, a veteran suffering from PTSD, alcoholism and a strange addiction to drinking poisonous alcohol, and having agressive sexual thoughts towards any female with a pulse.
He's out of control. That is, until he comes across a cult-like group who believes in The Cause. The enticing leader is Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a man who becomes a father figure to Freddy and is willing to guide him amongst the others to relieve his traumatic life experiences in order to push past them towards a better future. Lancaster's wife Peggy (Amy Adams) is less welcoming then her husband, as she knows the unstability and recklessness of this stranger that they have just welcomed in.
Joaquin Phoenix is a force of nature as Freddy. He's such a primitive character with all of his grunts and violent behaviors, but despite this characterization, he feels oddly sympathetic as well, like a lost animal that just doesn't know any better.
Philip Seymour Hoffman brings many layers and a ton of depth to his character who may or may not be full of Shit. Which doesn't really matter. You're so drawn to how convincing and fascinating Hoffman's performance is that you would sign up for whatever he sold you.
Though she definitely isn't as used as much as I would have liked her to have been, Amy Adams nails every single one of her scenes. She gives such a power and strength to Peggy you would swear she is The Master. Her scenes with Hoffman most notably one of her early scenes after a doubter of The Cause verbally challenges the group and a later scene regarding Freddy are easily some of the most unforgettable of the movie.
Another thing I loved about The Master was that there are no easy answers. I thought about the final scenes and drew about 5 different conclusions as to what The Master really resolves to and though there's scenes that make me believe each could be true, you never really know the true Black & White answer.
With it's powerful punch of stellar performances, intriguing and multi-layered characters and a plot that will leave you thinking and really evaluating the meaning behind Anderson's masterful direction, The Master is a masterpiece, pun intended.
4/4
